THE ACADEMY

At APA, the high quality theatre training is provided by a friendly, energised, industry experienced team who are passionate about passing on their their wealth of experience to the next generation of young performers. Students are trained in ACTING, SINGING and DANCE and are given the opportunity to demonstrate their ever-increasing skill-set in full scale theatrical performances. With a dynamic teaching team and the best local facilities, The Academy is able to provide 'APA Students' with the ultimate drama school experience.

Established in 2005, The Academy quickly gained a reputation for providing unrivalled part-time theatre tuition and now offers classes at four locations in Bedfordshire and Warwickshire. At three of those locations, we also hold Young Academy sessions, offering acting, singing and dance classes for 5-7 year olds.

Through our training, we expect our students to develop into accomplished, energised performers and by experiencing the discipline, creativity and joy of live theatre, we are confident that they will blossom into respectful, well rounded and confident individuals.

I look forward to welcoming you soon!
Glyn Trefor-Jones PRINCIPAL

The students are initially divided (by age) into three separate performance companies, where their training comprises acting, singing and dance tuition.

"A" Company - 13 - 17yrs
"B" Company - 10 - 12yrs
"C" Company - 7 - 9yrs

The idea of 'The Company' is very important to all of us at The Academy. It means that, when our students take to the stage, they are never alone - always supported by a strong, loyal and encouraging company! Of course, a successful theatre relies not just on individual acting, singing and dance skills but on trust, support and team work. Academy students learn these essential values as an essential component of their training.

THE SKILLS TERM
During the Skills Term, each school session consists of three classes: an hour of dance tuition, an hour of drama tuition and an hour of singing tuition. To succeed as a performer in today's increasingly congested business, performers must be multi-skilled. It's very rare to find a good performer who is, for example only skilled in acting or a singer with no dance skills. That is why, here at The Academy, we make it a priority to train our students to achieve proficiency in all 3 disciplines. Our students are also introduced to a broad range of skills and styles - both to challenge them and to encourage their growth as performers.

THE ASSESSMENT TERM
During the assessment term, students' tuition in their acting, singing and dance classes involves working on a prepared piece, with progress assessed after six weeks of rehearsals. Our aim and belief is that every student will leave The Academy as a better actor, singer and dancer and this Assessment Term plays a major role in ensuring each student's continuous growth and development. By improving acting, singing and dance skills and demonstrating this improvement through performance, we raise confidence and maximise every individual student's potential.

THE SHOW TERM
The Show Term ensures all Academy students have the opportunity to put their newly acquired acting, singing and dancing skills into practice by taking part in a staged public performance. Nothing can replace the unique and exhilarating experience of taking part in live theatre and students at The Academy will have the opportunity to experience this in our full-scale public performances. Only through performance will students learn to cope with those first night nerves, discover how to enthuse an audience, learn how to hold them in the palms of their hand and, of course, revel in the satisfaction of a well-earned round of applause.

THE ACADEMY

TRAINING

The Academy was created to give young people the opportunity to learn performance skills from industry professionals and put them into practice in staged, public performances.

INSIDE THE CLASSROOM

THE THREE TERM CYCLE

Part of the work of The Academy's experienced teachers is to recognise areas in which the students need improvement and tailor individual classes to suit their needs. The school runs on a three term cycle that we have found to be the most effective.

SCHOOL TIMES

Henley in Arden School

Wootton Upper School

Oakley Academy