Ipswich is to get its own drama school on the town’s Waterfront.

The East Anglia School of Acting will open for business in September in DanceEast’s Jerwood Dance House to train aspiring stars of the future. Next Tuesday there will be a launch event to give prospective students the chance to learn more about the school.

With the country’s top drama schools taking as few as 14 students onto their acting courses each year, the East Anglia School of Acting will provide a one-year preparation diploma to give pupils the best possible chance of making it onto a degree course.

The diploma will also allow students the chance to gain qualifications from the London Academy of Music and Drama (LAMDA) which has trained such famous names as Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jim Broadbent and Dominic Cooper.

Nick Paley, who is setting up the school at the Waterfront venue, said the course would be a practical one with the chance for three performances throughout the year.

“There would be one large-scale show to be put on in Ipswich and we’re hoping to do a second one that’s out in the community,” he said.

“Then the third piece would be a showcase that would show the work they’ve been doing towards auditions.

“The bulk of what I’m looking at is to prepare people for drama school, but I’d like to be able to showcase to the theatre companies in Ipswich as well.”

As well as being instructed by Mr Paley, who will be the tutor on a day-to-day basis, the school would use freelance tutors in certain areas.

The event on Tuesday starts at 7pm at the Jerwood Dance House and will last no more than two hours.

Tickets are free and open to all but should be reserved in advance by visiting eastangliaschoolofacting.com and clicking on the Launch Event link.