Shrewsbury Academy | PQA Brochure

WELCOMETO

INTRO FROM PAULINE

When I was younger, my happiest times were spent in drama classes. So, when our son Charlie was old enough, we wanted him to share the same experience, but we struggled to find a class that ticked all the boxes.

My husband Steve and I decided to open The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts in 2007, where children and young people could learn more than just singing, acting and dancing. We created the PQA modules to cover the entire performing arts spectrum, including lessons in Musical Theatre, Comedy & Drama and Film & Television.

Over a decade later, PQA have opened more than 200 academies nationwide and is the largest provider of film and television education for children in the UK.

We hope we can welcome you into our PQA family soon!

WHO WE ARE

PQA is a weekend performing arts academy providing outstanding tuition for children and young people aged four to eighteen years, in an environment where they can express themselves, build confidence and, most importantly, have fun. Students spend three hours with us in age specific groups, rotating through hour-long sessions in Musical Theatre, Comedy & Drama and Film & TV. Children aged four and five spend 90 minutes with us in our Poppets sessions.

We promote and celebrate diversity in our approach to teaching and in the material students study, rehearse and perform. At PQA, we ensure that every student feels included, safe and supported to learn, achieve, and thrive.

ENROL TODAY HERE

PRINCIPALS & TEACHERS

Our inspirational Principals and teachers work tirelessly to provide the best performing arts tuition for our students. They have the passion and skill to inspire and motivate our students to achieve their very best. Each Principal has been chosen to run their academy because of their extensive experience and knowledge of the performing arts industry. Every member of the academy team has great experience teaching children and are professionally trained in the arts.

All academy staff undergo enhanced DBS checks and complete regular courses in safeguarding, child protection and e-safety. In addition to this, every PQA session is overseen by at least two qualified first aiders.

Parent, PQA Rugby

THE PQA TEAM ARE PROFESSIONAL AND CARING. IT’S ONE BIG FAMILY

OUR MODULES

MUSICAL THEATRE

Musical Theatre is a triple threat module, combining singing, dancing, and acting. Students will learn how the three disciplines come together to tell stories through performance. We teach our students to create vibrant and believable characters, as well as enhancing their storytelling and performance skills.

Students learn how stories can be told in new and exciting ways, while working as part of an ensemble, and explore a variety of material from pop to musical theatre across a range of disciplines and genres, including acting through song, musical theatre for film, the golden age of american musical theatre and full-scale performances of the latest smash-hit shows.

Our students will often focus on specific vocal and dance techniques while working towards performances; this could include showcases, flash mobs, concerts, musicals, or even our own PQA West End show.

SHE ALWAYS COMES AWAY FROM THE ACADEMY SINGING, DANCING AND EXTREMELY HAPPY!

Parent, PQA Bradley Stoke

COMEDY & DRAMA ENROL

Comedy and Drama at PQA is engaging and performance focused. PQA students learn the skills necessary to perform on stage and on screen and, regardless of previous experience, quickly find themselves gaining in ability and confidence.

Our practical sessions explore a wide range of subjects and techniques, from stand up to Shakespeare, improvisation to immersive theatre, devising to modern plays, writing, and delivering a podcast, to performing a monologue, duologue or full-length play.

Further opportunities include projects written by award winning companies, such as Les Enfants Terribles and Kids’ Comedy Club and industry led workshops. These specially written projects ensure that each student is constantly developing as a performer whilst always having fun, making friends, and improving social skills. There are constant exciting performance opportunities, within class, the academy and in external venues.

OUR STUDENTS GAIN MANY TRANSFERABLE LIFE SKILLS INCLUDING TEAMWORK, COMMUNICATION AND CONFIDENCE BUILDING.

FILM & TELEVISION ENROL TODAY HERE

Our unique Film & TV module teaches students the crafts of filmmaking and screen acting by taking on roles in front of and behind the camera.

Classes are delivered by professional filmmakers, and provide a practical, industry-led approach to film education. Our students learn development and production techniques by creating, shooting, and screening their own short films. Our students are always learning and using their creativity to tell wonderful, original stories. Students take on a variety of roles such as script writing, directing, producing, hair and makeup, production design, camera, sound, lighting and screen acting.

This module not only develops students’ filmmaking abilities and confidence, but also teaches skills for life like teamwork, communication and problem solving.

See our students films here .

Steve Sheen, Founder

PQA IS NOW THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF FILM AND TELEVISION PRODUCTION EDUCATION FOR UNDER 18S IN THE UK.

POPPETS

Poppets is our performing arts experience for four and five-year-olds. These carefully constructed sessions are 90 minutes long and designed to aid creativity, independence, performance skills and communication.

Poppets take part in singing, dancing and acting every week. They explore a variety of themed sessions; they may travel to space, swim under the sea or even join the circus! On top of that, our Poppets also get the opportunity to regularly perform in their very own Poppets shows, giving them their first opportunity to step into the spotlight and showcase their work to an audience.

Our Poppets sessions are high-energy and full of fun, and enable our youngest students to delve into the world of performing arts.

MY DAUGHTER WOULD GO EVERY DAY IF SHE COULD.

Parent, PQA Coventry

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WEST END PERFORMANCES ENROL TODAY HERE

Every academy is given the opportunity to perform a musical specially written for PQA in London’s West End. In this professionally produced production, our students get to experience everything a West End theatre has to offer, from stage door, to the dressing rooms and, of course, performing on stage.

The experience of performing on the same stage as renowned shows like Phantom of the Opera and Motown is truly unforgettable.

SHE ABSOLUTELY LOVES GOING EVERY SATURDAY BUT THE WEST END PERFORMANCE TOPS IT ALL!

Parent, PQA High Wycombe

CINEMA SCREENINGS & FILM FESTIVALS

To celebrate our students’ hard work in the Film & Television module, each academy holds a premiere at their local cinema. Students, family and friends get to walk the red carpet and watch student film projects on the big screen at this memorable event.

We also hold our very own PQA Film Festivals every year where top student films are screened at some of the best cinemas across the country. These culminate in our biennial PQA National Film Awards where academies have the opportunity to experience the glitz and glamour of walking the red carpet in London’s Leicester Square, home to many Hollywood premieres.

ENROL TODAY HERE

I LOVE BEING BEHIND THE CAMERA. WHILE MY FRIENDS ACT, I CAN FILM!

Student, PQA Solihull

We believe in inspiring and rewarding our students, so for those students who want to, we offer free performance exams at no additional cost. The exams complement the current work of the students and present an enjoyable challenge.

Our performance exams are officially recognised by educational authorities across the world and are a great way for students to celebrate all their hard work and mark their achievements at each stage of their development.

PERFORMANCE EXAMINATIONS CREATIVE FEEDBACK

The performing arts has a wonderful effect on young peoples’ lives, and we believe it is important for parents and guardians to be kept up to date with their child’s progress. Therefore, we regularly provide Creative Feedback.

Feedback is presented via both large and small scale performance opportunities. Providing feedback is designed to help students progress by inspiring learning and marking their achievements at each stage of their development and competence.

Our students get the opportunity to work with the best in the business in our specialist masterclasses. We arrange visits from industry professionals to deliver a variety of sessions so that our students can learn skills they wouldn’t discover anywhere else. Masterclass tutors often work with PQA between their work on well-known TV programmes, Hollywood movies, West End shows and more!

Our inspirational Masterclasses include (but are not limited to:)

• How to be a TV Presenter

• Stage & Screen Combat

• Rap & Poetry

• Choreography with West End Stars

• Stage to Screen Make Up

MASTERCLASSES SHOWCASES

Showcases offer a great opportunity to celebrate and solidify the hard work and progress the students have made during the term – in front of an audience of family and friends!

A showcase might be a musical or musical theatre composition, or a full play. The work may be scripted, devised or improvised, exposing the students to a variety of performance styles. Some academies also stage plays and musicals at local theatre venues, giving students the experience of performing in a professional setting.

QUIRKY KIDZ

Soon after launching PQA, we quickly discovered that our students had oodles of talent to offer the world of performing arts, so we created our very own in-house Agency for professional work, Quirky Kidz.

Our Agency exclusively represents PQA students and their work includes everything from sourcing professional opportunities, negotiating contracts, child performance licences, safeguarding and promotion. We also arrange workshops with top Casting Directors for students to attend.

The journey for a PQA student wishing to join Quirky Kidz starts with attending one of our Casting Days, where students meet with our Agents and have headshots taken by a leading headshot photographer.

TODAY HERE PQA HAS CHANGED MY LIFE Student, Quirky Kidz

Taken from Souvenir Brochure published for Disney and Cameron Mackintosh Limited. Production photographs by Johann Persson, Seamus Ryan and Matt Crockett.