Chelmsford

Principal: Stephen Hawke

Hi, my name is Stephen Hawke & I am the proud Principal of the Chelmsford Academy.

I was delighted to be asked to become involved with the Pauline Quirke Academy three years ago & continue the philosophy of providing a creative & fun learning environment for Drama, Theatre & the Performing Arts for our young people.

I have been involved in Theatre & Dramatic Arts for around fifteen years, having been first inspired by Willie Russell’s West End Production of Blood Brothers back in the late 90′s.

I received some early foundation Training at the Norwich Theatre Royal & “The Garage” in various aspects of Acting, Theatre & Stagecraft, where aspirations of coaching the Dramatic Arts became a natural progression for me & to which I now dedicate all of my “spare” time.

Attending C.C.A.T.S Drama College and with a passion for Shakespeare, I received professional accreditation as both Teacher & Actor (following The Trinity Guildhall School of Music & Drama curriculum and working towards a Licentiate in Applied Speech & Drama)

Stage credits include “Dr Chapman – marriage guidance councilor” in Michael Cooney’s “Cash on Delivery” the U-Boat Commander “Don’t Tell him your name Pike” in “Dads Army”, & “The Hotel Inspector” in “Fawlty Towers”.

TV, movie & commercial appearances range from current Government Alcohol awareness campaign “Know your Limits”, through to Tetley Tea, BT, Sony (Playstation), VW & SEAT car companies, Nike, and M&M Sweets (which has an amusing story!).

As frequent “Supporting Actor” in popular Soaps such as “Eastenders”, “Holby City” & “The Bill”. I have also featured in many Productions of “Law & Order” (with Bradley Walsh), “Hope & Glory” (Lenny Henry), “The Midsomer Murders” (John Nettles), Sherlock, Whitechapel, Spooks, Todd Margaret, Chucklevision, Victoria Wood’s Christmas Special, Silent Witness, and The Real Hustle as well as bigger budget movie productions such as “Franklyn”, “Reuniting the Rubins” (Timothy Spall) “Maybe Baby” (Hugh Laurie, directed by Ben Elton), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, “Sleepy Hollow” with Johnny Depp, X-Men First Class (20th Century Fox, starring James McAvoy) and Sleepy Head (2012)

I also appeared as a Hospital Visitor in “Missing” starring our own Pauline!

In 2007, I formed my own Drama Company “The Drama Shed”, which continues to grow successfully in Essex. With a workshop approach, students enjoy the confidence & sense of family that Drama provides & where the offer of a stable, safe teaching environment is complimented by the encouragement of their individual creativity.

I am a firm believer in the PQA “Fun” philosophy for our students. Enjoyment whilst learning is fundamental to any child’s development and seeing our students having a great time whilst achieving their personal goals is a hugely rewarding experience.

With my handpicked team of dedicated, highly professional PQA teachers (all of whom are professional actors, actresses, Choreographers, singers and Film Directors/producers), I know that the enthusiasm, ability & creative, fun-approach adopted by all at PQA will continue to be a fabulous environment for your children where they will receive all the encouragement they can get.

See you Saturday !

Stephen Hawke
Principal – The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (Essex)
07825 086694

Our Teachers

Lauren

Musical Theatre

Lauren has been passionate about the performing arts and in particular Musical Theatre from a very young age. Since the age of five, she has been involved in dance (tap, ballet & modern) and “waltzed” through her AS levels in Ballet and interpretative dance whilst at school. Lauren attended St Peters College of Performing Arts and Future Faces Stage School when she was younger gaining qualification in Performing Arts, Lighting and Sound, Theatre studies and Musical Performance

During her early training, Lauren went on to appear in some great roles, which have included the role of Nancy in “Oliver” and the role of Tallulah in “Bugsy Malone”, both giving her a head-start and some key confidence skills to pursue her love of dancing and singing.

Lauren has also performed at the London Palladium and more recently the Cramphorn Theatre in Chelmsford which she says were both highlights of her Performing Arts career.

Lauren states proudly that PQA has allowed her to keep Musical Theatre in her life, and now merge it with her other passion which is teaching. I am very pleased to hear that she enjoys every second of the PQA family environment, and both her brother Charlie in Chelmsford’s Blue group and mum Peri a valued Assistant and student greeter at Chelmsford PQA makes it a real family affair at the Academy for Lauren.

Lauren remains a valuable and dedicated assistant teacher, and has been working with Chelmsford PQA since 2010 having contributing towards student showcases, voice development and musical routines involving dance and song. She is a great compliment to the teaching staff at Chelmsford Academy and I am pleased to welcome her as part of the team.

“I am enjoying PQA so much and look forward every week to seeing how the students are developing their performing skills and confidence…”

Stephen Hawke – Principal – The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (Essex)

Chris

Film & Television

Chris has had a life-long interest in theatre and cinema. He started working behind the camera in 1976. Since that time he has assisted in the production of programmes for Terrestrial and Satellite television and well as national and local radio and Theatre.

Chris started his career with the Classic Cinemas group where he produced promotional product on 16mm film, attending West End Premieres for many 70’s blockbusters in particular the original Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. He also assisted in co-ordinating 3 regional premieres for the Children’s Film Foundation. Chris later moved on to the commercial sector producing training video packages for the British Defence Industry, GEC Marconi, Plessey, Mobil Oil company, Ford Motor Company, Yardley cosmetics.

In 1994, shortly after the birth of his twin daughters Chris started Vidia Productions, making local history videos and radio productions as a freelance producer, for amongst others University of Essex, Essex Police and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. He now has 15 video and 10 audio programmes selling as far away as Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Chris’s work has been shown on Sky News, Jameson Tonight, London Weekend Television Six O’Clock Show, ITV London Tonight and BBC TV Blue Peter Millenium Celebration.

For the past 16 years Chris has worked in theatres, principally in Essex but also in London and the Home counties producing projected multimedia sequences for productions of “Singin’ In The Rain” “Mack And Mabel”, “The Wizard Of Oz”, “Summer Holiday”, “We Will Rock You” and The Wiz. He works regularly backstage at every theatre in the Southend area and south Essex with both amateur and professional theatre companies and dance schools.

Chris currently works at Belfairs High School in south Essex where he set up the TV and Media department He is a technical director for the performing arts and media departments. Chris co-ordinates and heads a team of instructors who regularly visits many junior and high schools in the area running TV, Film and animation courses and summer school events.

We are very proud at PQA Essex to have Chris as an integral part of the team, and he is delighted to be working with us.

Stephen Hawke – Principal – The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (Essex)

Lucy

Comedy & Drama

Lucy is an experienced professional Performer and Mentor, trained at the Italia Conti School where she achieved a BA (Hons).

She is skilled in many drama and Musical Theatre Disciplines including Ballet, Modern and Tap, as well as Movement (Impulse and Release techniques), with additional and highly valuable BASSC qualifications in Stage Combat (Armed /Un-Armed).

Working with PQA since we opened in 2009, Lucy has been continuously involved in many facets of mentoring student performers which has spanned several years. She is a Partner in a “Theatre in Education Company, called “Working Space Theatre Ltd” providing educational based plays to schools throughout England, Scotland and Wales and have included amongst many, The Nutcracker, The Great Fire of London, Oliver Twist, Gunpowder Treason & Plot, A Christmas Carol, Cleopatra, Pips War, Henry the V111 and his six Wives, The Snow Queen and Frankenstein). Her responsibilities are not only devising the plays but the daily running of the company, auditioning actors, casting, producing and directing the plays, costume sourcing, script editing, and overseeing tours for the duration of the performance run.

With an interesting and successful career on the Stage (including “Sara” in Three Steps Down, “Mrs Allen” in Dark of The Moon, “Brenda” in Road , she has many other professional credits to her name such as Radios “Rosie” in Smelling the Roses, and appearing in TV’s “Some Break”, “Attack of the Killer Cockney and “New Town Original”

Additionally, Lucy has also been involved in devising week-long workshops in conjunction with “Theatre Active”, for young people across the country, culminating in successful end Productions, and local schools involved in these workshops have included King Edmunds School in Rochford.

Exciting local projects that Lucy has been involved in, include organizing six-week film and video project workshops for disadvantaged teenagers, at the Fryerns School on behalf of Essex County Council. This was highly rewarding work and felt to be of significant advantage to developments in Film and Video production techniques and is felt she will continue to contribute enormously to al our Academies>

I am very pleased to introduce Lucy as one of my teachers and know that she will be loved by you all.

Stephen Hawke – Principal – The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (Essex)

Nikki

Musical Theatre

Nikki is an accomplished musical Theatre performer, actress, model, qualified dance instructor and teacher, with many years experience mentoring students as well as producing, directing and choreographing Theatre School musical productions which she finds both rewarding and challenging.

She has also worked as a Model / Dancer at Redken Headquarters in Hammersmith (demonstrating a varied and creative “performing” career) and has gained valuable experience in Teaching “Special Needs Dance” at Chelmsford Borough Council, bringing a unique skill-set to the Team.

As well as being an accomplished Soprano Singer, Nikki is skilled and trained in many diverse dance disciplines including Ballet. Jazz, Modern, Tap, Contemporary, Jazz, Associate Modern, Pas de Deux and has recently enjoyed teaching ISTD Tap, Modern and free Jazz at the Billericay Dance Centre in Essex.

Nikki is very much at ease within a musical performance / teaching environment and demonstrates a warm positive approach toward teaching Musical Theatre with a constant enthusiasm for student development and creative outlook on her classes.

She has been a teacher at PQA in Chelmsford since we opened in 2009, having been involved in preparing our students with the Essex Youth Day performances at the Coalhouse Fort recently. She is also currently heavily embroiled in showcase Musical Theatre preparations for all our colour groups and looks forward to PQA in Essex, where she is working extremely hard in preparation for our PQA West End debut in the Summer at Her Majesty’s theatre.

Nikki’s skills as Choreographer, and musical performer, combined with her positive teaching approach and personality, fit exceptionally well within the philosophy of the Academy and I am proud to have her as a key member of my Teaching Team.

Stephen Hawke – Principal – The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (Essex)

Symren

Musical Theatre/Comedy & Drama/Film & Television

Symren has a great passion for teaching and imparting her performance knowledge in Acting / Drama and Musical Theatre disciplines.

Symren has professional training and experience working as actor, model and performer, and is passionate in sharing the Academy philosophy of a focus around fun.

With an excellent track record of teaching at PQA, Symren strives to encourage students to reach their full potential and enjoys working with all our colour groups at the Pauline Quirk Academy. Symren is really excited to be part of our teaching team in Essex, and is a highly talented and welcome member of the Academy.

” I remain extremely excited about being a part of the PQA Essex teaching Team and I look forward to working with all our new students”

Stephen Hawke – Principal – The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (Essex)

Peri

Hospitality & First Aid

Peri has been a huge benefit within PQA Chelmsford since Blue Group son Charlie started with us back in June 2009. With bundles of enthusiasm, Peri handles our student hospitality each week and with Daughter Lauren as our Assistant Musical Theatre Teacher, PQA Chelmsford really has a family connection with Peri.

Always willing to assist with all aspects of the Academy, Peri looks after our “early” parents whilst I am out in classes dealing with Creative Stages and Academy continuity, where she remains a real asset to the success of Chelmsford. We are all very grateful that Peri willingly provides her time each week, and we all value her immensely as an integral part of our Chelmsford team.”

Kim

General Assistant and Hospitality

Hi; my name is Kim and I am very excited to be a part of PQA Essex, where I will be assisting teachers across all disciplines in preparation for Showcases and events around the County. I’ve always had an interest in performing and since my stage debut as “Angel number 2” in the Nativity whilst at infant school, knew I would be more involved and since then, I have been lucky enough to belong to a number of theatrical groups within Southend on Sea, where I now live and work

I have belonged to the Threelance Theatre Group who regularly performed at the New Empire Theatre in Southend, where I enjoyed playing Bella in Gaslight, Mrs Birling in “An Inspector Calls” and my favourite part to date, was Rita in “Education Rita”. I also had great fun performing in the chorus of “Thoroughly Modern Mille” and as Mrs Pearce in “My Fair Lady” with the New Empire Players.

With the Lindisfarne Theatre Company, I have been lucky enough to play some great parts, including Eliza in “Pygmalion”, Nora in “A Dolls House”, Marge in “The Talented Mr Ripley” (where I was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Thurrock Drama Festival), Mary in “Run for your Wife” and most recently Gwendoline in “The Importance of Being Earnest” at the Palace Theatre in Westcliff.

Last year I also guested for East Essex Players in their production of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”.

I have also been part of a theatre workshop for schools called “The Problem with Teenagers”, highlighting some of the problems teens can come across throughout early life which I have found thoroughly absorbing.

I am more recently involved with a company who conduct Murder Mystery evenings for local community groups which are huge fun to perform, as the interaction with the audience obviously has to be improvised and you never know what questions you are going to get asked. It certainly keeps you on your toes!

Being involved in theatre is something I have always wanted to do and as well as acting and performing, I have worked as a Stage Manager, Props Mistress and Prompt for various productions and have directed two One Act Plays for the Southend Drama Festival, receiving nominations for best actor and actress on my directorial debut!

Laura

Musical Theatre

Laura began dancing at the early age of 6 at the Jackie Cox Theatre Dance School in Corringham, Essex. She performed in many annual shows and at the young age of 12 she successfully auditioned for the Principal Cast of ‘Sunday Night Live’ at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. She continued on this successful path and regularly performed at Theatres venues such as “The London Palladium”, “Her Majesties Theatre” and “Sadlers Wells Theatre in a variety of annual shows.

Taking her performing career a step further Laura began auditioning for many theatre colleges and chose Performers College in Essex as her college of choice, where she took part in many annual shows and was selected as part of the Performers College dance company, enabling her to perform at major events such as ‘The Candy Ball’ and ‘The Daisy Ball’ at the Grosvenor hotel in Park Lane. It was whilst she was at Performers, that Laura gained her ISTD teaching qualifications in Tap and Modern and her Advanced 2 modern certificates.

The highlight of Laura’s dance career so far was having the opportunity to perform in Disney Land Paris through Mardi Gras Magic Music days, where she was fortunate enough to perform at the Fantasy Land Theatre and take part in the famous Disney Parade.

Upon leaving college, Laura worked for Thompson and First Choice, performing in various hotels and venues across Crete. Upon her return to the UK, Laura was chosen as part of a “flash mob” performing for Sky 1′s “Got to Dance”, before a focus on teaching became a priority.

Laura has been teaching dance and musical theatre for over a year and thoroughly enjoys it. Whilst still continuing to work on her own career Laura feels it a great pleasure in passing on her knowledge to students of all ages.

We are very pleased to have Laura working at PQA in Brentwood, and she is soon to become appointed Musical Theatre teacher in PQA Romford, later in the year.

Laura says “PQA has such a great environment, the other staff and children are so very friendly and professional. It’s a great place to work, and I would have loved to come here as a child’

Stephen Hawke – Principal – The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (Essex)