Academy and Theatre Company
A Place For Us runs a dynamic Performing Arts Academy and a critically acclaimed Theatre Company. We believe that inspiring, challenging and training the next generation of actors/musicians is crucial. Many of our past students are now professionals and many more extend their training in to further and higher education in the Performing and Creative Arts.
We support young talent at all levels, from those just starting on their journey to those entering the profession. We are proud to have been nominated as finalists in the 'Excellence in Music Theatre' category of the 'Music & Drama Education Awards in 2020 and 2021.
Whatever the future holds getting involved in the Performing Arts will have a lifelong benefit. Many employers look for the skills that performers have: Self-confidence, presentational skills, team work, flexibility, creative thinking resilience and self-discipline to name but a few.
Performing Arts Academy
Welcome to the place where we weave dreams. Our Performing Arts Academy (fees apply) is open to ages 7 - 19 and meets every Saturday morning during term time. Students take part in Dance, Drama and Singing sessions each week. The culmination of our year is a performance in a professional theatre at the end of the Summer term accompanied by a live professional band.
Our Performing Arts Academy meets at The Heath School, Clifton Road, Runcorn, WA7 4SY every Saturday during term time (normally 12 weeks per term). We have access to outstanding facilities including - Theatre Space, Dance Studio (with sprung floor), and a dedicated Music Room as well as break out spaces. We meet from 09:45 until 13:00 and the Academy is split in to 3 age groups:
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Ages 7 – 9 (School years 2 - 4)
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Ages 10 – 13 (School years 5 - 8)
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Ages 13+ (School years 9 – 13)
Each week all students take part in Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (Singing) classes. We feel it is important that all Performing Arts students gain experience in all 3 disciplines, even if one of those disciplines is not necessarily their strength. This leads to a well-rounded training and creates a strong company bond between members of the Academy.
It also enhances and refines their skills to allow them to progress to our Theatre Company and beyond in to Further/Higher Education.
We have a strong partnership with the Cronton Sixth Form College and many of our students go on join Cronton’s Centre of Excellence for Performing Arts. Other students have gone on to study professionally at various institutions such as LIPA, Liverpool Media Academy, UCLAN, Pointe Blank Music College (London) and the Arden School of Theatre in Manchester and many others.
Our Academy:
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Inclusive, nurturing, friendly and supportive atmosphere.
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Individualised, progressive high quality training.
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Variety of performance opportunities
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Developing loyalty, perseverance, life skills and team work
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Producing talented versatile pupils who can adapt to any situation
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Developing life-long friendships
Our Terms and Conditions can be found HERE
More photos, videos and reviews on our Media and gallery page
Youth Theatre Company
Our Next Production!
Come and Rock The Ruins!
We are delighted to announce that this production of We Will Rock You Young@Part will take place on the stunning ruins of Norton Priory. This is the first time that WWRY will have been staged outdoors and it will be part of our Summer of Outdoor Theatre. This is an amazing talent development opportunity for 12 - 18 year olds.
Featuring chart-topping Queen songs including “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Killer Queen,” “We Will Rock You,” “Somebody To Love,” “We Are the Champions,” and many more, this 70-minute adaptation of the West End show follows two young rebels as they restore rock ‘n’ roll to “the iPlanet” in a post-apocalyptic world. WE WILL ROCK YOU Young@Part® is a musical for our time: a fist-pumping, foot-stomping anthem to individuality.
Thanks to secured funding from Halton Borough Council this is a fully funded (free) opportunity. However, we will expect full commitment to the production from everyone involved. There are only 30 places available. Auditions will be held on 16th July, and we will send out more details nearer the time. Application forms must be in by 24th June, and we expect demand to be very high. Once we have received an application, we will send a link to the audition pack so that Owen can prepare for the audition.
Rehearsals start on the 22nd August with performances on 4th September 2022. To register your interest complete our enquiry form HERE
Back in 2017 whilst running the Performing Arts Academy (Formerly The Heath Perform/LIPA 4:19), we ‘dreamed a dream’ to start a Theatre Company arm of our organisation for young people age 12 - 21. We embarked on our ambitious inaugural production of Les Miserables to be staged at the Epstein Theatre , Liverpool, accompanied by a full professional orchestra. After months of unbelievable hard work, collaboration, enthusiasm and talent, in Nov 2017, the show achieved huge success both critically and artistically. Since that initial show, the theatre company has gone from strength to strength, running alongside but independently of the performing arts academy. Productions in recent years have been the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar and the classic timeless Oliver! Both of which attained extraordinary production values akin to professional shows. Click on the posters below for rehearsal and production photos/videos and full reviews.
‘…an outstanding production, filled with strong conviction, passion and never ending talent’
‘The cast is excellent and I predict great futures in the theatre industry for many of the performers in the show’
‘It brought goosebumps to my skin’
Les Miserables , Epstein Theatre, Liverpool, November 2017 ( Blathine McGuire – North West End UK)
Jesus Chris Superstar, Epstein Theatre, Liverpool, October 2018 (Jacob Bush – North West End UK)
Oliver! The Musical, Epstein Theatre, September 2019 ( Amy Swag – North West End UK)
More photos, videos and reviews on our Media and gallery page
Converting to a Community Interest Company has enabled us to continue our work with music and theatre to inspire and create high quality, inclusive, cultural experiences that raises aspiration and have a positive impact on the cultural, social and economic landscape of the local community of Halton, Merseyside and beyond.
We are overwhelmed to have to have won the Excellence in Musical Theatre category of the Music & Drama Education Awards in both 2021 & 2022. Thank you to the judges and to our fabulous team and company.
This past year has been such a tough time for our beloved industry. To have a won such a prestigious award at this time is truly an honour and a privilege.
We have had our challenges this year, with The Covid 19 pandemic setting our show dates back twice, and a recast of roles due to some of our young people moving around the UK in their education careers. But we are nothing if not resilient. New opportunities have opened up for young performers & technicians to apply to us get involved. We are looking forward to developing the company and producing more world class theatre and opportunities. We can’t wait to get back to working in a theatre soon. Watch this space and Leave a Light On…The show MUST Go On!
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An Important message from members of our Performing Arts Academy
During Lockdown our Performing Arts Academy has continued to meet and rehearse together online. The Performing Arts play a key role in supporting mental health and wellbeing. This amazing version of 'You Will Be Found' was recorded by some of our Academy members; we are so proud of them. Their message to everyone out there - 'You are not alone'.