- Oddity Acting opened in Salford on 7 September, offering TV and film acrting classes for children and teens
- Founders Sherelle and Annalise focus on acting techniques and audition skills
- Classes are held at All Hallows RC High School, priced at £12 per session or £48 for a four-week block
A new drama school, Oddity Acting, opened its doors in Salford on Tuesday 3 September, offering young people in the area a chance to develop their TV and film acting skills.
Founded by actors Sherelle, 31, and Annalise, 26, the school aims to provide an accessible platform for aspiring actors in Salford, a community the pair believes is underserved in terms of opportunities for drama training.
Sherelle, an experienced actor and casting assistant, alongside Annalise, who has worked in theatre, film, and casting, formed Oddity Acting to offer more focused opportunities for children and teens.
While both founders have extensive experience working in casting, their shared passion for youth development drove them to create a space where young people could explore their talents.
“There are a lot of musical theatre schools where they focus on singing, dancing, that sort of thing, but when I was growing up, I really wanted to do just acting, but I felt like there wasn’t that much opportunity to do that,” Annalise said, explaining her motivation behind starting the school.
“We felt we could use our skills from being actors and casting assistants to really help nurture local talent.”
Both Sherelle and Annalise have worked with children extensively, casting young actors for commercials, video games, and films, and running workshops in schools.
Sherelle said: “We see great actors from their reels or what their agents give us, but when it comes to self tape auditions or in person castings, I guess sometimes you can tell if they’ve not really had a lot of experience with that, or it can be quite nerve wracking for them, which is completely understandable. So we really just want to give them the opportunity to build confidence in that area.”
There is a strong community focus at the heart of Oddity Acting
Oddity Acting will be based at All Hallows RC High School, chosen for its accessibility to young people from Salford and surrounding areas.
The founders emphasised the importance of offering something community-based, particularly in the wake of cuts to arts funding and drama programmes in schools.
While Sherelle noted opportunities in the area through hubs such as MediaCity, she also acknowledged that this could be intimidating for young people: “Sometimes you do just want something that’s more in your community that’s accessible and feels like something that actually you could go to.”
The school will offer classes tailored for different age groups, and each class will focus on acting techniques such as improvisation, character building, and script analysis, with practical experience in front of the camera.
Students will also have the chance to participate in mock castings and work on self-tapes, drawing on Sherelle and Annalise’s experience in casting.
Additionally, Oddity Acting will produce a short films with students, simulating the process of a professional film production. Students will audition for roles, go through rehearsals, and shoot the film, which will then be screened for their families and friends.
The school abides by its motto: ‘Own Your Oddity’
The school’s motto, “Own Your Oddity,” reflects the founders’ mission to embrace individuality and foster confidence in young performers.
Sherelle explained: “The reason why we chose that is because to call someone an oddity can seem negative, but we’re all about embracing who you are.
“That’s what makes you unique, and that is also your greatest asset, and especially in performing arts and in acting, TV and film.
“We’re all about just really embracing who you are, whoever you are, and just welcome everyone in a safe, supportive environment to build confidence, make friends, and ultimately work on the acting.”
The first classes began on Saturday 7 September following successful workshops throughout the summer.
The pair are offering classes on Tuesdays at 18:00-19:30 for 10-14 year-olds, and Saturdays at 10:00-11:30 for 8-11 year-olds, and 11:45-13:15pm for 12-15 year-olds. Classes for 15-18 year-olds will be introduced in the future.
Sessions will run in four-week blocks, with each class costing £12 per session, or £48 for the full block. Although spaces are still available, the founders report growing interest from local families.
Sherelle and Annalise believe Oddity Acting can fill a vital gap in Salford’s creative scene, with Annalise adding: “Acting is just a great way to build confidence and make new friends and just general life skills.
“But also, for those that want to pursue acting further, we believe we’ve got the experience in front of camera and behind to give them the insights into the process and help with their confidence.”
The school ultimately aims to create a supportive environment where children and teenagers can not only improve their acting abilities, but also build friendships and discover new passions.
As Salford’s media landscape continues to evolve, Oddity Acting strives to provide the first steps for many local young people as they work towards an acting career in the film and television industry.
Monton Matters 