Netflix star uses Glasgow acting studio to encourage diversity

Tharan Sivapatham was forced to flee his home at the age of eight due to an ongoing civil war which saw his family relocate to a Glasgow council estate with just £50 to their name.

Pictured: Tharan Sivapatham (Image: newsquest)

Although he always had a passion for acting, the ‘luxury’ of attending a drama school felt like a 'far-away dream’ and he instead went on to study engineering at Strathclyde University.

Thankfully, his long-time dream would later become a reality after a performance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2014 pushed him to pursue his passion.

In an incredible achievement for the self-taught actor, he then went on to star opposite Will Ferrell in the 2020 musical comedy, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.

With a Hollywood credit under his belt and having experienced first-hand the barriers that can be faced by working class and minority groups, Tharan later decided to set up the Southside Performance Studio on Abercromby Street with his colleague Julie Gladin.

Speaking of his inspiration he said: “Acting has long been a glamourised and sought-after profession, whether it is shooting a thriller on film or receiving rapturous applause for a stage performance, the adrenaline experienced when taking on a crucial role cannot be matched.

“I want people from all backgrounds to experience the buzz acting can give you, no matter your age, ethnicity or difficulties.

“Everyone, regardless of where you were schooled or where you grew up, should be given the opportunity to succeed in an audition, and this is our number one goal at Southside Performance Studio.”

Since its launch in 2020, the Southside Performance Studio has produced six theatre plays, three feature films, 14 short films, 24 sketches and a TV series which can be found on Amazon Prime Video.

The studio provides professional acting and singing courses with group and one-to-one training available.

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