PQA Manningtree.

Bethan Day

Beth has been involved with PQA Cheltenham since 2011, travelling from Surrey each week to attend classes. She then moved into the afternoon academy as a teaching assistant while still attending as a student in the morning. In 2014 Beth became the Deputy Poppets Teacher and was involved in leading Poppets during the West End shows at Her Majesty's Theatre. She has been involved in all 5 performances PQA Cheltenham has done at Her Majesty's Theatre. In April 2016 Beth took over the role of Film & TV teacher in the afternoon academy, and then in January 2017 in the AM academy. Beth trained for a year at a Drama School focusing on stage acting before moving onto the International School of Screen Acting, where she graduated from in July 2017. During her training she studied screen acting and all elements of the film making process, including writing, editing and directing. Beth has been working professionally within the Film and TV industry for a number of years. In 2018 Beth completed the Trinity Collage ATCL Diploma in Teaching Speech and Drama. Most recently Beth wrote the script for PQA Cheltenham's 10th Anniversary Production 'Operation Pied Piper' and led two location shoots for the AM and then PM students at a Steam Railway to go alongside this production, for which she also wrote the script for. Beth loves working with the students each week and watching them grow and develop as they learn and try out new skills in their Film & TV lessons.

Holly Petrova

Holly has been a staff member with PQA Cheltenham since 2013. Beginning her journey as a Poppet’s TA, Holly then went to pursue her teaching degree and then came back as the Comedy & Drama teacher which she has taught and loved for many years. Holly started her love for Drama from school, being in all the school productions and after school activities. She then went on to college to study Dramatic Arts receiving two distinctions and a merit for her work. She then continued her passion and went to the University of Worcester to study Drama and Performance receiving her BA honours degree is 2011. Holly later went on to merge her love for Drama and teaching by mastering a PGCE course and becoming a qualified Primary Educator. Holly loves working with the children in all genres and equally encourages all students to push themselves, whether she is directing them with a scripted piece or something that is being devised. Holly prides herself on setting high expectations when it comes to exam work and most of her students have received distinctions for the work she has supported. Her mix of high energy games and knowledge of dramatic skills makes her lessons enjoyable and interesting.

Jamie Stratford

Jamie trained at the Musical Theatre Academy in London. Since graduating in 2017, he has performed in numerous shows and pantomimes, touring around the UK, and has worked internationally as a lead vocalist in resorts across Europe. Having been a student at the academy himself, Jamie is delighted to still be a part of PQA Cheltenham and loves being able to share his passion for Musical Theatre.

Katie King

Katie Payne

Katie has worked at PQA Cheltenham since she was 16 years old where she started as a Green Group Assistant. Now working alongside Jamie as part of the Musical Theatre team, Katie specialises in vocal arrangement and group singing. While working as a TA, Katie moved to Birmingham to achieve her first-class Drama and Theatre Arts degree and now travels back to Cheltenham every Saturday. Alongside PQA, she has recently begun work as a theatre technician at multiple Birmingham theatres. Katie has plenty of her own experiences on the stage but, more recently, she has taken on the position of Musical Director for pantomimes, choirs, and showcases and uses these skills to teach complicated harmony arrangements to PQA students (who impress her every time). It is Katie’s strong belief that every child should be allowed to express themselves on stage and she loves watching each student improve week by week in her lessons.