Dan Burstow - Arts Educational Schools London 2023

My name is Dan Burstow, I’m a 22-year-old musical theatre student currently training at ArtsEd.

I grew up in St Albans in Hertfordshire, and with such a short trip into London, theatre trips with my parents were a regular occurrence, and while my sister covered her ears I quickly fell in love.

Strangely enough, however, becoming an actor was apparently not on my own to-do list as I adamantly refused to take part in my first musical, We Will Rock You at school, take singing lessons, join a choir or take dance classes, all of which I had to be dragged kicking and screaming to by my mum, who to this day remains my biggest supporter and critic. Once I started though, I never stopped and my passion for music and theatre grew into what it is today.

After a trip to see 42nd Street at Drury Lane when I was 15, I found out about ArtsEd and very quickly had my mind set: this is where I needed to be. And sure enough, 3 years later, I auditioned and joined for my foundation year and was lucky enough to be accepted onto the BA the following year.

I’m so excited for the coming years and can’t wait for all the amazing opportunities. I’m so incredibly grateful to the knights and their generosity, it really means the world to me, so thank you.