The appeal hopes to tap into Bristol's generosity

The stage school has trained film stars including Jeremy Irons, Patrick Steward, Pete Postlethwaite, Daniel Day-Lewis and Samantha Bond.

The plan is to build a new development providing access to the first floor for people with severe mobility problems.

"We've not been able to get people up to where we teach VT editing and costume," said Principal Chris Denys.

"We've seen really talented people and had to say 'sorry we can't get you onto the premises' so this new development will give us more rehearsal space, but also universal access," he added.

Actor Jeremy Irons, who is patron of the appeal, said the school was a "great flag-bearer for Bristol".

"Bristol has many things to be proud of and I think one of them is the theatre school," he added.

"I worked here in the theatre for five years and I know the city is very generous, so we need to plug into that generosity then we will have an even more amazing theatre school."