It’s not every day that a disused factory and drama school in North of London becomes the birthplace of West End stars, TV favourites, and rising household names. Yet over the past twelve years, Emil Dale Academy and the Factory Playhouse Theatre has quietly grown to become one of the UK’s most exciting training and performance spaces - a place where raw talent transforms into national success stories.
One of the most recognisable is Elijah Holloway, now known to millions as Harry Mitchell in EastEnders and a recent guest on This Morning. Before his on-screen success, Holloway was performing as Kenickie in Grease under the same Factory Playhouse lights as his peers; a testament to how far this Hertfordshire institution’s reach has grown.
Other alumni include Georgina Onuorah, recently seen in Shucked and Brigadoon at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and hailed as one of the “brightest rising stars of the West End”; Izi Maxwell, who spent the past year as Sophie in Mamma Mia! (West End) and previously appeared in Six (West End & UK Tour); and Bradley Riches, whose work spans Heartstopper, Emmerdale, and Celebrity Big Brother.
Success stories continue in the likes of Leesa Tulley, award-winning star of Why Am I So Single? (West End) and former Six “Queendom” cast member; Laura Dawkes, who played Anna in Frozen (West End) - now streaming on Disney+; Kwamé Kandekore, recent award-winner of and currently appearing in Starter for Ten at Bristol Old Vic; and Toby Turbin, who has taken on the iconic Emcee role in Cabaret (West End).
The talent list doesn’t end there. Dan Hand is currently performing in Oliver! (West End), Oliver Halford stars as alternate Marty McFly in Back to the Future (West End), and Taila Halford is preparing to make her own West End debut as Emily in The Devil Wears Prada after a summer at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in Shucked.
While each of these performers has forged their own unique path, they share one thing in common: they all honed their craft within a drama school has built a national reputation for nurturing triple-threat performers ready for the demands of the industry.
