“I can’t quite put into words how much this project has changed my life and given me that hope I desperately needed leaving university. I feel like my dreams aren’t as intangible as I thought and without this project I would have given up and moved back to Ireland a long time ago. This project is so important and I hope it continues to give other people in my situation the knowledge, skills, and self-belief it has given me.”

“Ardent has given me an opportunity to greatly expand my skills and knowledge within the industry. I am much more confident as a performer now than before we started the programme. Ardent has also allowed me to explore aspects of the industry and enhance my knowledge of things I would otherwise be uneducated in such as acting for screen or voice acting work.”

“This experience will never be lost on me. It is something I never would have dreamed I’d ever get the chance to do and has given me the confidence and the hope that I can actually pursue my passion, in a way I didn’t have before. I have been so lucky to get the chance to work with such a fantastic group of like-minded brilliant people and artists.”

“Without this opportunity I’m not sure that I ever would have believed in myself enough to make it. I struggle to make it through each month being able to pay my bills let alone afford a train up to London to pursue my passions. You finish uni and you work, you survive and that dream seems to become more distant every day as you struggle to find time after each 10 hour shift. This opportunity has brought that dream closer, I can almost touch it. Being a part of this experience still feels totally surreal. I have met a wonderful group of people that I want to know for the rest of my days, learnt so many new skills, gained confidence within the industry I so desperately long to be a part of, and have been given opportunities I would have never had otherwise.”