Cheltenham

Principal – Sue Day

I trained at The Central School of Speech and Drama following which I began a teaching career, and quickly became Head of Drama and Head of House since I was always talking to and helping students. Alongside these two time consuming jobs, I was appointed as The Youth Theatre Director at The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre where I ran the auditioned Youth Theatre two evenings week, as well as running monthly and holiday workshop for any child wanting to come along and have a go!

I have always believed that the importance of Drama sessions/productions are that they are inclusive not exclusive and during my teaching career I have worked wholeheartedly towards Drama being seen as integral to the building of self esteem and self confidence for all of my students. I believe it is a subject where it is not necessary for ANY child to fail, and where fun and laughter can predominate. I will help every child to develop their self confidence through exploration of their imagination and creativity.

I left teaching to concentrate on directing productions on London’s Fringe Theatre and then after moving to Gloucestershire I became an A’ Level Theatre Studies Examiner, as well as training to be a Helpline Counsellor for the NSPCC’s Childline, both of which I continue to do. I am happy to return to my first love of teaching, by taking up the challenge to become the Principal of The Pauline Quirke Academy for Performing Arts in Cheltenham.

At PQA Cheltenham we enjoy celebrating the success of every student, and hold showcase to which parents are invited. Each term a different lesson showcases and our final year Showcase for Film & TV is held at Cineworld, where we dress up for our “World Premiere – Red Carpet” screening of the student’s films. Students at PQA Cheltenham work hard, and their reward is a training in performance that not only gives them artistic skills and confidence but which celebrates them as individuals.

Sandra – Comedy & Drama

With over 7 years teaching experience following her degree in performing Arts, as well as a diploma in Drama Therapy, Sandra worked as a supply teacher for the academy before becoming our permanent Film & TV teacher. Last summer she moved over to teach her specialist area, which is Comedy & Drama. She is highly qualified to teach Drama having previously been the Head of the National Diploma for Performing Arts at the local college in Gloucester, a post she held for 3 years.

She enjoys teaching, because she enjoys working with children of all ages to help them gain confidence in their abilities both on and off the stage. She is a firm believer in the idea of Drama being a tool to raise self esteem and achievement standards for children, and this is reflected in the high quality of her work at the academy every saturday. Sandra is also currently working as a professional actress, and has done a variety of stage shows and small parts for television.

Marie – Comedy & Drama

I attended Derby University back in the 1990’s and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Film & Television with Theatre Studies. Knowing that I wanted to work with children and a love of theatre encouraged me to then study and pass my P.G.C.E at Reading University, after which, I started teaching Drama at a local secondary school up to A’Level.

Since then, I have worked at 3 different schools and currently hold the post of Assistant Leader of Performing Arts – responsible for Media and Drama at a Specialist Performing Arts College. Another part of my job is the provision for Able, Gifted and Talented students across the Performing Arts department. As part of this, I am also a trained Arts Award Advisor (up to Gold level) – over a quarter of my school hold a level 1 or 2 qualification before they turn 12!

I also hold a Diploma in Performance Coaching (Education) which I gained from Newcastle College and have taught adult Drama classes. I also love directing plays including ‘The Visit’, ‘Metamorphosis’, ‘The Tempest’, ‘The Little Shop of Horrors’ and my favourite musical to date ‘Disco Inferno’. As a sideline, I also run the Stonehouse Youth Theatre, producing devised work for performance, across the Stroud Valleys.

In my ‘spare’ time, I work for an exam board at a senior level, marking GCSE Drama exams and moderating coursework – I love the fact that they pay me to go around the country and see so many fantastic pieces of theatre The best part of my job is that each day is different and students learn that they have it within them to succeed. Doing lots of different things keeps me inspired and I never get bored!

Vikki – Film & Television

Vikki has always loved every aspect of Performing arts, taking classes in acting, dance of varying styles and singing and has sung in several bands, taken part in numerous shows as well as having experience off stage as an assistant stage manager and a deputy stage manager.

After studying in Hereford for 5 years to gain 2 diplomas and a foundation degree in Performing arts, Vikki moved to Sheffield for her final year to complete a BA honours in Performance and Professional Practice. Six months of this time were spent on a work placement with Sheffield Theatres. As part of her Degree, she studied TV and Film, learning the importance of pre-production preperation and story-lining. She is therefore highly qualified to be able to work teaching children and young people both the technical skills of film-making as well as the performance skills. We welcome Vikki whole-heatedly to PQA-Cheltenham

Jess – Poppets

Throughout my childhood I attended drama and dance schools such as Linda Virgo’s, Stage Coach, GOD’s and Everyman Youth Theatre, where I took part in many different stage performances including musicals, drama, comedy and Shakespeare. I then studied performing arts at college, where I was given the opportunity to sign up to a casting agency, and thoroughly enjoyed spending time on the set of the BBC’s Casualty, as an extra. The part was very small but it was a fabulous experience.

Since leaving college, I have done a variety of different voluntary work but always with children. These include teaching Rainbows for 5-7 year olds and local to where I live, an after school club called The Friday club for 6- 13 year olds, where the children play games and crafts and learn valuable lessons. I spent last summer in Italy teaching English through Drama and play to young children. I had a fantastic time and enjoyed watching all of the children progress and become more confident in speaking and understanding English,. As soon as I arrived back in England I was able to join PQA – Cheltenham, initially as the teaching assistant to the Poppets Class,. However, I was absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to take over the class in October as the regular Poppets teacher. I love teaching this age group and we all have great fun every saturday morning!

Sharna – Musical Theatre

I trained in Physical Theatre and Dance at Salford University and graduated in 2007. During my course I trained in Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Singing and Drama, and am now very pleased to be teaching BTEC Dance in a local Comprehensive school. I have been teaching at PQA- Cheltenham for just over a year now where I began as a Drama Teaching Assistant. I started my new role as Musical Theatre Teacher in September’11 and is something I get great pleasure from. I am so lucky to be working with amazing students and to help them to create fantastic performances. Working at PQA-Cheltenham is a job I am passionate about! Teaching Musical Theatre gives me the chance to encourage student’s confidence, to be able to watch them grow individually as performers, and I feel very privileged to be able to do this. I also have a little girl; Taya who is 2 and a half years old, and is definitely a budding performer! She is simply dying to join PQA Poppets! Working with such lovely and talented children is the great thing about teaching at PQA and I hope this will continue for many years!

Leanne – Musical Theatre

I graduated in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre from Performers College. Whilst training I gained teaching qualifications in ISTD Modern and Tap dance, as well as working as a children’s drama teacher at the weekends. My training consisted of various styles of dance, (including ballet, tap, modern technique, all jazz styles, contemporary, partner work, choreography and street dance), singing (including ensemble and harmony work, practical musicianship and recording experience), Musical Theatre, Voice and Drama. Throughout my training I was lucky enough to learn from some of the best in the industry and to perform at great venues in London in a variety of shows. I was also dance captain in my third year productions of ‘I Love You, You’re Perfect Now Change’ and ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’. After graduating from Performers, I took the London Actors Workshop course where I took part in master classes with professional actors and casting directors, and performed in the final showcase at The Cockpit Theatre in London.

My credits include commerical for ‘Danepak’, Ellie in ‘Strangers in the Park’, ‘Aladdin’, ‘Dick Whittington’ and ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’, all for UK Productions at The Theatre Royal Bath.

After graduating I gained more teaching experience, including Street Dance master classes at various PQA Academies and then began teaching Musical Theatre at PQA Bradley Stoke when it opened in 2009. I currently continue to teach here as well as at the PQA Cheltenham afternoon sessions. I particularly enjoy choreographing and my highlight at PQA so far has to be working on our show ‘American Dreams’ and seeing the children perform my choreography at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London’s West End.