Our Bursary

The 2025 Constellation Creatives Bursary has been awarded to Sunny Chung from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Now in its thirteenth year, the Constellation Creatives Bursary aims to encourage and promote greater participation and representation of British East and South East Asian actors on stage and screen by supporting the pathway from graduating student to professional actor.

It provides: £1,000 towards additional expenses incurred in that transitional period; a FREE Standard Headshot Package provided by Jeremy Ang Photography; a set of casting workshops with The Acting Habit; as well as a FREE year’s subscription to Spotlight.

The Constellation Creatives Bursary is provided by Orion Lee and awarded by New Earth Theatre.

“Never have I felt pride quite like this. For the first time in my training as an actor, I actually feel seen. It makes me feel so proud to call myself Asian. My gratitude to New Earth Theatre for creating this space for the BESEA community to shine is endless. The future for Asian creatives feels bright and beautiful.”

Sunny Chung, Bursary Winner 2025
"I cannot underline enough how exceptional and rare this opportunity is for graduating actors, to be able to perform for--and dialogue candidly with--such a powerhouse casting panel. We all came away from the day having built new relationships and learned new perspectives, and in that sense all of the performers and panellists were winners."

Ailin Conant, Artistic Director, New Earth Theatre
“Very proud to continue my association with the brilliant New Earth Theatre. Thanks to the amazing panel for their time, Ailin Conant, Artistic Director of New Earth Theatre; John Cannon, Casting Director, BBC; Alastair Coomer, Director of Casting, National Theatre; Matthew Dewsbury, Casting Director, Royal Shakespeare Company. All the best to Sunny Chung for a long career going forward."

Orion Lee, Actor and Sponsor of the Bursary

How does it work?

The bursary is awarded to a drama school student of East or South East Asian descent who, in the opinion of the judging panel, has best demonstrated at the audition/interview that they have the talent, skills and commitment to succeed as a professional actor.

This year, the judging panel included John Cannon (Casting Director, BBC), Alastair Coomer (Director of Casting, National Theatre), Ailin Conant (Artistic Director of New Earth Theatre), and Matthew Dewsbury (Casting Director, Royal Shakespeare Company).

Applications for the 2026 Constellation Creatives Bursary will open in March 2026.