A former Bilborough College student has won a place at a drama school in New York which produced famous actors including Kevin Spacey and Robin Williams.
Tom Blyth is one of nine applicants out of 2,000, to be offered a spot on one of the world’s most sought-after BA actor training programmes at The Juilliard School.
The 21-year-old studied Drama and Theatre Studies, Business, Music Technology and Media at Bilborough College.
His first role was in Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood in which he played child and he is also one of the main characters and an independent film called Scott and Sid, which is due out next year.
Tom has been awarded a scholarship which means Juilliard will contribute more than £17,000 a year to his tuition fees but he still needs to raise a further £28,000 a year for the remaining fees, books, travel and health insurance.
Juilliard is widely considered as the best performing arts school in the world and has trained a host of famous actors. The course is due to start in September 2016 but Tom needs the funds for the first year in place by August 11th this year.In a bid to raise the cash he has set up a GoFundMe page and is appealing for donations, writing to businesses and asking for sponsorship.
Tom, of Nottingham, said he was thrilled to have been offered a place at Juilliard
He said: “I filled in an application form and had to send over some self-taped auditions because I’m not based in the US. Then I was invited over to New York to audition in front of a panel and I was called back again in the afternoon. I came back home and was invited back to spend time with the teachers at Juilliard and experience some of the lessons.
“I was about to leave the next day and I was in my hotel lobby when I got a phone call saying that I had been offered a place. It was amazing but quite surreal to be given this news when I was surrounded by strangers. I think it didn’t hit me for a while. Now I’m working hard to raise the money I need to be able to go to Juilliard.”
Chris Bradford, Principal at Bilborough College, said: “Each year an impressive number of our students progress to world-class drama schools. I’m proud to be associated with Tom’s achievement and pleased to witness this well-deserved recognition of his talent and hard work. I’m also grateful to our staff for the expertise and devotion they apply to inspiring and supporting students who choose to pursue this career route.”
Anyone who would like to make a donation can visit Tom’s GoFundMe page or email him on tomkeirblyth@gmail.com.