Open Door, launched in summer 2017, and is an exciting new initiative providing a viable pathway for young people from low income backgrounds to career level drama training. This is a project for people age 18-25 who already know they want to pursue a career in acting and are interested in applying for full time degree course.

It is an escalating and recognised problem within the industry that people from working class backgrounds are not currently being represented as actors on our stages and screens. This is in part due to a difference in the available resources and support for children and young people from low income families. Applying for drama school alone can be an expensive process. Buying plays, attending the theatre and paying for auditions (normally around £50-£75 an audition) can all add up.

Open Door offers candidates support with these expenses including exemption from audition fees at six of the UK's top drama schools: RADA, LAMDA, RWCMD, RCSSD, Drama Centre London and Guildhall. Through removing financial barriers and filling a potential void of support and resources, Open Door levels the playing field and helps young people to overcome the barriers to having a successful career in acting.

Open Door are not done yet and the results are already staggering; 200 Recalls, 82 Final Rounds, 28 Places Offered, 4 on Waiting Lists, and 3 Foundation Course Offers. The model and format works but need your help to start rolling out the project regionally and nationally where this work is really needed. With extra costs of travel and accommodation auditioning can seem impossible for most young people.

As well as continuing their work in London they'll be in the East Midlands covering Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and surrounding areas. The fantastic man that is actor Paul Bullion (Peaky Blinders) is running the IronMan for them. Yes, that’s right, the Iron Man Tri! What’s the Iron Man Tri? Let Paul tell you!

Thank-you for taking the time to visited the page. I am taking on the hardest endurance event on the planet. An "IronMan" triathlon. For people who are unaware of what an IronMan Tri is, the distances are as follows.

2.4 Mile Open water swim

112 Mile Bike

26.2 Mile Run

All of this has to be completed within the 17 hour cut off time to be declared an IronMan. I hope to complete it in sub 12 hours but I will be competing in the Vichy race in France where temperatures will climb to 38 degrees! Training is on going and since October I have completed a half marathons, a 20 miler event and 2 full marathons!

Between now and race day (26th Aug) I have 2 more marathons and 2 Olympic distance triathlons to complete in preparation for the main event. Chances are if I'm not at work or in an audition, you will find me on my bike or in a swimming pool or just running through the streets!

Why "Open Door" ?

All money raised from my events this year will be going to this superb organisation. "Open Door" help people from the exact same background as me. I was a kid from very humble beginnings who really wanted to pursue a career in performing Arts. I learnt very quickly that there was a social barrier in place to challenge me..... the cost of Drama school. When I was applying to schools the cost to audition was about a 3rd of what its is now. I also count myself to be very lucky to have won a bursary from the BBC before receiving a scholarship by the end of my first year of training. Such programs are now threadbare and that is why the "Open Door" program is so important. Some of the top schools charge £75 just for an audition. The school would then have multiple rounds on different days. I lived in Milton Keynes so trains weren't too bad. Even then I was limited to applying to 3 drama schools. But If a young person from a low income background further away wanted to audition for a school, they'd be limited to 1 or 2 auditions.

Open Door helps with train fares and audition fees so that we can keep these young, passionate and talented people in the mix. Give them a chance to audition at more than one place. This in turn will mean they have more chance of gaining a place somewhere. This then means that they can develop professionally and in a few years when we turn on our TVs or go to the theatre, what we see will reflect our society. Any amount big or small will help! Lets make a difference!”

So let’s make a difference. 10k is a lot but it’s only a proportion of our budget and we need all the help we can get. What if 100 people pledged to raise £200 each? What if 1,000 people pledged £20 each. And that’s only half of our social media following so its possible.

If you have any questions or need anymore information please visit the Open Door website: www.opendoor.org.uk or email them on info@opendoor.org.uk

Donate, Share, Share and Spread the word!