Hertfordshire theatre drama training school acting and musical theatre diploma course HERTS

Why HTS?

No other college in the country offers a diploma in Acting and Musical Theatre – most colleges insist on separate courses for the two disciplines. We believe that at the core of every good performer is a good actor, and at the core of every good actor there is a real person. At HTS you are encouraged to explore both your art and yourself. No successful actor is able to ‘act on an act'. At HTS we acknowledge that truth from the outset and will support you in your journey to find out who you are, enabling you to be the best performer that you are able to be.

I've been told to go to an accredited course.

We believe that for every actor in training there is an ideal course for the individual, some of those courses are accredited, some, like ours, are not. Follow this link to a letter sent to the school by a representative of the NCDT who checked us out as an unaccredited college seen for interest – we believe that this testimonial speaks for itself. We would simply add that Mr Gill wrote that letter 4 years ago, like all colleges HTS has evolved in that time. We consider ourselves to be even better now!

What makes HTS different?

Our students come first at all times. Ever taken part in a class that was so exciting, or came so close to that break through that you wanted to make, only to be told that the time was up, the class would continue next week? By that time you're back to square one. At HTS because of the size and the close communication between all heads of department, we simply extend that class! Seems simple doesn't it, yet how many colleges do that? We listen to the needs of our students, and then we act on them.

You're training to become a performer yet you're not permitted to perform until you're in your 2 nd or 3 rd year? We don't see the sense in that – at HTS you do public performances from your very first term, after all where else are you going to learn stage craft if not on stage?
You only work with your year group? We believe that as performers you need to work with more experienced performers to evolve yourselves. Looking and learning is sometimes more valuable than doing, and repeating the same mistakes time and time again. At HTS you will do 2 shows a year with the entire college. Learning to work with more experienced performers, raising your standard at every opportunity.
By working with the other year groups you are instantly making more contacts with future industry people.
Most colleges can say that most of their staff have at one time worked in the business – how many can say that all of their staff are still working in the business? At HTS we recognize that the theatre industry is an ever evolving business, requiring different things from performers every year. For that reason all of our staff are currently active in the theatre world – even the heads of department are given time off to go and do shows in the ‘real world'. So you won't have any tutors teaching you out of date information. Equally you won't have any tutors who simply work in colleges – they are no good to you as they are closeted in the world of education. At HTS all staff practice what they preach, so from the outset you will have a realistic understanding of what is required of you in today's theatre (not 20 years ago).
We believe that there is enough competition out in the real world to spend your three years of college constantly competing for roles or simply to be noticed. We endorse a supportive environment where the best person for the role will be given the job, and the rest of the college will learn to accept rejection gracefully. There is nothing worse than getting that long awaited leading role only to feel the resentment from every other person who auditioned. At HTS all students are encouraged and supported to be gracious in defeat and to realize that next time it could be them – as opposed to why wasn't it me this time? Whilst simultaneously being given feedback on how to improve your chances of securing the role next time.
As part of your 3 rd year you will be sent out on a professional TIE tour – learning first hand the trials of touring and working with audiences that can be amongst your most cynical – the young child!
Due to the size of HTS all of our staff really know the students. You are never a number fighting to get to the front, or a nameless face in a crowd. You will be treated at all times like an individual – searching for a style of performance that suits you – not just creating an HTS clone. One of the many favorable comments that we've heard over the years is that when you watch one of our shows you really do see a group of individuals working together to create a strong and unique ensemble, as opposed to a collection of people all groomed to look, sound and act the same.
Being an actor is about creating the ultimate package, making sure that the wrapping is as good as the present so to speak. At HTS you will be advised on how to make the most of yourself – how to collate that package into its most marketable form.
We are aware that Drama College is an expensive business, so we have no hidden extras to hit you with on arrival e.g. individual singing lessons which many MT (musical theatre) courses charge extra for, are included in your fees. Our staff do not tout for your business on an individual level, we believe that the course will provide you with all the training that you need – that is after all what you're paying for! Your only expense outside the fee is for your LAMDA exam, we even pay for your basic combat exam.
HTS is proud to have an invisible 4 th year, consisting of all our graduated students since the college started in 1989. How many colleges genuinely know 15 years on what their students are doing today? On college websites across the country you can read the list of what their highest profile students are doing. The most unusual thing about HTS is that it's a college for life, not just for the 3 years that you sign up for. Students will regularly return to speak to current students, or come to see the shows, or simply turn up for the annual Graduation Ball (regardless of whether or not they know the graduating year). If they have a query about a particular job, or are trying to get information on a specific audition, or simply want to get reassurance about a professional decision – they know that they can simply call us up or pop in and time will be made for them.

Does all the above sound too good to be true? To HTS it's simply common sense – we just wonder why nobody else is doing it?


Why HTS? No other college in the country offers a diploma in Acting and Musical Theatre – most colleges insist on separate courses for the two disciplines. We believe that at the core of every good performer is a good actor, and at the core of every good actor there is a real person. At HTS you are encouraged to explore both your art and yourself. No successful actor is able to ‘act on an act'. At HTS we acknowledge that truth from the outset and will support you in your journey to find out who you are, enabling you to be the best performer that you are able to be. I've been told to go to an accredited course. We believe that for every actor in training there is an ideal course for the individual, some of those courses are accredited, some, like ours, are not. Follow this link to a letter sent to the school by a representative of the NCDT who checked us out as an unaccredited college seen for interest – we believe that this testimonial speaks for itself. We would simply add that Mr Gill wrote that letter 4 years ago, like all colleges HTS has evolved in that time. We consider ourselves to be even better now! What makes HTS different? Our students come first at all times. Ever taken part in a class that was so exciting, or came so close to that break through that you wanted to make, only to be told that the time was up, the class would continue next week? By that time you're back to square one. At HTS because of the size and the close communication between all heads of department, we simply extend that class! Seems simple doesn't it, yet how many colleges do that? We listen to the needs of our students, and then we act on them. You're training to become a performer yet you're not permitted to perform until you're in your 2 nd or 3 rd year? We don't see the sense in that – at HTS you do public performances from your very first term, after all where else are you going to learn stage craft if not on stage? You only work with your year group? We believe that as performers you need to work with more experienced performers to evolve yourselves. Looking and learning is sometimes more valuable than doing, and repeating the same mistakes time and time again. At HTS you will do 2 shows a year with the entire college. Learning to work with more experienced performers, raising your standard at every opportunity. By working with the other year groups you are instantly making more contacts with future industry people. Most colleges can say that most of their staff have at one time worked in the business – how many can say that all of their staff are still working in the business? At HTS we recognize that the theatre industry is an ever evolving business, requiring different things from performers every year. For that reason all of our staff are currently active in the theatre world – even the heads of department are given time off to go and do shows in the ‘real world'. So you won't have any tutors teaching you out of date information. Equally you won't have any tutors who simply work in colleges – they are no good to you as they are closeted in the world of education. At HTS all staff practice what they preach, so from the outset you will have a realistic understanding of what is required of you in today's theatre (not 20 years ago). We believe that there is enough competition out in the real world to spend your three years of college constantly competing for roles or simply to be noticed. We endorse a supportive environment where the best person for the role will be given the job, and the rest of the college will learn to accept rejection gracefully. There is nothing worse than getting that long awaited leading role only to feel the resentment from every other person who auditioned. At HTS all students are encouraged and supported to be gracious in defeat and to realize that next time it could be them – as opposed to why wasn't it me this time? Whilst simultaneously being given feedback on how to improve your chances of securing the role next time. As part of your 3 rd year you will be sent out on a professional TIE tour – learning first hand the trials of touring and working with audiences that can be amongst your most cynical – the young child! Due to the size of HTS all of our staff really know the students. You are never a number fighting to get to the front, or a nameless face in a crowd. You will be treated at all times like an individual – searching for a style of performance that suits you – not just creating an HTS clone. One of the many favorable comments that we've heard over the years is that when you watch one of our shows you really do see a group of individuals working together to create a strong and unique ensemble, as opposed to a collection of people all groomed to look, sound and act the same. Being an actor is about creating the ultimate package, making sure that the wrapping is as good as the present so to speak. At HTS you will be advised on how to make the most of yourself – how to collate that package into its most marketable form. We are aware that Drama College is an expensive business, so we have no hidden extras to hit you with on arrival e.g. individual singing lessons which many MT (musical theatre) courses charge extra for, are included in your fees. Our staff do not tout for your business on an individual level, we believe that the course will provide you with all the training that you need – that is after all what you're paying for! Your only expense outside the fee is for your LAMDA exam, we even pay for your basic combat exam. HTS is proud to have an invisible 4 th year, consisting of all our graduated students since the college started in 1989. How many colleges genuinely know 15 years on what their students are doing today? On college websites across the country you can read the list of what their highest profile students are doing. The most unusual thing about HTS is that it's a college for life, not just for the 3 years that you sign up for. Students will regularly return to speak to current students, or come to see the shows, or simply turn up for the annual Graduation Ball (regardless of whether or not they know the graduating year). If they have a query about a particular job, or are trying to get information on a specific audition, or simply want to get reassurance about a professional decision – they know that they can simply call us up or pop in and time will be made for them. Does all the above sound too good to be true? To HTS it's simply common sense – we just wonder why nobody else is doing it?
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