21st July – 26th July 2013

Film in a Week with Vikki Chandler. Click HERE for more details

Acting Course. Click HERE for more details

Both Poppet groups presented their Christmas Show to parents under full stage conditions for the very first time. Their theme for the term had been the mr Men and so the show was all about what happened to the Mr Men & Little Misses one Christmas in Dillydale! Mr Lazy forgot to get up, Little Miss Magic experimented with some wand waving, everyone enjoyed a snowball fight and a good time was had by all!

Both groups put on a fantastic show which their friends and family watched, they are definitely all stars in the making!

We are all very proud to hear that one of our Red Group boys has just finished the London to Cambridge Bike ride in only 3 hrs 50…

He completed the ride with his dad to raise money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer and managed to raise £420.00 of their £250.00 target! It’s a fantastic achievement and shows just how much can be done by young people.

“Hi. We completed the ride yesterday in just under 4 hours with the help of cereal bars and jelly babies. We really enjoyed it and must get more people to join us next time ”

On July 04th members of Red Group involved in creating the films “Sean” and “I’m Sorry I Love You…” attended the National Filmnation Shorts Awards Ceremony at The British Film Institute.

Their films had been nominated in the categories of Best Drama 14-16 year Olds and Best Film of The Month respectively. Amidst GREAT excitement we set off for London and had an adventurous journey up to the Capital, with the coach dropping us in the wrong place resulting in a mad dash in taxis across London! All was well and we arrived exactly on 2pm. After each group was filmed explaining what they’re video was about, we were taken through to the screening room where the awards were hosted by Claudia Wilkleman.

Continue reading “PQA Cheltenham at The Filmnation Awards!” »

On Wednesday June 06th 2012 85 students and family went by coach to visit The Warner Brothers Studio in North London to take part in The Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour. We had a FANTASTIC (if long!) day.

We walked around all the famous sets we recognised from Harry Potter, visiting Dumbledore’s Office, Hagrid’s house, The Burrow, The Ministry of Magic, Number 4 Privett Drive, and many many more……. We saw how broomstickks flew, and some lucky students even had their picture taken flying on a broomstick. Red Group tasted Butter Beer, sadly not alcoholic! Very vanillary, butterscotch taste. Definitely sweet! Many had photos taken in Ron’s car, and on the Knight Bus. We saw all the anamatronics, the masks, and giant creatures purpose built ofr the films. We visited Gringotts vault and walked up Diagon Alley. And we shopped til we dropped in the world of Harry Potter!

We have been on 18 theatre trips this academyc year, as well as a badkstage tour but The Harry Potter studio tour was AMAZING!!! We loved it!

I wonder where we’ll be going next year??

PQA Red Group (teenagers) are no strangers to entering film competitions. Having won the LIGHTS ACTION PARLIAMENT competition last year, this year they aimed higher and entered 3 films into the FILMNATION SHORTS competition run in association with The Olympics. Their task was to make a three minute film on one or more of the Olympic values. Two of the three films we entered called “Sean” and “I’m Sorry I Love You…” have been shortlisted as finalists in different categories.

Continue reading “RED GROUP PREPARE FOR NATIONAL AWARDS CEREMONY TO CELEBRATE THEIR FILM NATION SUCCESS” »

It is easy to see why Poppet classes at PQA Cheltenham are over subscribed when you look at these photos of what happens in their classes. It is clear that they spend an hour and half enjoying imaginative drama ideas, fun filled games, complete with puppets and toys, and singing and dancing to their hearts content. Classes led by Emily Rose are inspiring places to be every saturday, and she is helped by Molly, Jono, Alex and Luke. As both classes are now full we are looking to open another class early in September, so why not contact Sue Principal of PQA CHeltenham now!

Blue group presented their hilarious play “Pirates of the Curry Bean” to a large audience of family and friends. They had tremendous fun rehearsing the play, which included Pirate fights, a Sea Shanty Dance, rescuing a heroine, and discovering treasure along with a long lost father! Everyone had a fantastic morning, and all the hard work was much appreciated by an audience who was in stitches throughout. WELL DONE BLUE GROUP !!

PQA Cheltenham are please to announce detials of its popular Summer Workshops.

6-12 year olds can enjoy the challenge of making a film in a week! Click HERE for further details.

12-18 year olds will take on an Acting Masterclass culminating in a full performance on the Friday! Click HERE for more details.

A film made by students at the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts in Cheltenham will be shown on screens at venues across the Games.  The children, who go to academy sessions at Pate’s Grammar School on Saturdays, won the honour after their entry into a contest organised by FilmNation emerged triumphant.The task was to create a film involving one or more of the seven Olympic values. After choosing ‘inspiration’, their production “Sean” featured a singer who was inspired by the death of her brother. The production emerged victorious out of all the films entered in December. Principal Sue Day said: “I feel unbelievably proud and a little bit overwhelmed that they have managed to do it. “We aimed for it and that’s where they went……The values of the Olympic Games are completely inspirational……..”It applies to anybody and everybody in life and I think that’s what really inspired the students……..”They got really excited about it.”  There are currently 125 students at the Cheltenham academy, which holds two sessions at weekends at the Princess Elizabeth Way school.