Musical Theatre at the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts isn’t just a singing, dancing and acting class… it’s an hour of pure energy, creativity and discovery. And because we offer Comedy & Drama, Film & TV and Musical Theatre every single week, we’re not your typical stage school either. We’re different, proudly so, and our teaching reflects the diversity of our students, their personalities and the many interests they’re excited to explore in the world of performing arts.
Our Musical Theatre hour is fast‑paced, project‑led and bursting with opportunities for young people to try new things, surprise themselves and realise just how capable they truly are. No standing in lines. No repeating the same routine until it loses its spark. Instead, students dive into bold, imaginative projects that help them grow in confidence while having a genuinely brilliant time.
Every project explores a different part of what makes Musical Theatre so magical. One week it’s storytelling through song, the next it’s character movement, and after that it might be ensemble performance. It’s all about understanding how Musical Theatre works, and discovering their own voice, creativity and identity within it.
Musical Theatre at PQA is designed for young people to thrive, whether they’ve been dancing since they were tiny or they’ve never sung a note in their life.
Some assume that only traditional stage schools can deliver “proper” Musical Theatre… but we prove the opposite.
Our approach is professional, modern and rooted in real industry practice. Students learn to sing, act, dance and move, but more importantly, they learn how these elements blend together to tell powerful stories. Every project is supportive, exciting and deliberately varied, helping young people grow in a way that feels fresh, relevant and genuinely fun.
Acting the Story: A fun project where students learn to act through song. Using iconic solos, they connect emotionally with lyrics, embody characters and bring stories to life.
Once Upon an Ensemble: Inspired by Shrek the Musical, this vibrant project celebrates teamwork. No solos, just a united ensemble telling one story together.
Ready, Prep, Audition: A practical, empowering project that prepares for real young people for audition environments. They learn resilience, professionalism and the confidence to walk into any room with self-belief.
Because PQA offers Comedy & Drama, Film & TV and Musical Theatre, we can naturally blend them into exciting cross‑class collaborations, like two of our favourite examples below:
Musicals on Film: A dynamic partnership between Musical Theatre and Film & TV. Students explore musical scenes through their own creative lens, learning musical interpretation, acting for camera, choreography and production techniques. It’s the perfect meeting point between stage and screen.
PQA Eurovision Challenge: A fan favourite. Students create a one‑shot music video inspired by the theme of the year. Creativity, teamwork and storytelling take centre stage as they explore pre‑production, choreography, singing, screen acting, camera work, lighting and collaborative creativity.
It’s true… not every young person arrives at PQA dreaming of Musical Theatre. Many are drawn in by the excitement of Film & TV or the fun of Comedy & Drama, and they only give Musical Theatre ‘a go’ because it’s part of the session.
But time and time again, we see the same thing: once they try it, we mean, properly try it, they discover how expressive, joyful and freeing Musical Theatre really is. And more often than not, they fall completely in love with it.
Absolutely.
Some parents join PQA because they want professional‑level training. Others simply want their young person to have fun, make memories and build confidence. Whatever the reason, the skills they gain are genuinely professional, and they get the opportunity to use them at PQA too!
Many PQA students have performed in the West End, an experience so many describe as magical, unforgettable and one of their biggest core memories. Even our alumni still talk about it.
And through Quirky Kidz, PQA’s in‑house talent agency, students have the opportunity to audition and to showcase their Musical Theatre skills in real professional castings, sometimes even performing alongside well‑known actors. It’s a clear reflection of the standard of training within our Musical Theatre classes.
Every week, we see young people grow in confidence, but sometimes a student’s journey reminds us just how life-changing Musical Theatre can be.
Principal Ariya Amin from PQA Edgbaston shared this story:
“Seb from the Blue Group at PQA Bromsgrove and Redditch joined us two years ago. He struggled deeply with stage fright. One of his earliest public performances was meant to be at the Redditch Christmas Lights Switch On, but he was too overwhelmed to step onto the stage.
With patient nurturing from our teachers, unwavering support from his parents, and encouragement from his fellow students, Seb has transformed. Last year, he stepped onto the stage at His Majesty’s Theatre in London for our West End performance of ‘Across the Line’ with confidence and pride.
Seb has also joined Quirky Kidz and has already taped and auditioned for some fantastic opportunities. We are incredibly proud of him, of his courage, his growth and his determination.”
Stories like Seb’s remind us why Musical Theatre matters. It’s not just about performance; it’s about discovering self-belief.
Yes! Every academy offers one free trial session, as long as there is space available in the age group. If the group is currently full, you can join the waiting list, and we’ll contact you as soon as a place becomes available.
PQA runs for 41 weeks throughout the school year. You can find the full list of term dates on each academy’s webpage, just search for your local academy and visit its web page.
PQA provides performing arts training for children and teens aged 4–18. Our Main Academy (ages 6–18) includes three core classes:
Some academies also offer Poppets (ages 4–6), an energetic 90-minute class introducing young children to singing, dancing and acting.
PQA welcomes all children, whether they’re complete beginners or already confident performers. There’s no audition needed to join.
At PQA students in Main Academy are grouped by age, learning with other children and young people at similar stages.
This depends on where you feel your child will be happiest. Some 6-year olds are ready to join the 6-9 age group in Main Academy, others will feel more comfortable starting in Poppets.
Your always welcome to discuss what’s best for your child with your local Principal before booking your free session.