A graduate of Stratford-upon-Avon College’s performing arts preparation course Phat Swan has seen his career prospects go from strength to strength in the twelve months since he graduated from the programme, with even brighter projects still to come.
Isaac Stuart, 20 from Banbury, studied on the College’s intensive Phat Swan programme from 2017 to 2018.
Phat Swan is a unique course providing continued skills development for students who wish to obtain a place at drama school, keeping them focused and preparing them for the auditions process.
Spring-boarding from his Phat Swan training, Isaac has taken on professional roles in the pre-production team for a new play at the Birmingham Old Rep, workshopped a musical in the West End and performed in a short film.
Against fierce competition, he also secured places on several prestigious theatre training programmes: the RADA Youth Company; the WoLab Actor-Writer Showcase and, having completed his senior intake course, is now a member of the National Youth Theatre. Isaac commented “I’m trying to keep as busy as possible. NYT was a wonderful experience and I was lucky enough to work with a fantastic theatre director and performer Montserrat Gili – it was so inspiring. I’m expanding my performance ’toolkit’ and becoming more employable and equipped to create my own work”.
Outside of the theatre, Isaac was cast in the short film The Night We Met. He explained, “It’s a coming-of-age drama with a John Hughes vibe to it. I play George, a 16-year-old who falls in love at a school dance.” If you want to see Isaac in action, The Night We Met is available to watch now on YouTube.
He feels confident that his training on the Phat Swan programme was crucial to his development as a performer and gave him the edge he needed to become a part of these projects and progress in the industry. “Phat Swan allowed me to keep creative. It gave me the space, time and nurturing needed to keep my creative juices flowing. It put me in a great position for auditions and moving into the industry, and, without it, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to perform in two brilliant plays.”
Looking ahead, in December Isaac will be performing in a leading award-winning theatre in London, for the WoLab Actor-Writer Showcase, which will be attended by agents and casting directors looking to find new talent. And looking further to the future? “I hope to relocate to London and, after graduating from drama school, start working with theatre-makers and artists, creating exciting work in theatre, film and TV.”
To keep up to date with Isaac’s career, be sure to like his Facebook page – facebook.com/isaacstuartactor and follow him on instagram – @isaacstuart.
