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Leeds Actors in Training

Leeds Actors in Training (LAIT) is a studio-based vocational programme for young people aged 18-25 years to challenge and develop their performance skills alongside industry-leading professionals.

Overview

LAIT is a year-long acting course with sessions taking place once a week on a Wednesday evening. Founded in 2018, LAIT was developed in response to a call from young people interested in an acting career who were looking for high-quality skills development opportunities and an alternative to the traditional (and prohibitively expensive) drama school route.

The course is run by Lizi Patch, Artistic Director of Young People’s Theatre, and is designed to develop participants vocally, physically, and imaginatively, encouraging an independent and in-depth approach to a career within the theatre industry.

With a focus on performance skills, including improvisation, clowning, scene work and audition preparation, the programme is a perfect training ground for those taking their first steps in the industry.

“I believe LAIT has been fundamental to me as an actor. It has allowed me to grow not only as an artist but as a person too.”

Natasha Hudson, LAIT alumnus

A headshot of Natasha Hudson

Credit: Chris Coote

Interested?

Applications for LAIT 2024-25 are now closed.

Find out more about the course from our LAIT 2024-25 Info Pack.

If you would like to receive updates about LAIT, including information about next year’s intake, you can join our mailing list here.

Meet Lizi

Lizi Patch, Artistic Director of Young People’s Theatre, is a playwright, dramaturg and artist. She leads the sessions, organises material and resources, and frequently arranges special guest artists to run sessions with LAIT.

A smiling woman with brown hair and her arms crossed looks into the camera against the backdrop of Leeds Grand Theatre auditorium

Lizi has been the Artistic Director of LAIT since she founded the course in 2018. Her passion for creating theatre with young people and mentoring new artists informs all her work.

To date, she has directed contemporary works including Find A Partner (Miriam Battye) and The Maladies (Carmen Nasr) with LAIT, as well as directing 12 full-scale musicals and a range of devised works with Leeds Grand Youth Theatre. Lizi has had a varied career, including running her own theatre company, writing afternoon plays for Radio 4, touring her own work across the country, and supporting a range of artists.

Guest artists

Every year, LAIT are joined by a number of guest artists who contribute to our young actors’ development. Each artist delivers a specific masterclass designed to introduce new skills to our members and provide them with vital tools to navigate such a densely populated industry.

Photo of Dawn Holgate

Dawn Holgate

Specialism: Dance, Choreography

Dawn Holgate trained as a dancer at London Contemporary Dance School and spent much of her career with Phoenix Dance Theatre. Dawn is a course leader at The Mill School of Performance and is co-choreographing Dance School, an upcoming Channel 4 series.

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A bearded man with shoulder-length hair and in a green jumper, Sam Kenyon, poses with arms crossed for a headshot

Sam Kenyon

Specialism: Vocal Coaching, Singing

Sam Kenyon is a writer, composer and teacher based in London, who has taught singing for over 20 years. His writing credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Play for the Nation and Miss Littlewood (Royal Shakespeare Company), and I Am Not Raymond Wallace (Inkandescent).

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A black and white photo of a Paul Birch in a striped blazer gesticulating towards someone he is directing

Paul Birch

Specialism: Improv, Playwrighting

Paul is a playwright, director and improviser who has made work with and for Audible, the BBC, Bristol Old Vic, Next Door But One, York Theatre Royal and more. He trained in improv at North American schools like the legendary Second City. He is currently Artistic Director of Riding Lights Theatre Company.

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A drama facilitator in athletic wear stands and points towards the camera while smiling

Eleanor Manners

Specialism: Directing, Voice

Eleanor is a director, voice coach and facilitator based in Leeds, who has worked on national and international theatre shows. Her credits include Jack Frost and the Search for Winter (Tutti Frutti), Oliver! (Leeds Playhouse) and Is God Is (Royal Court Theatre). Eleanor is also Youth Theatre Director at Leeds Playhouse.

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Previous shows

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The cast of Find A Partner stand with one fist raised above their heads and are shouting. The cast wear green boiler suits, apart from one man who wears a pink waist coat and pink leather jacket.
A group of actors dressed in black crowd around each other with their hands held out
One actor sits on a block in a feather boa and bridal headpiece, while another looks down at him also wearing a feather boa

Since launching in 2018, our young actors from LAIT have put on performances and productions across Leeds Grand Theatre Studio, City Varieties Music Hall and Seven Arts in Chapel Allerton.

Explore our gallery of photos for a taste of our past productions.