Wickford

Principal: Stephen Hawke

Hi, my name is Stephen Hawke & I am the proud Principal of the Wickford 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

Teri

Manager

Teri trained as an actress at the Birmingham School of Speech & Drama. She is a writer-performer for the sketch show group, The Joan Crawford Collective, and is known on the comedy circuit as Janice Windebank: Teenage Poet. She was also a member of Ken Campbell’s Warp Company.

Recent theatre credits include Kisses on a Postcard, The Palace Theatre; The Sunshine Boys, The Palace Theatre; Knocked Up, The Soho Theatre; Lady Windermere’s Fan, Bill Kenwright Ltd; Pygmalion (Eliza) German tour; The Warp 24 hour play; The Women of Troy, directed by John Doyle; The Joan Crawford Collective (sketch show), The London Fringe; Janice Windebank, stand-up circuit

Film and television credits include William and Mary; Judge John Deed; The Bill; Family Affairs, Crimewatch solved; The Last Horror Show (released 2005); and the award winning Eyeball Tennis.

Since 2005 Teri has been teaching drama, voice and Alexander technique at various schools and further education colleges and has also led workshops on Meisner, Stanislavski and Theatre Sports. Teri is the principal and artistic director of Without Walls Theatre Company and has been commissioned by Bijou Productions to write a play for The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2011.

Teri has been with us at PQA for a very long while, starting as Teacher in Chelmsford and promoted to PQA Wickford Manager in September 2010. She holds a great demeanor across all ages and remains a highly valuable member of my PQA Essex team, and I am extremely proud to have her as an integral part of our Essex Academies.

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

John Henry

Comedy & Drama

John Henry has been a professional actor for many years and has worked in film, television and theatre. He is an experienced drama teacher having led workshops in improvisation, drama and pantomime skills for both primary and secondary students all over the country as well as leading many after-school clubs around Southend. He has also been the drama teacher at Ridley Studios, Leigh, for the last 4 years.

John Henry was a founder member of Platform Theatre Company and an original member of both Scared Scriptless Comedy Impro Group and The Joan Crawford Collective Sketch Show. He has recently completed filming for Universal Studios as the conductor for The Hogwarts Express for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s website and is very much looks forward to teaching at PQA Wickford each week, where he is a very popular member of the team

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

Leanne

Musical Theatre/Film & Television

Leanne trained at Laine Theatre Arts where she gained teaching qualifications in ISTD Modern and tap, graduating with honours in musical theatre. She began her film and television career at the early age of 12 playing ‘Helen Burns’ in Franco Zeffirelli’s ‘Jane Eyre.’

After various television appearances, including the classic children’s favourite “The Famous Five for ITV”, Leanne went on to play one of the lead roles in Andrew Davies’ adaptation of ‘Boudica’ playing ‘Siora’, Boudica’s warrior daughter.

In 2005 Leanne was chosen by Oscar winning director Roman Polanski to star as the long suffering heroine, ‘Nancy’ in his big screen adaptation of ‘Oliver Twist’, alongside a host of great British acting talent. Leanne’s most recent television work includes ‘Becky’ in Trial and Retribution for La Plante productions and as ‘May Moss’ in the BBC’s much loved television series ‘Lilies’.

Leanne has also recorded many plays for BBC Radio 4 including Roald Dahls ‘The Witches’ , ‘Babs’ in ‘To Sir with love’, ‘Zipper in ‘Avoid London’, ‘Mel’ in ‘Forget me not’, ‘Edith’ in ‘Loving’ and ‘Mo’ in ‘One chord wonders’.

In 2008 Leanne made her West End debut at the Aldwych Theatre in the hit show “Dirty Dancing” playing the lead role of Frances “BABY” Houseman. After a successful year at the Aldwych Leanne went on to star as ‘Julie’ in ‘Talent’ at The Menier Chocolate Factory, which was written and directed by Victoria Wood.

I am delighted to welcome Leanne as part of my very select Teaching Team at PQA in Essex and I know she is continues looking forward to working with you all each week.

Stephen Hawke – Principal – The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts

Sally

Film & Television

Sally trained at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama after which she performed professionally in regional Theatres around the country.

Married to actor Sebastian Abineri (“A Bridge too Far”), her credits include Leeds Playhouse, (dir: Jude Kelly) The Belgrade Coventry, Chester Gateway Theatre, Manchester, York Theatre Royal, The Mill at Sonning, The Lyric Theatre Hammersmith.

She also performed in a tour of “Daisy Pulls It Off”. (dir: David Gilmore) with Andrew Lloyd Webbers Really Useful Theatre Co. (which won The Olivier award and the Drama Theatre Award for Best Comedy).

She played Bev in “On The Piste.” (dir: Bob Tomson), a Bill Kenwright Production at The Garrick Theatre, West End and nominated ‘Comedy of the Year’ at the Olivier Awards.

Her TV credits include: – Dr. Juliet Kennett in “Casualty” Dorrie in “Shine On Harvey Moon” (dir Baz Taylor) Marie in “10% ers” (dir: Ed Bye) nominated by Phillip Schofield as one of the best comedy moments, “Paradise Postponed” “The Bill” and “Minder”.

Her film work includes: – “The French Lieutenants Woman” “The flute” and the lead in “Screen test for Lulu” at The London Film Festival.

Sally Directed “The Sunshine Boys” Palace Theatre Westcliff in association with Southend Theatres. and “The Winslow Boy” also in the main house in 2007. Sally co-founded the actor’s agency Billboard in the early 80′s and the Cornucopia Theatre Company. (Canal Café/ Jersey Arts Theatre)

She has worked with The New Focus Youth Theatre – for 7yrs, running workshops devising and directing many of their productions and held drama classes @ Westborough School for where she acted as an adviser & producer on productions of The Wizard of Oz and was an associate lecturer for three years at Southend PA College. In 2008 she was an adjudicator for The Shakespeare schools festival.

Sally also directed the first “Fakespeare” play “The Lamentable Tragedie of Yates Wine Lodge” (performed and written by comedian Russell Kane, performed at The Dixon Studio Westcliff & The Ace Dome Edinburgh (2008), as well as Noel Cowards Red Peppers Hill Street Theatre in Edinburgh also in 2008.

Sally runs workshops for performing arts and media in schools and colleges across the country and is now working in collaboration with QDOS/HQ Theatres one of the leading producers of Pantomime in the UK developing and running Pantomime workshops. (Cinderella 2009 and Peter Pan 2010.)

Sally is a founder member of “Act-ed” and has produced, directed and edited all their educational films aimed at the performing arts and media studies student base.

I am thrilled to have such a wonderful level of filming and performing experience in Sally, and I consider her a huge and welcome asset to our Essex Academies.

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)

Karyn

Musical Theatre

Karyn began dancing at The Central School of Dance and Drama, Brentwood, Essex in 1993 often up to 6 days a week working towards RAD Advance II Ballet where she received a Merit.
At Central School she passed all her exams in Tap, Ballet and Jazz and as a member of the ‘Innovations’ dance company, she also appeared in bi-annual productions at the Harlow Playhouse. Shows included “Still Life at the Penguin Café” and “Wizard of Oz”. Karyn was also fortunate to have the opportunity to be a part of two productions hosted by the European Ballet at the Queen’s Theatre in Hornchurch.

Karyn was a very active member of Shenfield High School Drama Department and took part in many productions where she was very involved in the Musical theatre aspects of their shows, choreographing and performing in their annual showcases. She studied A-Level Dance at the Ursuline School in Brentwood and performed many showcases as part of her Theatrical studies.

With many good qualifications to her credit, Karyn further auditioned for various Performing Arts colleges such as “Bird”, “Urdang”, “Millenium Dance”, “Arts Ed”., “Performers College”, “Masters”, “London Studio Centre”, “Colins” and the “Colchester Institute” and was talented enough to be accepted at all eight schools being offered places with 40% and 50% scholarships.
Utilising all of her spare time between study as a dancer, mentor and teacher, Karyn has also enjoyed being an Associate at the Urdang Academy in London (3 years) and member of “Focus Youth Dance Company” in Chelmsford where she still has connections.

Karyn is currently in her 3^rd year of training at London Studio Centre in Kings Cross in London where she is studying for a BA (Hons) Degree in Performance after gaining a Foundation Degree in Theatre Dance

Karyn enjoys all aspects of training and during her final year at London Studio Centre she is part of LSC’s Jazz Company touring at various theatres in the UK throughout the Summer which we all look forward to seeing when she comes to a local Theatre.

Karyn has been a teaching assistant at PQA Essex (Wickford / Brentwood) since September and has proven herself to be a very enthusiastic, talented individual and is a huge asset for the Academy.

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