THE ACADEMY

At APA, high-quality theatre training is delivered by a friendly, energised and industry-experienced team who are passionate about passing on their wealth of knowledge to the next generation of young performers.

Students train in ACTING, SINGING and DANCE, developing their skills through exciting, creative classes and having the opportunity to put that training into practice in full-scale theatrical performances. With a dynamic teaching team and excellent local facilities, The Academy provides the ultimate part-time drama school experience.

Established in 2005, The Academy has now provided over twenty years of outstanding part-time performing arts training in Bedfordshire. We welcome students aged 5–17 through our Main School (ages 7–17) and Young Academy (ages 5–7) sessions.

Our age-appropriate training encourages students to release their creativity, work collaboratively, grow as performers, immerse themselves in the performing arts and — of course — have fun!

Through their training at APA, we encourage our students to become accomplished, energised performers. By experiencing the discipline, creativity and sheer joy of live theatre, we believe they also develop into respectful, well-rounded and confident young people.

We look forward to welcoming you to APA soon!

Glyn Trefor-Jones
Principal

TRAINING

The Academy was created with a simple belief: young performers learn best by doing.

Our training gives young people the opportunity to develop their skills in ACTING, SINGING and DANCE, guided by experienced performing arts teachers who bring professional knowledge, energy and a genuine passion for theatre into every class.

But training at APA goes far beyond learning technique. Students are encouraged to explore, experiment, take creative risks and discover what they are capable of. Classes are designed to challenge and inspire, developing not only stronger performers, but more confident, creative and collaborative young people.

And, importantly, the skills developed in the studio don't stay in the studio.

Throughout their time at The Academy, students have opportunities to put their training into practice in staged, public performances — experiencing the excitement, discipline and teamwork involved in bringing live theatre to an audience.

It's this combination of TRAINING, CREATIVITY and PERFORMANCE that lies at the heart of the APA experience.

Students are divided by age into three performance companies, with training in ACTING, SINGING and DANCE:

A COMPANY — Ages 13–17
B COMPANY — Ages 10–12
C COMPANY — Ages 7–9

The idea of The Company is incredibly important to us at The Academy. Theatre is never created by one person alone and, when our students take to the stage, we want them to know that they are part of something bigger — supported by a strong, loyal and encouraging company around them.

Great theatre relies on much more than individual acting, singing or dance ability. It requires trust, teamwork, generosity and support. Our students learn to work together, to encourage one another, to celebrate each other's successes and to understand that every role matters, every performer matters and every contribution matters.

These values are woven into the training at APA. As students develop their individual performance skills, they also learn what it means to be a valuable member of a company — to listen, collaborate, contribute and support the people around them.

Because at APA, we don't just train individual performers. We build companies.

THE THREE TERM CYCLE

Part of the role of The Academy’s experienced performing arts teachers is to recognise the areas in which students need to develop and to tailor individual classes to meet their needs.

The Academy follows a structured three-term cycle, designed to bring out the very best in every student. Each term brings a rich and varied range of theatrical challenges, giving students the opportunity to explore different aspects of performance, develop new skills and grow in both confidence and performance ability.

THE SKILLS TERM

The Skills Term is all about developing the performer.

Each Academy session consists of three classes: an hour of ACTING, an hour of SINGING and an hour of DANCE, giving every student dedicated training across all three performance disciplines.

We believe that the strongest performers are versatile performers. Acting, singing and dance don't exist in isolation — they complement one another, and the skills developed in one discipline can often unlock confidence and ability in another. That's why we make it a priority to help every APA student develop a strong foundation across all three.

Throughout the term, students are introduced to a broad and varied range of performance skills, techniques and theatrical styles. One week might take them somewhere familiar; the next might take them completely outside their comfort zone. Both are important.

The Skills Term gives students the freedom to explore, experiment and take creative risks. It challenges them to discover new strengths, develop existing ones and become more confident, adaptable and accomplished performers.

It's a term for trying things, discovering things and growing.

THE ASSESSMENT TERM

The Assessment Term is all about recognising progress and encouraging every student to keep moving forward.

During their ACTING, SINGING and DANCE classes, each company works towards its own performance piece, specially chosen and adapted to ignite the students' interest, challenge their abilities and further their development as performers.

The Assessment pieces give our students the opportunity to bring together the skills they have been developing in class and apply them to a condensed 25-minute performance. Working as a company, they rehearse, develop and refine the piece before sharing the finished work with an audience.

At the end of the rehearsal period, friends and family are invited to watch the performance and celebrate the company's progress. Each student also receives a written assessment report, highlighting the areas in which they are excelling as well as those that may need further attention. This provides an important tool for their continued growth and development.

Our aim is simple: we want every student to leave The Academy a better actor, singer and dancer than when they arrived. The Assessment Term plays an important part in driving our students forward, encouraging them to build on their strengths, tackle new challenges and continue to hone their craft.

Assessment at APA isn't about chasing marks or being the best in the room. It's about coming together as a company to showcase how far they have travelled as performers — and giving a glimpse of where they might go next.

By setting achievable challenges, celebrating progress and identifying areas for further development, we help our students strengthen their skills, build their confidence and work towards fulfilling their individual potential.

THE SHOW TERM

The Show Term is where everything comes together.

Our students take the skills they have developed in ACTING, SINGING and DANCE and put them into practice as they rehearse towards a full-scale public performance.

There is simply no substitute for the experience of live theatre. The rehearsal room can teach technique, discipline and craft — but stepping onto a stage in front of an audience teaches a performer something entirely different.

Throughout the Show Term, our students experience what it really means to be part of a theatrical company. They learn material, develop characters, rehearse songs and choreography, work as an ensemble and discover the commitment, teamwork and discipline required to take a production from those exciting first rehearsals all the way to opening night.

And then... it's showtime!

Only through performance can young performers learn to channel those first-night nerves, respond to the energy of a live audience and experience that wonderful moment when an audience is completely engaged in the story they are telling.

They discover how to connect with an audience, excite them, move them, make them laugh and, perhaps, hold them in the palm of their hand.

And, of course, they get to experience one of theatre's greatest rewards — the exhilaration of taking a final bow and enjoying a well-earned round of applause.

The Show Term is more than simply putting on a production. It's the culmination of the training, creativity and hard work that takes place throughout the year — and an opportunity for every student to experience the discipline, excitement and sheer joy of live theatre.

THE ACADEMY

TRAINING

INSIDE THE CLASSROOM

THE THREE TERM CYCLE

SCHOOL TIMES

Henley in Arden School

Wootton Upper School

Oakley Academy