Constellation Creatives Drama Student Bursary

We are so proud to introduce Ashleigh Lai as our 2026 Constellation Creatives Bursary winner!

Photo: Ashleigh Lai, winner of the 2026 Constellation Creatives Bursary

Ashleigh Lai (she/her) is a graduating actor of Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. (BA hons Acting, 3 years, 2023-2026). She will be performing in ‘Feral Threads’ (new writing by Rebecca Jade Hammond) directed by Patricia Logue, at the New Diorama, on 17th-20th June. Also, she is currently filming on a limited series over the summer/autumn.

Now in its fourteenth 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 year’s subscription to Spotlight, a series of casting workshops with The Acting Habit, and a headshot session with Jeremy Ang Photography.

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), Ailin Conant (Artistic Director of New Earth Theatre), Matthew Dewsbury (Casting Director, Royal Shakespeare Company), Sarah Leung (Freelance Casting Director), and Martin Poile (Casting Associate, National Theatre).