Djanogly City Academy,Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham. NG7 6ND
Welcome to PQA Nottingham
Welcome to the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts in Nottingham! I am very proud to offer you classes in Comedy and Drama, Film and Television and Musical Theatre with our inspiring and very talented teachers. We run from 10am – 1pm on Saturday mornings at our amazing venue – Djanogly City Academy, with brand new, top of the range facilities.
Get in touch to book a free taster session!
Lisa
Principal – PQA Nottingham
lisa@pqacademy.com
Nottingham News
- PQA Nottingham Open Day a Huge Success!PQA Nottingham, the latest to join the PQA Family opened its doors for the first time on April 21st. Read more...
Main 09.45 - 13.00
Poppets 09.45 - 11.30
Our People
Principal – Lisa Ambalavanar
Hi, my name’s Lisa and I am so excited to be the Principal of PQA Nottingham. I have taught for many busy and inspirational years now and I’m really looking forward to taking it to the next level and helping to develop the young talent Nottingham has to offer.
I trained in both dance and drama and performed in many productions throughout my childhood and teenage years. At the age of nineteen I gained a place at Paul McCartney’s prestigious performing arts academy LIPA and completed a course in Performing Arts (Dance). Since then I have acted in many TV productions including Doctors and Hustle, performed live for the BBC and danced in my fair share of shows and corporate events!
But the work I’m most proud of is the teaching I have done all over the country. I have taught for dance schools, weekend academies, colleges, universities, gyms, leisure centres, businesses….even the England Womens’ Cricket Team! It has been interesting, hectic and varied and I have loved every minute of it.
I am now delighted and honoured to be bringing PQA to Nottingham.
Principal – Lisa Ambalavanar
Hi, my name’s Lisa and I am so excited to be the Principal of PQA Nottingham. I have taught for many busy and inspirational years now and I’m really looking forward to taking it to the next level and helping to develop the young talent Nottingham has to offer.
I trained in both dance and drama and performed in many productions throughout my childhood and teenage years. At the age of nineteen I gained a place at Paul McCartney’s prestigious performing arts academy LIPA and completed a course in Performing Arts (Dance). Since then I have acted in many TV productions including Doctors and Hustle, performed live for the BBC and danced in my fair share of shows and corporate events!
But the work I’m most proud of is the teaching I have done all over the country. I have taught for dance schools, weekend academies, colleges, universities, gyms, leisure centres, businesses….even the England Womens’ Cricket Team! It has been interesting, hectic and varied and I have loved every minute of it.
I am now delighted and honoured to be bringing PQA to Nottingham.
Penny – Musical Theatre
Penny began performing at a young age. She attended Derby Playhouse Theatre School and then, alongside being the lead vocalist for a corporate and party band and also a role in ITV’s Crossroads, she gained her National Diploma in Performing Arts. She then went on to become a ‘world famous Redcoat’ at Butlins where she loved working with kids, teaching them songs and dance routines to get them ready for their big performance at the end of their holiday!
Since Butlins, Penny’s worked as a lead vocalist/dancer for the X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent tours, performed in Bourne Leisure Productions shows, been a lead vocalist for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and sang at the Isle of Wight Festival! Her talent ranges from Musical Theatre – she’s performed in We Will Rock You, Les Miserable, Mamma Mia and Miss Saigon at Potters Leisure Resort, to Commercial Pop – she has put together her own Kylie Minogue tribute show!
Penny says “I can’t wait to teach new and exciting talent at PQA. I look forward to seeing you there!”
Penny – Musical Theatre
Penny began performing at a young age. She attended Derby Playhouse Theatre School and then, alongside being the lead vocalist for a corporate and party band and also a role in ITV’s Crossroads, she gained her National Diploma in Performing Arts. She then went on to become a ‘world famous Redcoat’ at Butlins where she loved working with kids, teaching them songs and dance routines to get them ready for their big performance at the end of their holiday!
Since Butlins, Penny’s worked as a lead vocalist/dancer for the X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent tours, performed in Bourne Leisure Productions shows, been a lead vocalist for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and sang at the Isle of Wight Festival! Her talent ranges from Musical Theatre – she’s performed in We Will Rock You, Les Miserable, Mamma Mia and Miss Saigon at Potters Leisure Resort, to Commercial Pop – she has put together her own Kylie Minogue tribute show!
Penny says “I can’t wait to teach new and exciting talent at PQA. I look forward to seeing you there!”
Victoria – Comedy & Drama
Victoria is an experienced drama workshop leader and actor coming to PQA Nottingham to teach comedy and drama. Victoria has a passion for comedy and specialised in Clowning, Mask and object manipulation when working towards her Fellow in Performing Arts with Trinity College London 2012.
Victoria graduated from the University of Derby in 2010 and has taught drama workshops and summer schools for several performing arts schools since graduating. Victoria is a working actor and recent credits include the fairy godmother in a pantomime tour of Jack and the Beanstalk with Dream Team Pantomime company and a re-working of the Importance of Being Earnest using clown, puppetry and object manipulation.
Other training includes attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art for acting for Film and Television and YinDeYan Teatro Bilbao Spain for the Neutral Mask.
Victoria has a passion for teaching and is very excited to be joining the team!
Victoria – Comedy & Drama
Victoria is an experienced drama workshop leader and actor coming to PQA Nottingham to teach comedy and drama. Victoria has a passion for comedy and specialised in Clowning, Mask and object manipulation when working towards her Fellow in Performing Arts with Trinity College London 2012.
Victoria graduated from the University of Derby in 2010 and has taught drama workshops and summer schools for several performing arts schools since graduating. Victoria is a working actor and recent credits include the fairy godmother in a pantomime tour of Jack and the Beanstalk with Dream Team Pantomime company and a re-working of the Importance of Being Earnest using clown, puppetry and object manipulation.
Other training includes attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art for acting for Film and Television and YinDeYan Teatro Bilbao Spain for the Neutral Mask.
Victoria has a passion for teaching and is very excited to be joining the team!
Matt – Poppet
Hello Poppets! My name is Matt. I’ve lived in Nottinghamshire all my life and started attending speech and drama classes at the age of 8. My first appearance on stage was Cagey Joe in Bugsy Malone. Since then I became a member of the Ravenshead Youth Theatre Group and appeared in various amateur productions. My roles have now reversed and I’m teaching and directing at the Ravenshead Youth Theatre Group. In 2011 the Nottingham And Nottinghamshire Dramatic Association awarded me Best Supporting Actor for my role as Denis Wicksteed in Alan Bennett’s Habeas Corpus.
I’m currently training in Childcare for Early Years at Vision West Notts. As part of my Level 3 Diploma I’m building work experience with children in the 2 – 5 year age group at my local Pre-School Playgroup. We implement a lot of drama practices to boost children’s confidence and social skills. I have lots of fun engaging the children’s interest.
By combining my two passions of drama and teaching, which I’m thoroughly excited about, this is my greatest adventure to date. I’d have loved the opportunity to be part of an academy like PQA when I was your age. I look forward to seeing you soon!
Matt – Poppet
Hello Poppets! My name is Matt. I’ve lived in Nottinghamshire all my life and started attending speech and drama classes at the age of 8. My first appearance on stage was Cagey Joe in Bugsy Malone. Since then I became a member of the Ravenshead Youth Theatre Group and appeared in various amateur productions. My roles have now reversed and I’m teaching and directing at the Ravenshead Youth Theatre Group. In 2011 the Nottingham And Nottinghamshire Dramatic Association awarded me Best Supporting Actor for my role as Denis Wicksteed in Alan Bennett’s Habeas Corpus.
I’m currently training in Childcare for Early Years at Vision West Notts. As part of my Level 3 Diploma I’m building work experience with children in the 2 – 5 year age group at my local Pre-School Playgroup. We implement a lot of drama practices to boost children’s confidence and social skills. I have lots of fun engaging the children’s interest.
By combining my two passions of drama and teaching, which I’m thoroughly excited about, this is my greatest adventure to date. I’d have loved the opportunity to be part of an academy like PQA when I was your age. I look forward to seeing you soon!
