AoC monthly spotlight: City of Westminster College

In October, students from City of Westminster College’s Level 3 Diploma in Performing and Production Arts have stepped into the spotlight through an exciting new partnership with one of London’s most celebrated independent theatres, Donmar Warehouse.

Twenty-five students have secured places on two of Donmar’s flagship education programmes: Take the Stage and the LOCAL Residency. These initiatives offer students a rare and exciting opportunity to develop their creative skills in a professional theatre setting, working alongside industry experts and engaging with the vibrant cultural life of Covent Garden.

Take the Stage immerses students in the full theatrical experience. Under the guidance of a professional director, participants explore current productions, collaborate with creatives, and ultimately devise and perform their own original piece of theatre within Donmar’s iconic space.

Running alongside this is the LOCAL Residency, a 12-week programme that invites students to reflect on their lived experiences as young Londoners. With mentorship from seasoned theatre professionals, they will craft a new piece that speaks authentically to their communities and identities.

To kick off the residency, students attended a performance of Juniper Blood at Donmar, a powerful introduction to the kind of bold, innovative storytelling they will soon be creating themselves.

Stephen Davis, CEO and Group Principal of United Colleges Group, said:

“Collaborating with Donmar Warehouse provides our students with an exceptional opportunity to learn from sector-leading professionals and express themselves through original, creative work.

“The creative arts is such an important sector in today’s environment, so we know that this experience will undoubtedly shape their future careers, whether that is in the arts or elsewhere.”

This partnership is a great example of how colleges can work with cultural institutions to enrich student learning, foster creativity, build pathways into the arts and embed real-world experience across vocational programmes.