For 2020/2021’s Elevate Group, click here.

Open Door is delighted to present to you our 2021/2022 Elevate Group. Please see below for headshots of our Elevate participants and details of any upcoming performances.

Elevate is a programme that mentors, supports and offers free workshops with leading industry professionals to final year drama school students from lower-income backgrounds. We are aware that, as students from lower-income backgrounds start out in the industry, they may not have the financial safety net that other graduates may benefit from. This means that they may feel unable to take as many risks or explore their creativity as freely. We therefore feel it is crucial to make sure graduates from lower-income backgrounds are equipped, informed and ready for the realities of the industry.

Open Door actors who are in their third year and started drama school via our Access Programme already enjoy a Graduating Group Programme, which helps to prepare them in this way. In 2020, we launched the Elevate Programme, opening up this opportunity to third year students from lower-income backgrounds who did not complete our Access Programme. This year, we’re excited to announce that we’re working with another four third year students as part of our 2021/2022 Elevate Programme.

To be nominated, students must:

• Be a final year student on a BA or MA Acting course at a drama school which is part of the Federation of Drama Schools

• Come from a household with a combined family income of £30,000 per year or less

• Be nominated by their drama school and audition and interview with the Open Door industry panel

The programme provides participants with:

• Free theatre tickets throughout the programme

• Professional preparation workshops

• Mentoring by Open Door Artistic Director David Mumeni

• An industry buddy

• Access to mental health support where needed

• Pastoral support and mentoring from the Open Door team

Shortlisted nominees will attend a short interview and submitted self-tapes will be reviewed by an industry-leading panel. This year’s panel was made up of: David Mumeni (Actor & Artistic Director of Open Door), Shaheen Baig (Casting Director), Amy Ball (Head of Casting at the Royal Court), Adam Penford (Artistic Director of the Nottingham Playhouse) and Charlotte Davies (Talent Agent at United Agents).

“Elevate was an essential bridge from drama school to industry. The mentoring taught me how to communicate more effectively with peers and industry professionals and how to make the most of the opportunities that came during my graduating year whilst also preparing me for the future.” - Elevate Group Participant 2020/21