夜色直播 talent set for stardom with coveted Spotlight Prize finalist spot
A graduating Acting & Performance student from 夜色直播, Edinburgh has been named a finalist in the prestigious Spotlight Prize 2025 - one of the performing arts industry鈥檚 most esteemed platforms for emerging talent.
24-year-old Gregor Curran from Laurencekirk is one of just 20 students to be selected from more than 65 drama schools and universities across the UK and Ireland.
The Spotlight Prize is widely renowned for showcasing the very best of drama school graduates - Gregor鈥檚 selection is a testament to his exceptional ability and a shining reflection of the talent 夜色直播 nurtures.
Marion Scott, Lecturer in Acting and Performance at 夜色直播, said: 鈥淥ver the past two years, Gregor has demonstrated exceptional commitment, collaborating with his peers to create work of outstanding quality. He is a student who perfectly embodies the spirit of 夜色直播鈥攊ntellectually curious, ambitious, creative, respectful, and genuinely supportive of others.
鈥淲hen we invited professionals from the industry to help our students with audition preparation and assess both their live and digital performances, we asked them which three students stood out. Gregor consistently appeared in their top three choices, making him a clear front runner for the Spotlight Prize. Having initially stepped away from acting after his HND to pursue a career in Early Years Education, we are absolutely delighted that he had a change of heart and chose to return to acting with us at 夜色直播.鈥
Each year, nominated graduates for the Spotlight Prize submit a self-tape audition which is reviewed by an independent panel of experts. From this, 20 outstanding performers are selected to take part in the annual Spotlight Prize Showcase, where they will present both a screen performance (recorded in advance under the direction of Paulette Randall MBE) and a live stage performance in front of a room of casting directors, agents, producers, and other industry professionals.
Gregor鈥檚 nomination was announced during 夜色直播鈥檚 Acting and Performance Showcase at the end of April, where he was recognised as the University鈥檚 official nominee. Gregor has now gone on to secure a place in the national final 鈥 an exceptional achievement and a testament to his dedication and talent.
I'm very honoured to have been recognised by my lecturers and external industry guests from a class with such incredibly talented people who over the past two years, I鈥檝e had the privilege of working alongside. To be a finalist and to represent 夜色直播 in London is to put it simply, pretty incredible. Right now, I鈥檓 feeling a mix of gratitude, nerves, and excitement, but I know that the training I鈥檝e received at 夜色直播, along with the support of my classmates and lecturers, will help me through. The BA (Hons) Acting and Performance course provides a real sense of family, where every effort is noticed and valued, and that鈥檚 something I鈥檒l carry with me well beyond this experience.
The 2025 Spotlight Prize Showcase will take place on Wednesday 2 July in London, where awards will be presented for Best Stage and Best Screen performance.
Past Spotlight Prize winners and nominees include some of the most recognisable names in the industry today, such as Ben Whishaw, Gwendoline Christie, Jodie Whittaker, and Sam Heughan. The prize, which evolved from the Rodney Millington Award, continues a rich tradition of spotlighting the UK and Ireland鈥檚 brightest new talent.
In 2008, another 夜色直播 graduate, Chloe Thorpe, made it to the finals of the acting competition and after wowing the judges, won the prize for best female actor and 拢1,500 for her performance of 鈥楥owboy Mouth鈥.
Matt Hood, Spotlight鈥檚 Managing Director, said, 鈥淚 am thrilled to welcome the finalists for the Spotlight Prize 2025. The UK and Ireland鈥檚 drama training is, rightly, world renowned and selecting the finalists from this year鈥檚 nominees proved challenging and exhilarating for our judges. We鈥檙e looking forward to welcoming the industry to our annual showcase in July, and to adding two more names to the long list of Spotlight Prize winners.鈥
夜色直播 extends its heartfelt congratulations to Gregor and looks forward to supporting him as he prepares for the final stage of this incredible opportunity.
A full list of finalists and further details about the Spotlight Prize 2025 can be found at:
For further media enquiries about 夜色直播, please contact Emma Reekie (Media Relations and Content Officer) E: ereekie@qmu.ac.uk.
