We caught up with three former Loughborough College performing arts students who are either shining under the spotlights of prestigious drama schools or are signed up to an acting agency.
Heather McDowall, Roby Singh and Joseph Obaje left Loughborough College to continue following their dreams at some of the most prestigious drama schools in the country.
How did Loughborough College shape them and their career paths? Our former students share all:
Joseph’s story
Joseph recently graduated from the prestigious Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA) with an acting degree and has signed to the acting agency, 33 Management London. Since 2019, he has appeared in several stage and film productions, including The Witches.
He said: “My time at College was amazing, I got to meet and make a lot of new friends. It’s a very friendly environment and the teachers and staff play a big part in making that happen.
“From my time at Loughborough, I was able not just to study what I love but was also able to learn some new skills at the college, joining the rugby team I was able to build my ability to work better in a group whilst building my fitness and health. At the Job Shop on campus I was able to get work experience which I definitely needed at the time and from that I was able to find well-paying jobs and learn what it would take to run a business of my own which I have recently started.
“The tutors in the performing arts department are so supportive and are really there for you. They always made sure we really understood everything we were being taught and made sure we put it into practice. Especially Emma Ledsam, I have her to thank for where I find myself now because she helped me find confidence in myself through her teaching she was always there to explain anything that I didn’t fully understand, I can’t stress it enough but Emma is a treasure to the college.
“Anyone interested in pursuing a career in the performing arts at Loughborough College I’d say, definitely do it. It will change your life and give you a clear idea what you see your future to be because as creatives we all have imaginations and dreams of what the future looks like.”
You can watch Joseph in action here: https://www.spotlight.com/9733-6727-3462
Heather’s story
Heather earned a place on the BA (Hons) in Acting programme at the British Institute of Contemporary Theatre and will start next year. Meanwhile, she is honing her musical skills by producing a lot of fantastic, unique and original work on her Spotify channel and has enjoyed success with airtime on local radio for some of her compositions.
She said: “I never imagined three years ago I would get to where I wanted to be.
“I chose Loughborough College Performing Arts because from the moment I was introduced to the tutors and to the workspaces I fell in love with the college. The course itself is versatile and challenging but so rewarding.
“I not only grew as a performer - but as a person. When I first started, my confidence was very low. I knew I loved the subject but I constantly put myself down and was my worse critic. Through the three years at Loughborough, I gained trust in myself and learned that if I made a mistake it makes me human, I can learn from it and it means I have gained something from it.
“The guidance and support from the tutors really propelled me into challenging myself more when working in the studio or the theatre. I could share and create the weirdest and the best ideas and from that develop and explore new parts of acting, movement and voice. I was also able to explore my weaker elements of performance and strengthened them into more rounded attributes of performance.
“My experience overall has given me knowledge, determination and trust and I would recommend this course wholeheartedly.”
Check out Heather’s music here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2QgFpXr7jZc9KbyR9CsUHu?si=-l4X4Cb3SZGR8zjcwZL6TQ
Roby’s Story
Roby is in the third year of his performing arts degree at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama but his journey started at Loughborough College. He is performing in stage productions and has had the incredible opportunity to receive training from the Royal Shakespeare Company.
He said: “It was always a place where Performing Arts was taken seriously. The college has done a wonderful job by making the place very suitable for young actors to explore their skills and their love for the craft.
“My experience at college has shaped me into the actor I am today. I arrived as a young teenager with an interest in the performing arts and went from Level 2 to finishing a diploma. To this day I incredibly miss the facilities, and often come back to visit because it really was a place where I felt I really belonged. The amount of performances I did really helped me develop and grow. From pantomimes to Shakespeare and devised theatre, the opportunities you are given are incredibly vast.
“Not only did you get to experience different styles of theatre, you get to really pinpoint what works for you.
“The tutors are, honestly, teachers for life. They are the reason I have gotten so far in acting, teaching me the value of professionalism, hard work and detail. Their belief in me, and in the rest of the class, was always something we all appreciated. I left with an attention to detail, confidence, and the art of having fun.
“I could not have considered doing this anywhere else, because I believe the standards of this course at Loughborough College are incredibly high. So go ahead, take that leap, and most importantly, follow your dreams!”
Roby’s showreel will be available in November.