Introducing the first participants of Rep Studio 8
We are thrilled to announce the eight young people who will be the first participants in our new acting training programme, Rep Studio 8.
This new intensive programme offers eight Midlands-based actors training and experience to build sustainable careers in the theatre industry. The initiative reflects The Rep’s ongoing commitment to nurturing diverse talent and strengthening pathways into the arts.
The 2026 Rep Studio 8 cohort includes: Maisie Britton, Reece Cameron Fielding, Victor A Daniels, Lerissa Doré, Samuel Gold Akanbi, Quennie Lim, Loretta Thompson and Kevvauna Welsh.
Credit Kris Askey
Participants will benefit from hands-on workshops, masterclasses with leading industry professionals, and performance opportunities, including performing in The Red Shoes as part of the Rep Rising summer festival and Twelfth Night as part of a Theatre in Education (TiE) tour.
Rep Studio 8 has been made possible thanks to funding from The JABBS Foundation who have provided funding to run the programme and bursaries for the eight participants.
Head of Young Rep at Birmingham Rep, Becky Deeks said: “Rep Studio 8 is a programme we’ve wanted to launch for some time, and we’re incredibly grateful to The JABBS Foundations for making it possible. The eight performers were selected from The Company at The Rep, where there is an incredible pool of talent, and we wanted to offer an intensive training opportunity for performers who may not be able to or may not want to attend drama school. Led by working theatre professionals, it offers an alternative training programme that focuses on developing versatile performers ready for a range of theatre settings and also offers them networking opportunities to integrate themselves into working theatres. We’re already hugely impressed by what the eight are achieving and look forward to seeing them perform in the coming months.”
Creative Learning Director at The Rep, Rachel Sharpe, added: “At Birmingham Rep, creative learning plays a vital role in how we nurture and develop artists, working with young people from as early as age three across our programmes in the theatre, and in schools, colleges and communities. As a producing theatre with a proud history, Rep Studio 8 plays a crucial role in supporting emerging performers to develop their craft, grow in confidence, and build sustainable careers here in Birmingham.”
The Rep has a long history of championing new talent, and Rep Studio 8 builds on this legacy by creating a structured, high-quality training environment rooted in real-world practice.
To find out more about The Rep’s Community Engagement programmes and opportunities to take part click the link below.