THE north’s burgeoning screen industry has been dealt a blow after a highly regarded drama school confirmed it will pull its courses from Belfast.
Rose Bruford College set up in Belfast during 2021, launching an acting for screen foundation course in response to the growth of the film industry in the city.
But the drama school shocked its incoming cohort of students just two weeks ago with a letter announcing the cancellation of the course.
The letter, seen by The Irish News, blamed “unforeseen issues with logistics and resourcing”.
But a spokesperson for the college has now confirmed it has no plans to run future courses in Belfast.
Rose Bruford College’s alumni includes Gary Oldman and Stephen Graham.
It’s thought around 30 students had enrolled in the six-month Belfast course, seen as a gateway to pursuing further study and a career in film and TV.
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The cohort is understood to include a mix of local students and some who had planned to travel from Britain to relocate to Belfast to study.
A number of students had already paid deposits for accommodation in the city when they received the August 8 letter announcing the course had been cancelled.
Rose Bruford College said it was exploring whether the Belfast students could be accommodated at its main campus in Sidcup, just outside London. Brighton and Edinburgh were also offered as potential alternative options.
But the logistics, costs and time-frame involved meant such a move was possible for many of the students.
Erin Ryder (18) from Donegal, spent the past two years studying stage and theatre performance in England.
She said she opted for the Belfast course to be closer to her family in Co Donegal.
After securing her place on the Rose Bruford course in February, she spent the past six months planning her move to Belfast.
“I had heard so many brilliant things about Rose Bruford, that’s what made me want to apply,” said Erin.
“I had been away from my family for around two years and Belfast isn’t too far away from Donegal. I just thought this is brilliant.”
She said the email informing her the course had been cancelled left her shocked and disappointed.
“It was the last thing I had expected to hear. I had everything sorted, including accommodation and I was all ready to move in, with all the stuff bought for my apartment.
The Pettigo teenager said she was left with little option other than to take a year out and move home with her family in Donegal.
“I’m left in limbo to be honest. Just to be told it’s cancelled, it’s crazy. We weren’t really given much of an explanation.
“I emailed them to ask for an explanation, but they couldn’t give me one. We have been left in the dark a little bit.
“To just have it all taken away by one email, it’s really disheartening to be honest.
“It leaves me in a bad situation. I had already paid a deposit for my accommodation in Belfast.
“I expect a lot of other people would have been in the same scenario.”
