Young people aged 6 to 18 can audition in Worthing on 17 October to be Rising Star 2026 and win a year of free drama tuition. No experience needed.
Children and teenagers from Worthing and across Sussex can audition in the town on Saturday 17 October to become Sussex Youth Theatre’s Rising Star 2026. The winner gets a year of free training. Applications close on Thursday 15 October, and no acting experience is needed.
The search is open to anyone aged 6 to 18, whether or not they already attend the drama school. Its founder, Mitch Jenkins, says he is not hunting for the most polished performer in the room.
“We’re not looking for perfect. We’re looking for passion,” he said in the school’s press release. “Technique can be taught and skills can be developed. Sometimes a young person just needs to find the place where they shine.”
What the winner gets
One young performer will be named Rising Star 2026. The press release describes an extensive package of acting and voice training, LAMDA tuition, workshops and masterclasses, with opportunities tailored to the winner.
The school’s Rising Star page sets out the detail. When we checked it on 28 September it listed:
- a full year’s free drama and voice tuition at Sussex Youth Theatre
- a free place on its LAMDA exam course
- a year’s free membership of its talent management company
- three workshops and masterclasses
- a personalised “Rising Star” t-shirt
The school values that package at over £1,500. In return, the winner is asked to act as an ambassador for the school and commit fully to the training.
Asked what happens after the auditions, Mitch told the Worthing Express that the new Rising Star officially takes up the award in January. “The new Rising Star receives a full year of drama tuition with Sussex Youth Theatre, alongside higher-grade LAMDA training, which can also earn UCAS points towards university,” he said. “They’ll take part in our four-day Summer School, workshops and masterclasses throughout the year, and receive an introduction to Victoria at Floriant Talent, a theatre and television talent agency. They’ll also receive the Rising Star Award itself.”
The audition panel may also hand out Sparkler Awards to other young people who show particular passion or potential. The website says these are worth £8,500 in total, covering workshops, masterclasses, cut-price tuition and a summer camp. It describes the whole scheme as an award of £10,000 donated by Mitch Jenkins.
Mitch told us a Sparkler Award can include a free term of tuition, reduced fees, a free workshop or masterclass, or a free place at Summer School.
“It completely and utterly changed my life”
Mitch, now 53, did not find drama until he was 14. The press release says he had struggled at mainstream school, was not particularly academic and had no idea performing might become his future. It was his grandfather who found him his first drama school.
“It completely and utterly changed my life,” he said. “I walked into a world I didn’t really know existed and suddenly found something that made sense to me.”
He has since spent his working life in the arts as an actor, director, vocal coach and teacher. The school puts his experience in the industry at more than 35 years.
“There are children who know from the age of five exactly what they want to do. I wasn’t one of them,” he said. “That’s why I’m interested in the young person who has that spark, even if they haven’t quite discovered what to do with it yet.”
According to the website, the awards were set up to honour the parents and carers who help young performers chase their ambitions. They include Ken and Sheila Jenkins, who the school says were Mitch’s biggest supporters through his training and career.
Last year’s Rising Star: “Go for it”
Felix Bowler was named Rising Star 2025. He says the year has changed him off stage as well as on it.
“I have learnt and grown so much thanks to the Rising Star Awards,” he said. “It has helped me to become much more confident, in daily life as well as on stage, and taught me invaluable lessons in acting, script work, stagecraft and improvisation.”
His advice to anyone thinking about applying is short.
“Go for it. I am so incredibly glad that I auditioned. Don’t let nerves hold you back from this opportunity. Trust in yourself and give it your all.”
Asked by the Worthing Express what the year had meant to him, Felix said: “Winning the Rising Star Award has been such a fantastic experience for me. All of the teachers have been amazing and I have learned so much over the year. The confidence it has given me has helped me at school and in life, as well as on the stage.”
And for anyone nervous about the audition: “I would say I felt nervous too! But if you take that small step of walking into the audition room, you’ll find friendly, welcoming people, and it really isn’t scary at all.”
Mitch said: “Felix has been an incredible asset to Sussex Youth Theatre. He’s thrown himself into everything and made the absolute most of being our Rising Star. I’m incredibly proud of him and can’t wait to see what happens next.”
How to apply
The first step is an online application form. The school then picks a number of applicants to audition and sends them full details of what to prepare.
- Who: young people aged 6 to 18, members and non-members of the school
- Experience: not essential
- Applications close: Thursday 15 October 2026
- Auditions: Saturday 17 October 2026, in Worthing
- Apply: sussexyouththeatre.co.uk/Star
The form asks why the applicant would like to be considered, where they see themselves in five years and what experience they have. A parent or carer fills in their own section too. The website’s tips are to explain why you love performing, what you hope to do, and to “be YOURSELF and really let your personality shine”.
Mitch told us what he will be watching for on 17 October. “More than anything, I’m looking for passion: that drive you see in young performers who absolutely love what they do, who would happily perform 24 hours a day and never get bored of it,” he said. “Technique can be developed; what really catches my eye is that genuine enthusiasm and determination.”
It also warns that only one Rising Star can be chosen, and asks applicants not to be disheartened if they are not picked at any stage.
What it means for you
If your child loves performing, or you think they might, this is a free shot at a year of training the school values at over £1,500. They do not need a CV or previous parts. They need to fill in the form before 15 October and be free on 17 October.
Sussex Youth Theatre describes itself as a skills-based drama school with acting and voice at the heart of its training. Its website lists weekly groups in Worthing for ages 6 to 16 and a Worthing teens group for 13 to 18s. It also runs groups in Littlehampton, about nine miles west, and Pulborough, about ten miles north.
“If you’ve got passion, I want to meet you,” Mitch said. “We’ll worry about the training afterwards.”
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