Spotlight on UAL Extended Diploma in Acting for Stage & Screen student Joshua Kay who is performing in a number of exciting productions both on and off campus. Kicking of his busy spring with a part in Darlington Hippodromes Everybody’s talking about Jamie, a performance in a Slam Monologue competition and taking on the role of Assistant Director for The Northern School of Art Production Second Person Narrative.

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is “based on the 2011 British TV documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16, the musical tells the true story of Jamie Campbell, from Bishop Auckland who dreams of being accepted.” Speaking of working on the production Josh said, “I was lucky enough to get into Darlington Operatic Society on my first try auditioning last year! Jamie is one of my all time favourite shows and I had to audition! I was lucky enough to be cast as Cy one of the students in the school that Jamie goes to in Sheffield.”

He said that “the company at DOS are like a big performance family and I’ve had the best time this last year experiencing a professional rehearsal environment with some of the most genuine and talented people the region has to offer. I’ve really improved in my dancing skills, thanks to trust and pushing from the director Jo. I’ve become so much more confident in the rehearsal room, being so much more present and energetic on stage in the process. Rehearsals are going so well for Jamie and I can’t wait for people to come and see it!”   

This is not Joshua’s first production with Darlington Hippodrome he commented, “I also have featured on the hippodrome stage in Made In Dagenham, was a professional quality production that I had so much fun on, and also learned so much about the professional expectations and standards in and out the rehearsal room also.”      

For his performance at the Slam Monologue he said, “I performed Frankie’s monologue from the play The Un-returning at the slam monologue competition, I was presented with the opportunity by one of my lecturers and auditioned via a self-tape performance, and was fortunate to be picked out of many applicants to perform in the finals as part of the 14-19 category, the night featured lots of young talent, including fellow first year actor Krystal Pentland!”

Josh won a £100 prize for his monologue performance, he commented, “the monologue slam was so much fun ! So much incredible local talent i was so lucky to be noticed by the judges and and take home a prize!”

Josh is also working as a directors assistant on Northern Art production Second  Person Narrative he reflected, “I’m loving taking on director responsibility with the college play, the play is so unique and important in it’s message for women today and I am so excited to get even deeper into the rehearsal process. I love being able to apply my ideas and creative visions to scenes and help create something for you all to come and see!

As well as the on-campus play Josh is working with film students on their FMP project Northern Sound he commented, “it’s another great large scale project i’m proud to of been asked to jump on. I’ll be overseeing all the creative ideas and layouts for the event, ensuring that everyone who comes has the best time and enjoys the day, making sure everything runs smoothly.”                          

Speaking of his time on the acting diploma he said “I’m finding the diploma so engaging, I’ve had so many opportunities to apply my skills to projects, and I’ve stretched myself as an actor into working harder than ever, understanding so much more about acting, the industry and professional project engagement just from doing my first 6 months here at the college” 

His advice for future acting students? “I’d say be prepared to work! Acting requires constant ambition and love for your craft, and you have so much to learn and take every opportunity given to you with both hands, and try your absolute best to be open and try everything, and believe in yourself!”

If you are interested in studying acting at college-level make sure you check out our dynamic and career-focused acting diploma today! This course is designed to give you experience in applying acting techniques to live and recorded performances whilst gaining production skills such as camera operating, editing, lighting, sound and set design.          

Theatre goers can book tickets for Jamie here and  Slam Monologue ticket’s here.  Keep up to date with Joshua’s work by following him on Instagram.