IELTS Formal Letter: Letter to a famous actor requesting an opening appearance

The task

You work for an entertainment company which plans to open a new theatre soon. You want to invite a famous actor to open the new theatre.

Write a letter to this famous actor. In your letter:

→give some information about the new theatre
→invite her/him to open the new theatre
→explain why she/he would be a good person to open the theatre
→dear_______________,

Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses. Begin your letter: Dear ...,

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8183 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Ms. Sterling,

I am writing on behalf of Zenith Entertainment to cordially invite you to preside over the grand opening of our latest venture, The Grand Meridian Theatre, on 15th November. Located in the heart of the city’s cultural district, this state-of-the-art venue features a retractable proscenium arch and world-class acoustic engineering, designed specifically to host high-calibre dramatic productions.

It would be a profound honour if you would agree to perform the official ribbon-cutting ceremony. Your presence would undoubtedly elevate the prestige of the launch and draw significant attention from both the media and the local arts community.

We believe you are the ideal person for this occasion given your unparalleled contribution to contemporary theatre. Your recent performance in 'The Silent Echo' deeply resonated with our team, and your commitment to supporting independent venues aligns perfectly with our vision for The Grand Meridian. Having an artist of your stature inaugurate our stage would provide an inspirational start for the many young actors who will perform here.

We look forward to the possibility of welcoming you to our theatre.

Yours sincerely,

Julian Thorne

Write your own and get a band

Answer this prompt in a timed General Training writing test and get a band for task achievement, coherence, vocabulary and grammar, with the sentences to fix.

Write a letter, get a band free →

Examiner's view

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response addresses all bullet points with sophisticated, natural language and a consistent formal tone throughout. The most common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide specific, logical reasons why the actor is the right choice, often resulting in vague or repetitive praise.

→Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.
→If you know the person's surname, use Dear Mr or Ms and close with Yours sincerely.
→No contractions, no slang; polite indirect requests such as I would be grateful if you could.

6 phrases

Useful phrases from the letter

cordially
in a warm and friendly, yet formal manner
proscenium arch
the frame or arch separating the stage area
inaugurate
to introduce or begin an event or project
unparalleled
having no equal; better than anything else
stature
the level of importance or reputation someone has
preside
to be in charge of a formal event

Frequently asked questions

Is this letter formal or informal?+

Formal. Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.

How many words should an IELTS General Training letter be?+

At least 150 words, and 160 to 200 is the comfortable range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.

What does the examiner look for?+

Keep practising

More invitation letters

© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy