Since its inception in 2007 the Pauline Quirke Academy has given young people aged 4 to 18 years the chance to hone their skills in many areas of performing arts. There are around 100 academies across the UK, which offer outstanding training in all aspects of performing, from comedy and drama to film and TV. Now, the Pauline Quirke Academy is setting up a new advanced training course, PQA Plus, which is aimed at young people from 18 to 25 years.

‘We found that people who were in our older group – which is aged 13 to 18 – were having to leave because they were getting Saturday jobs or they were going off to college and doing performing arts in the week and they needed their weekends – or they might have felt a little bit too old. Once they start getting to 16 or 17 sometimes they don’t want to be in a group with 13 year olds or sitting in an assembly with six years olds at the start of the day – and they want to work on more advanced material,’ explains Adam Davenport, Creative Director at Pauline Quirke Academy and one of the minds behind the latest course.

‘After getting quite a lot of enquires from our older age group and noticing that 16 year olds were leaving a bit earlier than we thought, we decided to do something that would be aimed at a more advanced level for older people. Particularly people who want to get into drama school or musical theatre colleges.’

Students who do the course can expect an equal amount of excellent tuition in singing, acting and dance. ‘It will always be project based and they will be working on different things every single term. For instance, if we have a very acting based term they might be working towards a one act play in a studio theatre. If it’s a musical theatre based term we’ll probably be looking at ensemble musical theatre numbers and solo opportunities, choreography and scene into song. Towards the end of the year we will be looking to showcase them in an Off West End or Fringe venue to invited industry professionals,’ enthuses Davenport.

‘On top of that they’ll be getting masterclasses. Pauline Quirke herself will be coming in to do a masterclass with the students around the second term – once they’ve settled in. We’ll also be bringing in guest industry professionals throughout the weeks for Q&As or for practical sessions. They’ll also be creating short films – which can also be used as showreels – which we will screen in their final showcase at the end of the year.’

Davenport states that the course has a real focus on preparing people for the industry: ‘We have so many people who are external coming in to talk to them about the realities of the industry that will help them understand what they are going in to. And, also the context that they can bring in terms of getting them prepared for what places are like (at drama schools) and what they are looking for from their actors when they are auditioning.’

This industry focused and inter-disciplinary approach is what makes the PQA Plus course unique. ‘It’s always reflecting realistic industry practice because of the amount of external influence that we’ve got and also our contacts within the profession. We are always working towards an industry standard. There’s high level of singing, acting and dancing but also the filmmaking as well. So, it is reflecting that performing arts is multi-media nowadays and performers are required to be versatile and have a lot of skills under their belts.’ Davenport also talks about other benefits outside of the course: ‘We also have an adult agency which will be launching at the same time called Q Management. So, they have the opportunity to have professional headshots by John Clark and be represented by Q Management to give them a spring board into the industry.’

Audition workshops are going to be running in Watford and High Wycombe in November and December, and these will be the first locations offering the PQA Plus course. From January sessions will run on Thursday evenings in Watford and Friday evenings in High Wycombe. Davenport concludes:

‘We are looking for people who demonstrate a real open enthusiasm and commitment to performing arts. We’ve got to work with people who we know are going to be there week in and week out, who are going to put the work in and who are committed to being the best they can be. They don’t have to arrive being the finished product because that’s what we’re there for. What they need to come with is; commitment, enthusiasm, desire and passion – that’s what we are looking for.’

Auditions for PQA Plus course will be held in Watford on Thursday 10 December and in High Wycombe on Friday 11 December.