Southwick

Principal: Julian McDowell

My first stage appearance was as a small (and very shy) 11year old in a performance at the Barn Theatre, Southwick of “Young Will Shakespeare” .

A few years have passed since then, but I am delighted to be back at the Southwick Centre as Principal of The Pauline Quirke Academy.

.More recent theatre credits include two appearances as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof at the Epsom Playhouse in 2003 and 2005. I was also the genial Irish “Pub Landlord” in the triple award winning TMW Guinness campaign in 2006/7.I have directed and performed at The Brighton and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals for the last four years with White Room Theatres’ Bite-Size Plays.

Last year I appeared as the Vicar of St Andrews in the highly acclaimed and award winning production of “Here Comes the Bride” at the Brighton Festival, on Sky Arts as part of their Bite-Size plays 2010-2013 season and even as a “spoof French Man” in ITV’s Odd One In! I was delighted to make another appearance as the Vicar of St Andrews in December 2010 in “Here Comes The Carol Concert”, where I was extremely proud to share the stage (and the applause) with 32 students from the Academy

The Southwick Centre is a very big part of the local community with a superb Theatre, cafeteria and function rooms, which are run and maintained by a group of tireless and enthusiastic staff. The Centre provides the perfect environment for our students.

I look forward you welcoming you to our Academy in the near future!

Our Teachers

Katie

Musical Theatre

Katie Grace Cooper has been performing since the age of 5. She trainedat W.A.C performing arts schoolfor 3 years from 2004. Since graduating she hashad agrowing and successful career on the stage and in television. She has been very fortunate to have the opportunity to return and teach the students at her school, passing on what she has learnt about the performing arts industry. Katie also taught at Girls Club as the resident drama teacher for a number of years.

Rebecca

Musical Theatre

Rebecca is a graduate of Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts where she won her place with a dance and drama award and qualified with a BA(Hons) in Musical Theatre.

She has been performing on the stage since the age of 8, but since graduating, teaching has become her passion. She worked for two years in an Inner City London school helping teach dance and drama to 11 -18 year olds as well as being involved in many theatre workshops for all ages as well as children with special needs.

Rebecca has recently returned from a 4 month volunteer teaching trip to Uganda where, in a village school, she taught classes of up to 130!

Andrew

Comedy & Drama

Andrew recently received the Brighton and Hove Arts Council award for Best Actor for his portrayal as Yvan in the New Venture Theatre production of “Art”. He has performed with the White Room Theatre Company and is a founder member of Spontaneous Theatre, Accidentally On Purpose, and The Interlopers, all of which produce devised and improvised theatre. Andrew has appeared in “The Lover”, “The Imaginary Invalid”, “Our Country’s Good”, and in two separate productions of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

Andrew is also a writer, and has written several original scripts for all age ranges and ability levels.

Theresa

Poppets

“I love my role in Poppet’s it makes me smile each Saturday”

Thereas has Over 20 years experience working with children and young people and is a Part time student at Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy working in Therapeutic Play, including, Drama, Dance and Music Therapy.

Her qualifications include; Counselling and Psychotherapy skills (Diploma) Playworker Trained ( CACHE Level 2, Diploma and Foundation Degree)

Theresa is also a qualified “RELAX KIDS” Coach (Teaching meditation and relaxation to children and young people to promote self esteem, confidence and relaxation)

Lizzie

Academy Support

Lizzie has performed in dance, musical theatre and plays from a young age.She went on to study Performing Arts at both College and University. She achieved a Double Distinction at Central Sussex College Haywards Heath and graduated from The University of Chichester with a 2:1 BA Hons degree in Performing Arts.

During her time at University Lizzie created and ran many performance based workshops, working with children and teenagers of all learning abilities.

As part of the modules in her third year Lizzie directed a group of first year students in a short piece of drama, as well as writing, producing, and performing a solo piece. She enjoys helping others and gets great personal satisfaction form watching them achieve.

Tom

Academy Support

Tom’s first performed in the Musical Oliver when he was just 10 as part of Fagin’s Gang, since then he has done many more amateur productions and has enjoyed the chance to work professionally, in front of the camera as well!

He already has a National Diploma in acting and is currently studying a Foundation Degree in Physical Theatre and Acting at University. He is looking forward to the future at PQA and hopes one day to be running classes of his own.

Ria

Academy Support

Ria has been studying Drama since 2005. “I took Drama GCSE and continued to study Performing arts at College and gained a Distinction in Performing Arts B-Tech, where I took part in many college performances including two for the fringe festival”. She previously worked at The Brighton Academy of Performing Arts as a teaching assistant.

Ria is currently at University doing an Acting degree. She is working on two performances, to be showcased at the Brighton Pavilion Theatre. After fully completing her acting degree Ria hopes to do a PGCE in teaching.

Ria says”Working at PQA, allows me fantastic opportunities to work with children, which is my preferred profession. I am also proud to be part of a very strong and hard working team of teachers who are all making sure that the children get the very best experience out of the Academy.”

Audrey & Jean

Academy Catering

Audrey and Jean, who look after our Coffee, tea, and sausage roll needs every Saturday, have been a part of the Southwick Community Centre for over 6 years .They have become a welcome and popular part of our Saturday mornings. Why not come and enjoy a piece of homemade chocolate cake and a cup of tea in the gardens while your children enjoy the Academy!