Prizes and awards

As part of its charitable mission, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) offers a UK Scholarship Programme to support talented creatives pursuing careers in the screen industries. The programme provides financial assistance to UK nationals studying eligible undergraduate and postgraduate courses in film, television, or games. In addition to financial support, recipients gain access to BAFTA’s professional development and mentoring networks, helping open doors into the industry.

Bunmi Osadolor, a student of BA Acting, was awarded the prestigious BAFTA Rosemarie Nathanson Scholarship in 2022.

Named after the distinguished actor, the prestigious Carleton Hobbs Bursary Award is open to students graduating from accredited UK drama schools and colleges. It offers winners a five-month contract with the BBC Radio Drama Company. The BBC states that the annual competition aims to identify “distinctive, versatile radio voices to form a nucleus of new talent.”

Over the years, a long list of East 15 students have received recognition through this award. In 2025, Maddy Lenny was named runner-up and will be cast in an upcoming BBC Radio production. Yash Kutty received a commendation for Best Solo – Prose Sight-Reading.

Funded by members of the prestigious Garrick Club, the David Garrick Scholarship supports students in the final year of their professional acting training. Awarded to those who demonstrate exceptional or promising acting talent, each scholarship is valued at £5000 and aims to support emerging performers as they prepare to enter the industry.

In 2024, Yash Kutty and Olivia Burton received the scholarship.

The Sir John Gielgud Bursary Award, presented by the Sir John Gielgud Charitable Trust, supports final-year drama students attending drama schools in the United Kingdom. Bursaries are awarded to assist actors as they complete their professional training and prepare to enter the industry.

The 2024 recipient was Abigail Sinclair, who received an award of £6250.

This is worth up to £7500 for a student entering the third year of BA Acting and is presented by the Society of London Theatre. East 15 students have regularly won this outstanding prize. 

Eve Werdmuller Von Elgg received an award of £1000 in 2022.

This is worth £2000 and has been consistently won by students from East 15, including Nina Bricard (2024), Jason Kuang Yao Lee (2023), Léah Bonaventura O'Cassicci (2022), Kira Hayes (2021), Jake McPherson (2020), Molly Rolfe (2019), Rory Howes (2018) and Jennifer Woodward (2017).

The Lionel Bart Foundation Award supports final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students as they prepare to enter the industry. The award reflects the values of the legendary musical writer and composer after whom it is named, offering vital assistance at a pivotal stage in a student's training.

The 2025 recipients are Esme Pitman and Daiz Croain, who were awarded £2500 each.

The Spotlight Prize offers graduating drama school students an exciting opportunity to showcase their talent in front of industry professionals. The winner receives £2000 and a year’s complimentary Spotlight membership, helping launch their professional career in the industry. 

Recent East 15 finalists include Scott Bowden in 2024 and Öncel Camci in 2023.

The Elizabeth Mills Award was established in 2016 and is worth £2500. In 2023, Jamie Wheatland and Ciara Chittenden-Ellis won £1250 each.

The Jacobs Ladder Bursary is a sponsorship fund for BA Acting students in their second and third years of study. Founded in 2016 by Chris and Angela Graham, the Bursary has supported a large number of students with individual awards ranging from £1000 to £9000. BA (Hons) Acting students in Years 2 and 3 are automatically eligible for this award. In 2024, 21 students received financial support from this bursary.

The Space Launchpad Award sees the Creative Team at The Space theatre pick plays from the BA (Hons) Acting & Contemporary Theatre ‘Debut Festival’ line-up for a transfer run at their theatre.

The Space is a theatre on the Isle of Dogs and is managed by the St Paul’s Arts Trust. Its aim as an organisation is to increase access to the arts and provide support for new artists. Its patrons are actor Sir Ian McKellen and Operatic soprano Marie McLaughlin.⁣ 

In 2025, three plays from the Debut Festival transferred to The Space, which include A Stable Home written by Bud Potter, A Tale from the Ticker written by Ines Santos Belmonte, and Madame, You Have A Guest, written by Felicia Kaspar.

Set up in collaboration with the King's Head Theatre, the Stella Wilkie Award is chosen by the Creative Team at the King's Head and sees a production from the BA (Hons) Acting & Contemporary Theatre 'Debut Festival' receive a transfer run at their venue in Islington.

The 2025 winner was James Goodall for his production, Grafters which he wrote and starred in.

The Timothy Welling Award was set up by Karen Newman (Bradburn) to commemorate Tim Welling, who was a graduate of the BA (Hons) Acting course at East 15. This award provides assistance, mentoring, and some financial support to a third-year student pursuing the BA (Hons) Acting course. In 2025, the award was won by Tilly Kibble, who received £500.

Worth £500, the Tom Bennett Comedy Award is awarded to a BA (Hons) Acting & Contemporary Theatre student. 2023 winners were Harry John Bailey and Konstancja Kendall.