peer actor development

Unlock a Year of Fully Funded, Focused, Full-Time Applied Actor Training

At Peer Productions, we're dedicated to transforming lives through theatre, and we want to help you launch your career as an actor.

Since 2007, our Actor Development Programme has empowered hundreds of young actors and theatre-makers aged 18 - 24 years. As you embark on this journey, we're here to support you every step of the way.

Imagine a year of fully funded, focused, full-time applied actor training designed to help you reach your creative potential.

Are you ready to take the next steps in your creative career? Let's make it happen together.

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Join Our Vibrant Community of Peer Actors

Every morning, imagine starting your day alongside fellow actors, warming up as an ensemble, and cultivating a daily practice that fuels your growth as an artist and performer. At Peer Productions, this is just the beginning of your journey.

Throughout the programme, you'll dive into a diverse range of classes covering acting, voice, movement, text, and applied theatre-making. But that's not all – we regularly host workshops led by visiting artists who specialise in puppetry, physical theatre, improvisation, singing, poetry, devising, playwriting, and musicality. It's an immersive experience designed to expand your creative horizons.

As you progress, you'll also earn a Level 4 RSL Diploma for Creative Practitioners, a vocational qualification that challenges you to explore, experience, and refine your craft as a performing artist.

Are you ready to embrace the exhilarating journey ahead? Let's shape your path to success together. Apply Now.

Please see below for more information about training during your year at Peer.

Every day at Peer starts with practice preparing learners from both our PAD and PEP courses for their creative day ahead. Daily practice enables Peer actors to connect their voice, body and brain.
At the start of the course, in the Autumn term, you will be asked to reflect upon the events that set you on your path to becoming a performing artist. You are given the opportunity to devise a piece of live performance that reflects the performer you are now. You will also get free headshots and support with developing your creative CV.
In the Spring term, you will take the feedback and reflection from your Autumn term performance and create an Action Plan that helps you develop your skills as an artist.
In the summer you will create a Public Showcase of your work. This might be live or digital or a combination and will also allow you to create your own showreel.
Each term you will also be involved in a project, which will either be a set play, a devised piece of theatre, or a research and development project. This project could then either lead to touring, an in house production, or a staged reading.
These projects will be led by external and Peer theatre practitioners, some of whom are Peer alumni. If you would like to find out more information on the visiting artists who are involved with these projects please head to our dedicated Visiting Artists Page.

go on tour

What sets Peer Productions apart is your chance to join us on the road, bringing our impactful plays to thousands of young people in schools and colleges across the South-East.

Our thought-provoking, cutting-edge productions tackle the issues that matter most to our young audiences, leaving a lasting impression wherever we go.

During our tours, you'll experience the real-life demands of a working actor: early starts, travel logistics, setting up, performances, and packing up, sometimes with two or three shows in a single day.

Each play is a new adventure, offering opportunities to collaborate with diverse artists and hone different skills.

Are you ready to dive into the exhilarating world of touring theatre? Apply Now.

See below for a selection of our recent touring plays.

Masking by Nina Lemon
MASKING ADDRESSES THE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES YOUNG PEOPLE FACE IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE PANDEMIC.
When the school’s lockdown alarm sounds everyone assumes it’s a drill. But soon a group of year 9 students find themselves stuck in a geography classroom with only Deputy Head Prefect Jamie to keep them under control. It becomes clear that the school is in lockdown because of an ‘incident’ with a pupil. While the group speculate as to the identity of the student and the nature of the ‘incident ‘it slowly emerges that, although no one’s talking about it, the students are all grappling with mental health issues of their own. Holly’s obsessed with Instagram even though she knows it could be damaging her. The change of routine has neurodivergent Billy feeling overwhelmed. Alex is burdened with the responsibility of speaking up for all LGBTQ+ people. Nadia’s triggered to remember her distressing journey to the UK and Rosie’s terrified that the planet is dying. Jamie’s anxious, Dom’s worried about his sister and Nancy’s up on the roof.
The Space Between (my head & heart) by Al Underwood.

THE SPACE BETWEEN (MY HEAD & HEART) IS A BRAND-NEW SHOW FOR YEARS 3 THROUGH 5 WHICH EXPLORES EVERYDAY WELLBEING, PERSPECTIVE AND RESILIENCE.

When an astronaut and an alien are both stranded on an unfamiliar planet they must learn to understand each other if they want to get their feet back on the ground. Using interactive, musical storytelling, Peer Production’s new play for 8-10 year olds aims to give children healthy strategies to improve everyday emotional wellbeing and build self-esteem and resilience.
Losing It by Nina Lemon

LOSING IT TAKES ON SEX EDUCATION AS YOU’VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE - “BECAUSE THERE’S A BIT MORE TO IT THAN SPERM MEETS EGG."

All the boys at school seem to be only interested in one thing, so when naive Charlotte meets an older guy online who promises her a fairytale romance, she is sure it’s true love. It’s up to her friend Ash to try and stop her from making a terrible mistake - but Ash has worries of their own - “Are you a boy or a girl?” When a drunken year 11 house party gets out of control, Tim makes a decision which will affect both him and Seren for the rest of their lives - “She didn’t say no!” Meanwhile, Mike’s become hooked on internet pornography, David’s still a virgin and Rob’s fallen in love.
As I See It by Nina Lemon

AS I SEE IT EXPLORES THE DANGERS OF VIOLENCE AND KNIFE CRIME BY FOCUSING ON A GROUP OF YOUNG FRIENDS CAUGHT UP IN AN ATTACK.

‘On a nothingy Wednesday on a boring Autumn night’, 14 year old Ali is left gravely injured and fighting for his life. Ali’s friends Kai and Fin struggle to administer emergency first aid while they wait for the emergency services to arrive. As Ali is rushed to hospital, his sister Casey watches helplessly as she witnesses her brother’s attack on Snapchat and his classmate Dainer is frantically washing blood off their hands.
Hidden by Nina Lemon

A PLAY ABOUT SELF-WORTH, SELF-HARM AND MENTAL HEALTH…

When Sophia, Matt and Tash meet at a music festival they are three very different teenagers. They go to different schools, have different friendship groups and have led very different lives. However, they all have the same problem - they use self-harm as a way to cope with their feelings. Sophia feels stifled by boarding school life, has a poor body image and feels out of control. Matt is consumed with anxiety about his impending GCSE exams. Tash is haunted by memories of a traumatic childhood and feels like the world would be a better place without her. When her only friend suddenly disappears, Tash’s self-harming behaviour gets out of control. Hidden tells the story of the recovery of three very different teenagers as they struggle with mental health problems and self-harming behaviour.
The Forest in Between by Nina Lemon

THE FOREST IN BETWEEN ADDRESSES ISSUES AFFECTING YEAR CHILDREN INCLUDING FRIENDSHIP AND BULLYING, FEARS ABOUT GROWING UP AND WORRIES ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.

Step into the enchanting world of The Forest In Between, a captivating interactive play inspired by workshops with Year 6 children.

Join Bailey, Sophie, Devon, and Budge, along with Budge's loyal canine companion Winnie, as they gather in the heart of the forest on the cusp of their journey to secondary school. It’s their last summer together and the forest is about to teach them some important lessons.

As Sophie navigates the fast-paced changes of adolescence and Bailey grapples with concerns about climate change, their friendship is changing. Meanwhile, Devon struggles with honesty, and Budge faces the loss of his dear friend Winnie.

get into drama school

At Peer Productions, we're here to support your evolution as a creative artist. For those aspiring to attend drama school, rely on our nearly twenty years of experience guiding young actors through the application and audition process. We possess comprehensive insights into various schools and courses, empowering you to make informed decisions about your future.

Remarkably, 83% of our actors who apply to drama school successfully secure admission, a testament to our commitment to nurturing talent and facilitating pathways to success.

Let Peer Productions be your steadfast companion as you embark on your artistic journey. Together, we'll pave the way to your dreams. Apply Now.

Please see below for more information about how we will support you to take your next steps during your Peer year.

OUR APPROACH

Everyone is unique!

Our approach treats every actor as a respected individual. No two actors are the same and that means that there is no singular pathway to success. We get to know each of our actors as individuals and so can provide bespoke advice tailored to your strengths, goals and circumstances.
We are not interested in ‘breaking you down’ but in building you up, starting with the skills and qualities that have led you to be part of Peer Productions.
Our advice is radically honest but is also always rooted in kindness, and in our shared goal to get you to where you want to be.
APPLYING FOR DRAMA SCHOOL

We provide information, advice and guidance about the different training opportunities available. We help with UCAS, UCAS Conservatoires and drama school applications, helping you to find the language to talk about yourself as an artist in a genuine and convincing voice.
CHOOSING MONOLOGUES

We give advice and support on choosing pieces which show your ability and range and also meet the requirements stipulated by each school. We help our actors to craft their material to give them the best chance of success.
SELF TAPES

We provide time and space to work on self tapes, loan equipment as needed and crucially give honest feedback to ensure that your self tape is the strongest it can be.
AUDITION COACHING

As well as helping our actors with monologues, songs and devised pieces, we also provide support with interview and group audition technique.

our Application Process

Applications are open throughout the year and are made via our website.

Round 1 - There’s a short form to fill in on our website and we will also ask you for a google drive link to a self tape of you performing a two minute monologue of your choice.

Round 2 - After we have reviewed your tape we will contact you to let you know if we would like to progress your application. Round 2 will be an in-person workshop audition at our base in Woking.

Everyone who attends a round 2 audition will receive written feedback about their self tape and their in person audition.

APPLY FOR THE PEER ACTOR DEVELOPMENT COURSE NOW

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Offers and waiting lists - After round 2 we will contact all applicants with an outcome. This outcome will be either:

Offer - Offers are made throughout the year so early applications are advised.
Waiting list.
Unsuccessful.

If we make you an early offer, we understand that you may be in the process of applying to Drama Schools. You will be able to hold your place with Peer whilst you wait for an outcome. We just ask that you let us know if you choose to accept another offer so that we can contact the next person on our waiting list.

testimonials.

BUT DON’T JUST LISTEN TO US.

Here’s what our actors said:

“I was given given the opportunity to feel pushed, and work with a variety of people, without ever feeling out of your depth.”

“The most important thing I have discovered about myself as an artist during this experience is how important and unique my creative voice is. I also think finding this value in the importance and uniqueness of my creative voice has inspired and motivated me more to create my own work.”

“It’s an incredible experience for a course that is free since it’s a charity, better than most courses I’ve paid to be on. You can’t get the experience of touring and being a working actor from many places out there but you get it at Peer”

“I learned that I am an artist and that the concept of creating art or being an artist is not above me, it is me.”

“I got to work with both like-minded and differently-minded individuals with various skill sets to create art.”

“Peer gave me the ability to change and grow as a performer.”

Eligibility for the Actor Development Programme

Candidates must:

Be between 18- 24 years old
Be a legal resident of the UK with the right to study.

We value the positive impact that diversity brings to our team. We actively encourage applications from actors of all ethnicities and sexual and gender identities, particularly those who’ve faced institutional barriers to accessing careers in the arts. We are also positive and inclusive in regards to disability, and especially welcome applications from disabled actors.

Successful candidates must demonstrate their commitment to a career as a creative practitioner in the performing arts, and be available for the full year that course runs.

If you are not sure whether you are eligible, or have any questions regarding the course or audition process, accessibility, or further specifics, please get in contact with auditions@peerproductions.co.uk

Apply for the PEER actor development course