A TOP actress is launching a theatre school with a difference.
Now its founder is looking for budding young performers to sign up.
The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts, the brainchild of the Birds of a Feather star, is set to open at Rastrick High School.
The school is aimed at five to 18-year-olds and represents a new generation of weekend drama schools, putting the emphasis on fun not fame.
The school is being launched by Adele Eden and JoStorrs, members of the Examiner’s newspaper sales team, who have been working side-by-side with the actress on the project for the past two years.
They say the academy is about having a good time, making new friends and learning new skills.
Students aren’t pushed into a showbiz life, but if they want to pursue a career in the performing arts the academy’s staff can help them.
Adele explained: “Pauline wanted to open an academy that has a different ethos.
“The focus is on all the children having fun, and not just the one starlet as is the case with so many drama schools. In fact we aim to bring forward the ones who would normally shy away and sit in the corner and instil a bit of confidence in them.”
Jo added: “It’s about bringing out the best in them, by teaching them to express themselves in a range of disciplines.
“The children will also learn about life skills, how to work together and be part of a group. These will be of enormous benefit to them in life.
“There’s absolutely no pressure on the children, there are no auditions or end-of-school productions.”
Another way that the academy differs from traditional drama schools is that rather than offering drama, dance and singing as three separate modules it integrates them with other subjects, including musical theatre.
As a result, students will also get the chance to learn about television and film and have a go at new and exciting skills, including acting for the genre, script-writing skills and directing.
The subject modules are written by people at the top of their game in the arts, including theatre director Simon James Green, casting director Sarah Counsell and, of course, Pauline.
The Rastrick school will be the second academy to open in the country, after the school in Pauline’s home town of Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, which opens in September.
Adele and Jo got the chance to launch the Rastrick academy after putting together a successful business plan. Their sales and marketing background, coupled with their passion for the theatre, made them more than qualified to do the job.
They will be responsible for the management and organisation of the school, acting as a point of contact for parents and making sure teaching standards are kept.
Adele commented: “We are so proud to be able to open an academy here. It’s one of a kind and it’s going to be a real boost to the area.
“We don’t often get drama schools of such high calibre around here. We often have to look to cities like Leeds.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for both the area and Rastrick High School. We picked the school because its accessible to Huddersfield and surrounding areas, has fantastic drama facilities and the staff are so enthusiastic.”
Jo added: “It’s great feeling for us to have been involved in creating something so positive that young children can get involved in.”
The pair hope to launch the Rastrick academy, which will run on Saturdays, on September 22. It has places for 45 pupils, but may add extra classes if there is high demand.
There will be an open evening at the high school at 6pm on Wednesday, August 15. Parents and children will get the chance to meet the teachers and find out more about the school.
The school is also looking for teachers with a performing arts and education background able to teach drama and comedy, musical theatre, and film and television.
For more information visit the academy’s official website at www.pqacademy.com
Alternatively call 079435 12457 or 07806610016.
