By Phil Hoffmann, Creative Development Producer at Newcastle Theatre Royal.
On the 21st of September 2025, Project A, Newcastle Theatre Royal’s professional acting course, hit double figures, turning the ripe old age of 10.
Sitting here thinking about the actors, writers, dancers, directors, facilitators, stage managers and creators that have graduated from the course, I am left with a sense of great pride in them and all they have gone on to achieve: The acting jobs they have won, the work they have created and the legacy they continue to forge as they travel through their creative careers and endeavours.
We started the Project A course to give young people living in the North East of England the opportunity to train as actors. To offer high-quality tuition at an affordable cost. That they might carve out careers here in the region, feeding and strengthening the creative sector with the exceptional talent that the North East undoubtedly has. The graduates of the course have gone on to do so much more than we ever could have hoped.
Ten years ago, actor training was increasingly beyond the reach of many young people, regardless of talent or ambition. Investment in the storytellers of tomorrow is crucial, across all of our regions and communities. For all of our futures. Giving audiences the opportunity to watch, be mesmerised, entertained and challenged by great art produced, regardless of geography or background. These opportunities were becoming less available, and we wanted to address that.
The course started thanks to the generous support of the Barbour Foundation. Since then, we have come a very long way, and our alumni students have travelled even further. Flying far and wide regionally, nationally and across the globe for acting jobs and to continue their training at some of the most prestigious actor training institutions in the world.
They have performed professionally in every theatre in the North East. On stages across the country (including London’s West End), as well as in Europe, America and New Zealand. They have appeared in films and television series that have won Oscars, Baftas and Golden Globes. They have become commissioned writers, choreographers, facilitators, and some of them, parents. In being who they are, they have waved the North East flag high and championed the region in the best way possible. demonstrating the enormous talent that comes from here across multiple artistic genres.
I am smiling now as I sit here remembering all the many successes.
Project A is constantly evolving, the course responding to changing times in our industry and our world. We have overcome many bumps in the road, facing each challenge with trademark Theatre Royal creativity and can-do attitude. The pandemic saw us deliver two years training online when necessary, nurturing the ensemble in isolation when we worked in our bubble in person and producing a major production on film with the young actors spread all over the North of England, to name but one example.
The training road map for actors is developing as well, focusing on a more accelerated format. We are currently adapting to allow our students more professional performance opportunities whilst training with us. You will always learn faster with the motivation of a first night to aim for!
The future here in the North East is looking bright for the creative industries, with the commitment of our new combined authority to support its development and the creation of a world class workforce. My hopes for the future are that Project A will be an intrinsic part of nurturing the next generation of writers, creators, performers and cultural ambassadors, to help lead the way in this industry for decades to come.
Well done to all the Project A alumni for everything you have achieved! We are proud to celebrate you. It is always a great pleasure to see you perform in the shows I go to, and the TV and films I watch, with the odd Christmas advert thrown in to boot.
Raise a glass to Project A at 10. May there be many more years to come. Cheers.
www.theatreroyal.co.uk