The Bridge was established in 1993 by Judith Pollard, Mark Akrill, and other directors, actors, choreographers and musicians who felt strongly that drama courses were too often prohibitively expensive. The aim was simple: to make the highest level of actor training accessible to all – to produce actors from a mix of social and cultural backgrounds and by doing so to enrich the theatre, radio, film and television. We offered a free advisory service for those wishing to enter the profession and courses that cut through the atmosphere of elitism and privilege that existed in some parts of the industry. People of all classes, races, nationalities and backgrounds come to The Bridge to change their lives and become professional actors. We’re a non-profit making company which provides acting training of the highest quality with classes taught by actors, directors, performers, musicians and choreographers at the pinnacle of the industry. Because we are an educational charity many services are donated to The Bridge, so students pay less than cost price for their training. Once students graduate from the course, we’ll continue to work with them, providing everything from advice on contracts to help preparing them for auditions, from contacts in the industry to opportunities to work with us in a professional context. "I would wholeheartedly recommend The Bridge to any aspiring actor, no matter your age, experience, or nationality. They excel in helping you to be the best YOU that you can be.” – Mark Middleton, Graduate “Training at The Bridge is the best move I’ve made in life. The training and the tutors are class and I’ve graduated feeling confident in my ability to make it in the industry and I’m a million times more confident as a person.” – Leanne Rivers, Graduate "Couldn't recommend my training at The Bridge any more highly!" – Hannah Kirkpatrick, Graduate