A scandal-ridden drama school that has trained stars like Miranda Hart has closed without warning, saying it is no longer “financially viable”.
The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA) announced on Monday that it would lay off 44 employees, effective immediately. Students are helped to find “alternative courses of study”.
Students had previously accused the school of “systemic racism.”
One student called the closure “disgusting”.
A statement on the school’s website said: “ALRA underwent a restructuring in Spring 2021 aimed at stabilizing finances.
“But the losses in the 2020-21 academic year and the lack of significant new revenue streams in 2021-22 meant the organization was not financially viable.”
Attempts were made in vain to “find a new owner to secure the college’s long-term future.”
The school was established in 1979 with campuses in Wigan and Wandsworth, south London.
In addition to Hart, former students include Suzi Ruffell and Hannah Waddingham.
2020 a group of former students published an open letter Accusing the institution of widespread and systemic racism.
The letter outlined some examples of racism students allegedly suffered, including an alleged incident in which a teacher told a student he “looked like a terrorist” after he grew a beard.
In a statement released in September 2020, ALRA said: “We openly acknowledge that ALRA has had a history of failure and trauma caused by racism, which we take very seriously. We apologize unreservedly for this and for the time it takes to investigate each complaint with the due care it deserves.
“Individual complaints were examined and collective letters noted. As a result, structural changes were made and processes were put to the test and further developed for effective operation.”
In 2021, the school laid off several employees to stabilize its financial situation.
Based in Kent, Rose Bruford College has offered all ALRA students a place to continue their studies.
Students can transfer to other colleges and are supported by St Mary’s University, Twickenham.
Students were informed by email at 08:30 BST that the school had closed.
Lizzie Green, a third-year drama student, told the BBC: “I am heartbroken and devastated.
“All my life I’ve wanted to go to drama school. It’s devastating that it ended like this.
“It was clear that the school had no money. But we pay around £14,000 a year in fees, so we want to know where the money is going.”
Inigo Roberston, a third-year drama student, said the closure left him “lost”.
“They told us about the casting for our next show this week – now we’re told we’re never going back.
“I have my dissertation in two weeks, but now we don’t know what to do.”
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