West End on the waves? The cruise industry is a massive employer of performance talent globally. As work on cruise ships offers experience in a highly demanding professional environment along with the opportunity to travel to many exotic and exciting locations, the cruise industry is a popular choice for many graduates.
Thomas Fleetwood Brown is a 2025 London Studio Centre graduate from the BA (Hons) Professional Dance Performanceprogramme. As a member of Jazz Co, the resident final-year company for the Jazz & Commercial Dance pathway at LSC, Thomas was able to develop his skills in a wide range of styles, giving him a toolbox of technique that made him perfectly suited to performance in varied shows.
Thomas Fleetwood Brown
Now that Thomas has been at sea for a few weeks, we took the opportunity to ask him a few questions about the life of a cruise performer.
Tell us about the shows you will be performing in and your roles in them
I’m performing as a dancer in 9 production shows on Britannia all with varying styles of dance.
How do you feel your training at LSC helped prepare you for this job?
The technical training and professional-level performance experience provided by LSC really prepared me for this job, as the shows are very technically demanding. Additionally, the varied mix of genres I was exposed to at LSC has helped me to be confident in the wide range of styles within the shows on the cruise.
You are signed with FLP Management. How did you secure a contract with them?
I met my agent in my final year at LSC during the Jazz Co Agent Week. They have been brilliant, and extremely supportive. I couldn’t have asked for more!
How is the rehearsal process? How many weeks of rehearsal do you get for each production?
The rehearsals were intense and fast-paced, but great fun. We would typically have 2-3 days per production to learn the material and then one day to tidy it all up. On the 5th day we finalise and film the show, then move onto the next one!
How is life on a cruise ship?
Life on board is unique for sure. There is nothing I have experienced quite like it. Like anything else, it has highs and lows but all-in-all it is such an amazing opportunity to visit new places whilst doing a job that I love.
You have an aptitude for musical theatre, but you graduated as a member of Jazz Co. What prompted your final decision on pathway?
I love musical theatre, and I still hope to perform in musicals one day. However, I felt that in the immediate future, dance was where my heart was, and where I wanted to focus. For this reason, I felt the Jazz & Commercial Dance pathway was the best route for achieving my goals.
Thomas with Abby Christison as Hades & Persephone in a promotional image for the Jazz Co 2025 tour, ‘Myths & Legends’
What are you hoping to do next?
Truthfully, I haven’t thought too much about what’s next. If I was lucky enough to get offered another cruise contract, I’d happily accept it, as so far I really am loving it! In fact, I would love to do a world cruise contract at some point…
Finally, is there anything else you would like to say?
My time at LSC will always hold a special place in my heart. I loved my experience there, and would recommend the conservatoire to anyone. You will get amazing training as well as have a great time.
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How does the life of a cruise performer sound to you? Would you like to explore the world while performing for a living? Maybe training at London Studio Centre could be the route that takes you there. Visit our How to Apply page to find out how you could step into your future as a performing arts professional today.