Barnsley

Principal – Christine Cooksey

Christine Cooksey BA, ALCM, PGCE

My name is Christine Cooksey. I live near Barnsley, South Yorkshire. I am married and have two children called Tom & Madeleine. I am thrilled to be selected as the Principal of the Pauline Quirke Academy Barnsley.

I studied music at Bretton Hall College, West Yorkshire and later did my teacher training at The Roehampton Institute in London. Since then, I have worked as a performing arts teacher in schools in London and Yorkshire.

As a performer, I sang with an international touring choir ‘Sine Nomine’ performing in concerts across the UK and Europe.

In recent years my career took on a new direction when I became involved in musical theatre. I worked as Musical Director of ‘The Lamp Room Musical Theatre Company’ and ‘Penistone Operatic Society’ adult and junior groups, where from 2000 to 2009, I directed three musical productions each year. In 2005, I formed a youth theatre group called ‘Razzmatazz Community Youth Musical Theatre Company’ based in Penistone, and with the help of £10,000 arts council funding I produced our first production. The National Youth Theatre’s version of ‘Whistle Down The Wind’.

Over the past 25 years I have provided vocal training in classical, pop and musical theatre styles for students of all ages, and I am currently the musical director of Ileisha Ladies Choir.

Early in 2012 the opportunity arose to set up the ‘Yorkshire Musical Arts Centre ‘ (YMAC). The centre which is located in the grounds of Fairfield House, opposite Barnsley’s main police station, provides space for small creative musical arts companies to work together. It is here that the academy will be based. The house at the opposite end of the site, 12 Victoria Street hosts the main reception, and is where the students of the academy will sign in each week.

After a lifetime of music making and a dedicated commitment to provide performance opportunities for people of all ages, I am so pleased to be able to bring the Pauline Quirke Academy to Barnsley. It is a wonderful opportunity for youngsters to gain quality training devised and supported by the academy’s brilliant creative team, and to take part in unique events locally and nationally. This is the beginning of an exciting journey ahead and I look forward to meeting new students.

Jordan – Musical Theatre

My name is Jordan Nelson and I am very passionate about Performing Arts. I started my dance training at Wakefield College and then went on to intensive training in contemporary dance at the Scottish School Of Contemporary Dance. My interest in dance extended to musical theatre, and after finishing my course at the Scottish School, I continued my training in musical theatre at Studio La Pointe College in Leeds.

I have performed across the UK with the Bennu Youth Dance Company and also in Romania. My teaching experience has involved working with young people across Yorkshire and I have choreographed musical theatre productions including West Side Story.

I look forward to sharing my passion for dance and musical theatre withy the students at PQA Barnsley.

Comedy-Drama

Biography to appear here soon

Anthea – Film & Television

My name is Anthea Painter, I live in Shafton, Barnsley.

I am so excited to be the Teacher of Film and TV at the Pauline Quirke Academy in Barnsley.

Just to tell you a little bit about myself; I studied Performance Studies and Media Studies at college before going on to study Drama: Acting for Stage and Media at The University of West London where I received my BA Honours Degree (2:1). Throughout my training at University I studied Stage Combat, Musical Theatre and my main focus was on Acting for screen. The combination of acting and learning how to use complex film making equipment, has led me to not only act in front of the camera, but also to create my own films.

I have performed in drama productions in London, and was lucky to have an opportunity to perform on a West stage. In 2010, I appeared in Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant film ‘Cemetery Junction’.

Despite my passion for professional performance, I have always wanted to teach Drama, and since moving back to Yorkshire nearly one year ago, I have been keen to pursue this aspect of my career. I am, therefore, so pleased to be a part of PQA Barnsley, and see it as such an amazing opportunity for youngsters in the Barnsley area. I can’t wait to meet all of the new students and look forward to creating our own block buster films!

Poppets

Biography to appear here soon