SINCE 1911, ITALIA CONTI ALUMNX HAVE BEEN LEADERS AND INSPIRERS WITHIN CREATIVE INDUSTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.
is an English actress, dancer and singer. She came to prominence as a child star in the 1970s, when she had a notable role in the TV series Just William. In the 1980s, she played companion Mel Bush in Doctor Who. She has also been known for appearing in various musicals in the West End and on Broadway, including shows such as Peter Pan, Cats, The Pirates of Penzance and Chicago. From 2015 to 2018, she portrayed the role of Carmel Kazemi on the BBC soap opera EastEnders, for which she received the 2016 British Soap Award for Best Newcomer.
British Soap Award for Best Newcomer – Eastenders 2016
We are very proud to announce that Chloë Sommer was the winner of the BBC Carleton Hobbs Bursary Award in 2022.
Chloë joined the BBC Radio Drama Company Saturday 23rd July 2022. Thank you to the full Carleton Hobbs team and those supporting them creatively and technically.
A proud mention for Sophie Moss, current BA (Hons) Acting 3rd Year student, who received a Special Commendation for her work.
Link: https://bbc.in/3MLPwB4
Congratulations to third-year BA Hons Musical Theatre Student, Cherece Richards, who is playing the role of ‘Dragon’ in the upcoming UK and Ireland tour of ‘Shrek the Musical’. The new revival of Shrek will tour from 21st July 2023 until 21st April 2024.
In 1964 she released a single, “To Know Him Is to Love Him”, under the name “Cleo”, produced by Andrew Loog Oldham and backed by The Rolling Stones. After Brian Jones left the Rolling Stones in 1969, she agreed to rehearse with his new band but abandoned music to concentrate on her theatre and television work.
Her West End debut was at Wyndham’s Theatre in Wise Child (1967) by Simon Gray, in which she starred alongside Sir Alec Guinness and was nominated most promising new actress. She was the first black actress in a leading role at the National Theatre in The National Health (1969) by Peter Nichols. She did several seasons with the Young Vic Company, including Molière’s Les Fourberies de Scapin on Broadway and a tour of Mexico. She has subsequently worked in many regional theatres, including the Theatre Royal, Lincoln, the Theatre Royal, Brighton, the Theatre Royal, York, the Derby Playhouse and the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry. On the fringe she played Phaedre on the Edinburgh Fringe in 2007 and Rosa Parks, Josephine Baker and Wangari Maathai in Alison Mead’s A Century of Women at Leicester Square Theatre (2011). She appeared with Antony Sher in his play ID (2003) at the Almeida Theatre, toured with English Touring Theatre in Far from the Madding Crowd (2008) and with Northern Broadsides in its 2010 production of Medea. Children’s theatre work includes seasons at the Unicorn Theatre and the London Bubble Theatre Company.
Her television appearances include: Ken Loach’s Up the Junction (1965), Cathy Come Home (1966) and Poor Cow (1967), as well as appearances in the original Till Death Us Do Part, Z-Cars, Callan, Doctors, New Tricks, The Armando Iannucci Shows, Chambers, The Bill, Who Do You Do and A Bird in the Hand, a Tube Tales episode directed by Jude Law. After a brief appearance as a factory worker in soap opera Coronation Street in 1966, she became the first ever regular black British female character on British TV, in the original series of Crossroads, playing Meg Richardson’s adopted daughter Melanie from 1970 to 1972.[7] She was also a regular in Grange Hill, Happy Families and presented Play School and Merry-Go-Round. In 2020 she played Anne Chapman in All Creatures Great and Small.
Her film credits include Till Death Us Do Part (1969), The Smashing Bird I Used to Know (1969), Trog (1970), My Lover My Son (1970), The Alf Garnett Saga (1972), Sammy and Rosie Get Laid (1987), The Love Child (1988), The Punk and the Princess (2003), Kidulthood (2006) and Paddington (2014), and she has made several shorts with director Isaac Julien, including The Attendant (1992) and Vagabondia (2000), which was shortlisted for that year’s Turner Prize.
Congratulations to Italia Conti Alumnx, Cleo Sylvestre, on being awarded an MBE in the King’s New Year’s Honors List for services to drama and to charity.
Daniel is an English actor having had roles in EastEnders (2000), Pearl Harbor, All or Nothing and Vera Drake (2001), Rehab (2005), Shifty and Red Riding (trilogy) (2008), Made in Dagenham and Ashes to Ashes (2010), Outcasts (2011), Mrs Biggs and Byzantium (2012), Line of Duty and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), Des and White Lines (2020).
Mays has been nominated for best supporting actor at both the BIFA’s (2008), and the BAFTA’s (2017), as well as having extensive experience in theatre.
Italia Conti Alumnx Dario Coates has been cast as ‘Connie’ in the new series of ‘You’ on Netflix.
Italia Conti Alumnx, Declan Spaine, will take over the part of Alexander Hamilton in ‘Hamilton’ at the Victoria Palace Theatre, London, from 19 June
Derek is an American professional Latin and ballroom dancer, choreographer, actor and singer. From 2007 to 2016, Hough was a professional dancer on the ABC dance competition series Dancing with the Stars, winning the show a record-breaking six times with his celebrity partners. For his work, Hough received eleven nominations for the Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Choreography, winning the award three times. Hough later became a judge on the series beginning with its 29th season.
Hough has also appeared as an actor on stage, appearing at the West End premiere of Footloose: The Musical at the Novello Theatre and as well as the 2015 New York Spring Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. In film and television, he has starred in the film Make Your Move and had a recurring role in the ABC musical-drama Nashville. In 2016, he appeared as Corny Collins in NBC’s live musical TV-production of Hairspray Live!
From 2017 to 2020, Hough served as a judge on the NBC dance competition series World of Dance.
Derek won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography: Dancing with the Stars in 2013, 2015 and 2021
Italia Conti Alumnx, Donita Sait, features in the new Warner Bros. @wonkamovie which will be released in cinemas on 15 December 2023
Congratulations to third-year BA Hons musical theatre student Francisco Gomes who is joining the cast of ‘Sasha Regan’s all-male The Mikado’
George is an actor and musician, known for originating the role of Dave Davies in the musical Sunny Afternoon. George is reprising his role as Buck Barrow in Bonnie & Clyde the Musical at The Garrick for a strictly limited 11-week season from 4 March.
George Maguire is an English actor and musician, George won a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Dave Davies in the musical Sunny Afternoon
Italia Conti Alumnx Hannah Nazareth is appearing in What’s love got to do with it? Hannah is also appearing in Barbie, which is in cinemas from 21 July. Finally, Hannah is also the lead in Reach! which will be out in 2023.
John McCrea (born 10 October 1992) is a British actor and singer. He was nominated for a Olivier Award for the role Jamie New in the coming-of-age stage musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, and portrayed Artie in the 2021 Disney crime comedy-drama Cruella.
Critics’ Circle Theatre Circle Award 2017 – Most Promising Newcomer
WhatsOnStage Award 2018 – Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Julianne is an American dancer, actress, and singer. In 2007, she joined the cast of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars as a professional dancer, winning two seasons with her celebrity partners. After leaving the show in 2009, she returned in 2014 to serve as a permanent judge on Dancing with the Stars, a position she held until 2017. For her work on the series, she has received three nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography, winning once in 2015 with her brother Derek Hough.
Hough made her acting debut in the 2001 film Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, but played her first major role in the 2010 film Burlesque, which was followed by leading roles as Ariel in Footloose, Sherrie in Rock of Ages, and Katie in Safe Haven. In 2016, she played Sandy in the live Fox television production of Grease.[5] She also served as a judge on America’s Got Talent for its 14th season. In 2022, she made her Broadway theatre debut in the political farce POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive. That same year she hosted the 75th Tony Awards: Act One alongside Darren Criss which streamed on Paramount+.
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography: Dancing with the Stars in 2013, 2015 and 2021
Academy of Country Music Award for New Female Artist of the Year 2009
Academy of Country Music Award for New Artist of the Year 2009
Kéllé is an English singer and actress, known as a member of girl group Eternal. In 2018, she began portraying the role of Martine Deveraux in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, a role she played until 2022. She is also part of the Loose Women panel.
Kéllé Bryan has just been cast as Shelly in Significant Other, a brand new comedic-drama on ITV.
Kelly Brook, is an English model, actress, and media personality. She is known for her modelling work in the UK, and in the US for her role as Prudence on the NBC sitcom One Big Happy (2015).
Layton is an English actor, singer, and dancer, best known for playing the role of Stephen Carmichael in the television series Bad Education. His first job was at the age of twelve playing the title role in Billy Elliot the Musical on London’s West End. During his childhood he also played Young Michael Jackson in Thriller – Live musical, Kylie in the BBC series Beautiful People and featured in the CBBC Documentary School for Stars, which documented life at the acting school Italia Conti. From late 2016, he began playing Angel in the 20th anniversary tour of Rent around the UK. The production, particularly his performance, received rave reviews. Since January 2019 he is playing the title character of Jamie New in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Layton Williams returned for a Bad Education reunion on Thursday 15 December on BBC Three.
Layton Williams won the title of best male actor in a musical for taking over the title role in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at the Black British Theatre Awards in 2019
Congratulations to Italia Conti BA Acting second-year, Niamh Mannix, who collected her at the Old Vic last Thursday.
Mark Ballas is an American dancer, choreographer, singer-songwriter, musician, and actor. Ballas is a professional ballroom dancer on the ABC program Dancing with the Stars. He began competing on the show in season five during the fall of 2007 and was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Choreography in 2011.
On 6 September 2016, it was announced that Ballas would be the final actor to portray the role of Frankie Valli in the Broadway cast of Jersey Boys before it closes in 2017. On 26 May 2018, it was announced that he would play the role of the Teen Angel in the 2018 Toronto revival of Grease in a limited engagement. From November 2018, Ballas portrayed Charlie Price in the musical Kinky Boots on Broadway.
Mark Ballas will be appearing on Dancing with the Stars on ABC, USA.
is an English actress and singer. She began appearing in television commercials at an early age and made her television debut in the children’s television drama Bluebirds in 1989. In the early 1990s, it was her role as Tiffany Mitchell in the BBC’s soap opera EastEnders and her role in the 2003 romantic comedy Love Actually that brought her stardom. For the former she won the National Television Award, while the latter earned her the Empire and MTV Movie awards. In September 2016, McCutcheon was announced as a panelist on the ITV daytime show Loose Women, in 2021, she competed on the second series of The Masked Singer as Swan.
National Television Award for Most Popular Actress – 1997
TV Quick Award for Best Actress – 1998
Laurence Olivier Award 2002 – Best Actress in a Musical – My Fair Lady
MTV Movie Award for Best Trans-Atlantic Breakthrough Performer – 2004
Empire Award for Best Newcomer at the 9th Empire Awards for her performance – 2004
Italia Conti Alumnx, Milo McCarthy, has been cast in ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’ at Southwark Playhouse
Naomi is an English model, actress, singer, and businesswoman. She began her career at the age of 15, and established herself amongst the most recognisable and in-demand models of the past four decades. Campbell was one of six models of her generation declared supermodels by the fashion industry and the international press.
Italia Conti Alumnx Nathan Vaughan-Harris is returning to play Kam Tavernier in Season 2 of ‘Screw’ on Channel 4
Newton Faulkner is a singer-songwriter and musician and known for his percussive style of guitar playing. In 2007 Faulkner’s debut studio album Hand Built by Robots was certified double platinum in the United Kingdom. The album topped the UK Albums Chart in August 2007. It was promoted by three singles, “Dream Catch Me”, “I Need Something” and “Teardrop”. “Dream Catch Me” reached number seven on the UK Singles Charts.
Italia Conti Alumnx Nina Toussaint-White has been cast as Anna in Closer at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre from 14 July to 13 August
Kenickie in the U.K. Tour of Grease 2021
Kenickie in the West End production of Grease 2021
West End production of Saturday Night Fever 2021
Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz at The Curve 2022
Paul one of the nominees for Best Supporting Performer in a Musical Whatsonstage Awards 2022
AIN’T TOO PROUD at the Prince Edward Theatre 2022
BBC Carleton Hobbs Bursary Award Runner Up 2023
Congratulations to Italia Conti BA Acting third-year, ROSIE MELLETT who received runners-up awards – and will be cast as a freelance actor in one of our autumn/winter productions. The event this year was arranged in two Stages. In Stage One, nineteen accredited Drama schools and colleges took part – a total of 76 students. And of those, fourteen Colleges advanced to Stage Two with a pair of students each – a total of 28 students.
Sam is an English actor. He is most known for his title role in the West End production of the musical Dear Evan Hansen for which a then 22-year-old Tutty won a 2020 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, becoming one of the youngest winners of the award. In 2021, he joined the cast of the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks as Timmy Simons.
Best West End Debut Performer and Best Performer in a musical The Stage Debut Awards 2020
Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for Most Promising Newcomer (2019)
WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actor in a Musical (2020)
Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical (2020)
Sir Noel Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called “a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise”.
Congratulations to Italia Conti Musical Theatre third-year Degree student, Milly Willows, who has won the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year Competition 2023
Italia Conti Alumnx Tom Ainsley plays the role of ‘Charlie’ on ‘How I Met Your Father’ on Disney+
Best known for her roles in theatre, both dramatic and musical, Bennett has received two Olivier Awards for Best Supporting Role in a Musical for her performances in the musicals She Loves Me and Hairspray with additional nominations for her work in High Society and Follies. Bennett was also nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Mrs Henderson Presents while her performance as Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow earned her an Olivier nomination for Best Actress in a Play and a Tony Award nomination in the same category when the production transferred to Broadway. She played the role of Sharon Gaskell in Coronation Street from 1982 to 1984, returning to the role in 1999 and again in 2021.
Manchester Evening News Theatre Award 1984 – Best Actress – Carousel and Merrily We Roll Along
Laurence Olivier Award 1995 – Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical – She Loves Me
Laurence Olivier Award 2008 – Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical – Hairspray
WhatsOnStage Award 2008 – Best Supporting Actress in a Musical – Hairspray
WhatsOnStage Award 2009 – Best Supporting Actress in a Musical – La Cage aux Folles
Drama Desk Award 2012 – Outstanding Actress in a Play – End of the Rainbow
Outer Critics Circle Award 2012 – Outstanding Actress in a Play – End of the Rainbow