Accommodation

[nigelben]

DS is starting at the Manchester School of Theatre in September. Most drama schools don't tend to have halls of residence but as Manchester is allied to Man Met Uni, halls is an option. DS has been told by friends who are already at drama schools-but ones where there isn't the option of halls- that he should definitely live in a house with others on the course as they need to be able to rehearse together and won't be so tempted to boosy late nights/early mornings out as they have to be at the top of their game to perform which he agrees with. Ds is trying to get a few of the others on the course he has met through facebook to look at student houses but most seem to want to stay in halls.

Just wondered if anyone has any experience with their DC and what their advice would be.

[sapphire]

You don't have to live in the same flat to be able to rehearse together ... you just need to make the time to meet and you will be working with different people at different times. I think your DS has to do what feels right for him. It is hard without actually meeting people face to face. I know the schools without halls often have 'find a flatmate' days, but sounds like Man Met don't do that.

LIPA don't do that either. In first year, like the rest of her fellow actors, DD went into halls and was put with other students from LIPA, none of whom were on her course. She got on with them really well, and I know that it was good to have a ready made friendship group for the first few weeks of finding your feet etc. This year (second year), she wanted to live alone ... she decided that after long days in classes with her fellow actors she wanted her own space to go home to at the end of the day and she wanted to know that when she did finally get home there would still be milk in the fridge and a clean plate to eat from, which wasn't always the case in first year!!! She is living alone for her last year too, as despite having really good friends on the course, she has found that the 'drama' tends to spill over into home life far too easily. There have been several instances of 'musical flats' as friendships have changed over the year and she has had quite a few people sleeping on her sofa for a few nights after fall outs!

Not sure that helps ... but hope it does!

[nigelben]

Thanks Sapphire, that sounds like really good advice. Like you say, it's very difficult to know if you will all get on if you don't meet face to face even if you are all on the same course. I think DS is thinking now that he is going to apply for halls, personally, I would prefer him to as it's good to have support on hand for the first year.

[Welsh Mum]

Don't MST organise sharers days? I know many of the London drama schools do. My DD met people on the sharers day tat she ended up sharing with for the whole 3 years. I am surprised they do not help their students do this. On my Dds course a few went into halls (that was an option through Uni of London) but they wished they hadn't and often ended staying over at flats of those on the course. Acting courses have long days, early starts and other students didn't always appreciate this - when you day starts at 7.30 it's no fun being woken several times throughout the night by other students returning from nights out.

[katkit]

Good idea for a thread. And contacting the colleges to find out about 'sharing days' sounds like a good idea too.

My DD stayed away from home this year for the first time and had a negative experience for the first 6 months, the flat was always freezing, to name but one of the problems. Not a nice environment to go home to after a hard day at college. Luckily she moved into a shared house half way through the year with a lovely bunch of girls.

It is SO important getting your house mates and accomodation right, it is all part of the package of enjoying their drama school experience.

[Bambi]

Hi All
Has anyone got any experience with good accommodation for Bird college .

[alwood020]

My DD is starting at Bird in Sept & has linked up with some girls in same position via Facebook & they are going to share a house. How old is your DD as this may depend on where you are happy for her to stay. A lot of them stay in a house called the nest or there is another one in Elm Road, one has 16 beds the other 9, think they are pretty basic though. There are rooms available with landladies too as saw a post on the freshers page on Facebook. Think accommodation lists go out beginning of July so that may help you too. My DD house is approx 10 mins walk from Bird in a quiet close, also have other students renting another house in same road. Think she fell lucky. She just posted on freshers page that she was looking to share & they messages her!

Good luck in your search, if I can help in any way let me know

[Bambi]

Hi Alwood020
i have sent you a private message

[Bambi]

Went to view accommodation over the weekend when we were there to watch Bird show and its was lovely to see dd smile with excitement and look really happy . Good luck and well done to all in their new adventure .

[Bambi]

Is anyone going to Bird college still
looking for accommodation ? I KNOW OF A ROOM AVAILABLE