New Earth Theatre has announced that Ashleigh Lai has been awarded the 2026 Constellation Creatives Drama Student Bursary.
Now in its fourteenth year, the bursary supports the participation and representation of British East and Southeast Asian actors across stage and screen.
Lai, a graduating actor from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, will receive £1,000, a year’s Spotlight subscription, casting workshops with The Acting Habit, and a headshot session with Jeremy Ang Jones.
She is set to perform in Feral Threads at New Diorama Theatre from 17 to 20 June, alongside filming commitments later this year.
Ashleigh Lai commented, “Wow. Receiving the Constella4ons Crea4ves Bursary is a wonderful proud moment to honour the last three years of drama school. As I enter my next chapter, I feel grateful to join a community full of curiosity, presence and talent. New Earth Theatre, thank you for crea4ng a space where we can celebrate our Asian heritage. I’m excited to join a new wave of voices and proud to be a part of something so special.”
Artistic Director Ailin Conant said, “The strength of the Constella8on Crea8ves Bursary applicant pool grows with each successive year, mirroring the expanding talent of BESEAs in the UK’s theatre industry. This makes our job of selec8ng just one winner increasingly harder, but that’s a wonderful problem to have! Our bursary recipient Ashleigh Lai arrested us with the depth and poise of her performance. Wishing Ashleigh and all of our applicants and finalists a great start to their career.”
Actor and sponsor Orion Lee added, “Thank you to New Earth Theatre for organising, the RSC for hos8ng and the panel for giving their 8me to watch and audi8on the latest BESEA graduates from UK’s top drama schools. Ashleigh, I wish you all the best for your career.”
Casting director Matthew Dewsbury of the Royal Shakespeare Company said, “The Constella8on Crea8ves Bursary is a highlight of my year and a great privilege to be on the panel. It’s amazing to see the brilliant new talent gradua8ng in 2026 from the Bri8sh South East and East Asian community. Ashleigh performed beau8fully with two contras8ng pieces. She had great ins8ncts, a real playfulness and truth to her work. I look forward to following her career over the next few years.”
The judging panel also included John Cannon, Sarah Leung and Martin Poile, with the bursary supported by Spotlight, The Acting Habit and Jeremy Ang Photography.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
