In Conversation with Peter, Tori and Jermaine, participants from our 2026 Summer Schools 

Hi Jermaine! You’ve just completed your first Guildhall Summer School with us. How was it for you? 

Honestly, it was amazing! It felt like a total creative explosion. We practiced both monologues and duologues, and the energy in the room was just great. Together we formed an immersive writer's room. I unlocked a whole new side of my creativity that I didn't even know existed inside me. It was intense (in a good way), and so much fun. 

Do you have a course highlight? 

The absolute highlight was when professional actors came in to do a live play-reading of the pieces we wrote! Seeing an actor breathe life into a part of my own one-man play was just pure magic. Besides that, working in such a small group made the feedback so fast and efficient. Plus, the course tutors were incredible – highly skilled, totally open, and so supportive. 

Can you tell us a little bit about your background and why you decided to participate in this course? 

I started out purely as an actor, but over time, I found myself slowly moving towards directing too. Eventually, I realised I didn't just want to perform or direct other people's stories – I wanted to create and write my own work from scratch. I chose this course to get the tools to actually start doing that. 

What do your next steps in writing look like for you? 

Before the course, I already had a few ideas that I wanted to develop. This course didn’t just spark a random new idea – it forced me to deep-dive into what I already had and really expand it. The ultimate goal is to write and direct my first one-man play. My immediate next steps are finishing the first draft, setting up some play-readings with an audience to test the material and rewrite, and then taking it to a Fringe festival! 

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone who’s thinking of doing a Guildhall Summer School or Short Course but isn't sure? 

Just stop thinking about it and go for it! Don't worry about whether you are "ready" or good enough. The vibe here is so welcoming, and it’s the perfect place to try things out, get ideas, make mistakes, and learn without feeling judged. You'll surprise yourself. 

One skill that you’ve learnt from the course that you think you will use in the future? 

Learning how to build a deep, captivating character voice through just a single monologue. Knowing how to keep an audience hooked when there is only one person talking on stage is a massive skill that I will use forever. 

Are there any other courses that you would like to do in the future – either with Guildhall School or elsewhere? 

Definitely! I'd love to do more advanced playwriting or something specific to producing independent theatre. Since I want to stage my own work, learning the business and production side of things would be a great next step. And I am always open to expand my directing through certain (new) techniques.  

The participants on our Summer Schools are a mixture of ages, with all different reasons for attending – was this also your experience? 

Yes, totally! It was such a cool mix of people. Having different ages and backgrounds in the room was brilliant because everyone brought their own unique life stories to the table. It made our group discussions so much richer and more interesting. 

How will you be spending the rest of your summer? 

I will be focusing on writing the very first draft of my one-man play. Alongside that, I am dedicated to keeping up with developing my acting skills. I just finished a different intensive course where I focused purely on acting in contemporary theatre. For me, sharpening my acting helps immensely with my writing and directing too – I really want to be able to wear all three of those hats confidently. 

Favourite book or TV series? 

I recently read the book Shuggie Bain, and the writing is absolutely breathtaking. The author creates such vivid, heartbreakingly real characters using distinct regional dialogue and deep empathy. From a writer-director perspective, it’s an incredible study on how to make an audience feel intense emotion through simple, honest storytelling. 

Please can you introduce yourself 

Hi, my name is Tori May and I'm here studying the Vocal Summer Course for Classical Singers.

Why did you apply for this course? 

I mainly applied for this course because I thought it would be great preparation for my audition to a conservatoire. Guildhall is one of my dream schools, and I really wanted to meet the teachers and the people in person. It's been fantastic to work with these teachers face to face, really get to know them, and see how I interact with them and how well we work together.

What has your experience been like so far?

The experience has been absolutely amazing. All the people here are lovely. I've had amazing one-to-one lessons in drama, movement and voice and I've come out a different singer each time and it's been fantastic. The people here, the friends I've made, it's unforgettable.

What was it like learning with other classical singers? 

Well, because I do GYA Online, I don't really have a lot of opportunity to work with other musicians, specifically singers. So being able to learn from other people has been amazing. I mean, you don't only just learn from the teachers, but you learn from the people around you. That's what's been really, really special. 

What do you hope to achieve in the future? 

I'm hoping to become a much more confident singer and really figure out what my voice truly sounds like and see what my true potential is. 

Can you describe this course in three words? 

Life changing, experimental and reflective.

What advice would you give to someone who's thinking about doing this course? 

I would say definitely apply for a short course here at Guildhall. It's a great opportunity to be in London, see what it's like to study at one of these big conservatoires and it's an amazing experience that you will not regret! 

In Conversation with Peter Straub

Peter, from Germany, is a lawyer based in Switzerland. In August he finished his second summer school with Guildhall. We caught up with Peter during his lunchbreak on the Musical Theatre Summer School, to hear all about his experience and his interest in acting.