BREAKING IN
Equipping young actors in the North East with the skills and tools they need to thrive in their auditions.
Produced by Rosy Cheek, in association with Live Theatre.
Are you a budding actor based in the North East with dreams of going to drama school? Perhaps you feel worried about the process and want to feel as ready as possible stepping into those audition rooms.
If so, Breaking In is for you!
Breaking In is run by Sol Taibi, a recent graduate from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and Rosie Bowden, a theatre maker in the North East. Sol has experience running drama school audition training courses in school establishments across the UK but feels there is a huge lack for opportunities like this in the North East of England.
We want to make sure the myths of drama school auditions are busted, and to do this in a financially accessible way so that every person, regardless of their financial circumstances, gets a chance to take part. We ask that participants pay a price reflective of their household income.
In order to apply for Breaking In courses, you will need to:
Be based in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham, Redcar and Cleveland or Middlesborough.
Aged 15+ from the 1st September 2025
Not currently hold a degree in the UK
Intend to apply for a full time BA Hons Acting degree or other creative degree in the future
Upcoming Breaking In courses:
Saturday 25th October 2025 - Classical Text and Audition Techniques Top Up: 1 until 6pm in Newcastle Upon Tyne
Sol Taibi is an actor, writer, and facilitator from Teesside, and a graduate of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School (BA Hons Professional Acting). His screen and stage credits include Smoggie Queens (BBC), No Gorillas in Thailand (Christchurch Studios), Ignorance is Bliss (Live Theatre), and Wormtown (Customs House).
With over a decade of experience as a facilitator, Sol is deeply passionate about supporting young people into the creative arts. He has worked extensively with Hurtwood House and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, bringing a wealth of experience, insight, and care to his teaching.
Sol trained for many years under Andy Johnson (The Excellent Audition Guide), whose influence helped shape his approach to audition preparation. Through this, Sol has developed a particular passion for empowering young actors to thrive in the audition process and gain places at some of the world’s leading drama schools.
He is also the recipient of the Just Add Milk Luke Westlake Scholarship, an award that champions working-class actors throughout their conservatoire training.
Saturday 1st November 2025 - Andy Johnson (The Excellent Audition Guide) masterclass: 1 until 6pm in Newcastle Upon Tyne
Andy Johnson is a writer, actor, comedian, and Director in Residence at the Hurtwood House Performing Arts School. Over the past 30 years, he has helped hundreds of aspiring actors from across the UK secure places at some of the world’s most prestigious drama schools.
He is also the author of The Excellent Audition Guide — a comprehensive handbook dedicated to the drama school application process, covering everything from audition speeches to UCAS and beyond. The book has become an essential resource for any actor embarking on their journey into professional training.
A proud working-class Welshman, Andy is deeply passionate about widening access to the arts and supporting those who may not have the same opportunities to pursue training. Renowned across the drama school circuit, his expertise and dedication have made him one of the most respected acting coaches in the field.
Some of his most notable former students include Vanessa Kirby, Michael Balogun and Sol Taibi!
Please email DRAMASCHOOLINTENSIVE@GMAIL.COM with any issues.