Urgent message to any aspiring actors in leeds pls read

This will be the last post I do on this forum as I need to move on BUT the least I can do is try and give some advice to anyone who wants to take the next step in their acting career. Do NOT and I repeat DO NOT go to the Mill School of Performing Arts. You are lied to from day one by the course leader who sells you dreams that don’t exist and then has the audacity to blame you for any shortcomings. I was dumb enough to buy into those lies but only recently mustered up the bravery to leave halfway through the year as my mental and emotional health was deteriorating rapidly due to the toxic environment and lack of actual change. I spent 3-4 years of my life there and I can’t get them back. I am not the only casualty, from all of the students who attended The Mill, only a few still act in the industry and even then have had to take drastic measures such as going halfway across the world to find their success. The rest of us are burnt out, uninspired, unprepared and lost at sea. I’ve seen so many people come and go and all leave for the same reasons, lack of acting and communication, toxic relationships with staff especially the course leader who is incapable of running a corner shop yet alone a university course. This week in fact is their end of year show, typically a big show for a lot of people but all I’ve seen and heard is anxiety and depression. Their last show is being performed in a classroom of all places and at best only half the tickets have been sold with 2 days left, not to mention that they are performing 4 times over 2 days and 3/4 of those shows have barely sold 80% of tickets. This is unacceptable and a shameful result of a lack of trust and ability to run an acting course. More and more people are leaving after 2 years of a 3 year course and more people will suffer. I had to wait a full year to do my 3rd year because too many people left so there was nobody left. You don’t need to like me, you don’t even know me but nobody can say that I am wrong, I have been associated with The Mill School of Performing Arts since 2021 and it is the biggest **** stain on my life nevermind my career which is up in the air. Acting is supposed to be fun, a way to revel in your creativity yet at the Mill, creativity was looked down upon in favour of whatever the course leader was able to do with his limited experience and abilities in the industry as he probably hasn’t had full time work in the acting industry since Michael Jackson was Black. I’d highly recommend going to any other acting school in Leeds such as Leeds Beckett, MetFilm or IPM as they are more reliable and focused on providing the best experience for actors and students. Unfortunately I know some people have already made their choices to join the mill and that’s their funeral. I do not say this as a bitter man I say this as a man who could’ve walked away yet I care about people and I care about acting. The Mill School of Performing Arts tried to silence me or dismiss any criticism but now there’s nowhere to run or hide anymore. 3/4 shows being barely filled with anyone is the crème de La crème of failures I’ve seen after hyping up this final show all year. Please please please make the right decision and save yourself from making the biggest mistake in your acting career.

Reply 1

welcometotherock

I'd only ever heard of them on here (& various members of my family have taught at trained at and worked in the performing arts industry (including 2 family members currently in Leeds.

I'd suggest that Leeds Conservatoire is a much more reputable institution to study at.

Reply 2

RM-UK

I am so sorry to read this.

I hope you are OK and that you have support. Please reach out to the people who can help you recover. 💔

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