The Poor School to close after 32 years

London drama school, The Poor School, has announced that it will close in 2018, more than three decades after it first began training actors.

A message on their website reads: "The Poor School started in 1986, funded by a £2,000 overdraft. We currently have a full complement of students, first and second year, due to graduate in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

"It has been decided that we will not have a new intake of students next year and the school will thus close, after 32 splendid years, in 2018."

Founded in 1986 by actor and director Paul Caister, it runs evening and weekend courses to enable actors to train around their jobs.

The school's alumni includes actors Ryan Molloy (Jersey Boys), Vera Chok (The Winter's Tale) and James Holmes (The Boys in the Band), as well as Manchester Royal Exchange artistic director Sarah Frankcom.