BA (Hons) Acting for Stage and Screen student Isabelle Sander, from Norfolk, has won the Acting Student of the Year award 2025! The award is present to the Acting student who has produced the strongest work across different mediums. Lecturers commented that “Izzy is extremely talented and works hard at her craft. She has delivered a wide variety of performances each with heart, detail, and energy. We are excited to see what she achieves next.” On receiving the award Izzy commented, “I wasn’t expecting to be presented with such an achievement, I was, and still am, so incredibly grateful for the award.”

Speaking of her time at the school and the course she said “I have loved every minute of my time at the Northern School of Art. The Acting for Stage and screen course is truly amazing! There are countless opportunities to meet and work with industry professionals, including frequent guest speakers, annual visits from a renowned local agent, and collaboration on projects with external film makers and directors. Being taught by lecturers who have worked/continue to work in this industry is great, they have always been so supportive and encouraging, creating such a lovely environment to work in. Additionally, the course is really helpful, post-graduation, offering the use of facilities, including rehearsal space, for project development.”

Izzy was involved in 3 FMP Projects, “One radio and two stage productions. All three allowed me to showcase skills I had developed over my degree; voice acting, clowning, theatre making and many more! One of my FMPs was a devised piece, Nose To Nose, a clowning performance that investigated identity and acceptance, influenced by the recent and current social climate. This project is where me, Tia-Lily and Arun Graves-Kochhar formed our own theatre company Public Nuisance. The 3 of us aim to create socio-political theatre by using different theatre styles to do so.”

“Being directed by other students in other FMPs was also really enjoyable, working on Shaun Wilsons, Implosion was great fun as we explored the development and impact of AI through absurdist theatre. Georgia Purvis’ radio play Fruit Shaken from the Tree, was another exciting project to be a part of, with a dark and witty script revolving around a dysfunctional upper-class family.  Working on FMPs is a really busy time, and being involved in a variety of projects could sometimes prove to be a challenging workload, however the course creates such a supportive environment, that I never felt overwhelmed by what was expected of me.”

When asked what her favourite memory at the school is, she responded, “there are so many! I think performing Julius Caesar in second year was a highlight for me, I was anxious to perform Shakespeare at a professional level, but performing Julius Caesar at ARC was amazing, I felt a real sense of achievement, personally and within our class. Socially, again there’s lots to choose from, but celebrating our final hand in was a very lovely night out, lots of dancing, lots of drinking – which you don’t have much time to do in 3rd year!”

Currently  Izzy is “working my Newcastle Fringe show with Arun Graves-Kochhar, we’re delighted to have confirmed 2 nights at Alphabetti Theatre, with our show Foot in the Door. The production consists of 3 short plays, both our solo shows (Rich Pickings and Milkshake) and a co-written piece called Right on Time. After that, I aim to enter the acting industry, performing and making theatre, particularly in the Northeast.”

Izzy  moved from Kings Lynn, in Norfolk, “so I was a fair way from home when I joined, but I’ve really grown to like Hartlepool.” One of her favourite things to do in the town is visit the beach, she said “what I wish I had done more of, is going to the beach and the watching the sunrise, it’s so beautiful – minus the early start!”

Her advice for budding actors looking to join the course is to “absolutely go for it! You don’t have to go to a big city Drama School or University to get the best out of further education, the opportunities and quality of teaching on this course is unmatched.”

Keep up to date with Izzy’s work on her Instagram: @isabelle.may.sander

Our acting degree has been designed by working industry professionals to ensure students develop the skills required when performing for stage and screen, providing students with a drama school style experience outside of London. Students on this intensive acting course will receive 30 hours contact time a week to develop core skills in voice, characterisation and physicality. Find out more here.