‘In the past, there was lots of swearing and saying you were crap’: my day at the all-new Italia Conti stage school

Italia Conti, the renowned stage school, celebrates its 115th anniversary this year, having been founded in London in 1911 by English actor Italia Conti. The school, now located in a Woking building since 2022, has evolved significantly from its early days. Initially established to train children for the play "Where the Rainbow Ends" at the Savoy Theatre, notable early students included Noël Coward. By the 1930s, Italia Conti offered a broad curriculum encompassing elocution, acting, singing, fencing, and various dance styles, including ballroom, operatic, Greek, and stage dancing. The current atmosphere at the school is notably quieter than its historical reputation might suggest, with students observed using their phones in corridors, a contrast to the more boisterous environment implied by past anecdotes of "lots of swearing and saying you were crap." This shift reflects a more contemporary and potentially softer approach to student development within the institution.