Act Graduate Showcase 2026

ACT Drama School is bringing its latest graduates to The Lantern Theatre for the Act Graduate Showcase 2026, running on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 July. It's a showcase in the truest sense: the school's newest acting graduates taking the stage together to show what they've been working on. The official description puts it as "the best and the brightest of Brighton's new acting talent", and that's the whole point of the night — seeing a group of actors just starting out, each getting their own moment in the spotlight.

If you're into theatre, this is one of those nights where the draw is the discovery. Rather than a single play with one story, you'll see a series of pieces that let the individual actors show their range. It's a good way to get a feel for the kind of work coming out of the school this year, and to see a few different styles of performance in one sitting. Since it's a showcase, the focus stays on the acting rather than the production around it.

The school is based right here in Brighton, so this is a local crop of talent stepping out for their first proper public showing. It's the kind of thing that's easy to appreciate if you've got a soft spot for the early days of a career — seeing people who've spent years training finally get a chance to perform for a real audience.

Both nights start at 20:00, so you've got the choice of Friday 17 July or Saturday 18 July. The venue is The Lantern Theatre, 77 St James's Street, BN2 1PA, and tickets are £6.00.