Stage Whispers THE PQA CAMBRIDGE NEWSLETTER
2021
THE NEW GENERATION OF WEEKEND DRAM
Be Yourself Be Amazing
“Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise” Here we are, riding this 18 month roller-coaster. The theatre industry is still facing some of its biggest challenges ever seen, but we can bring it back stronger. I know I have said countless “thank you’s” to you for supporting us as we worked out what we should, or could, do, but it still warms my heart to think of the wonderful support that you have given PQA this year. When Parkside said that we couldn’t return for the foreseeable back in March I was heartbroken. Determined, I went to every ‘venue’ in Cambridge, seeing if we could squeeze into a village hall or church. I even considered having separate venues across town, one for each colour group! Then, in true heroic fashion, Andy, the head at Colville Primary all but said “Why didn’t you call me first?!” I was so grateful for the opportunity to keep face to face open, and I know that the students were too. Keeping the students performing did wonders for their mental health in the midst of this crisis. I am devastated at the amount of schools that have sacrificed the performing arts in the last year, using coronavirus restrictions as an excuse - we have shown that it can be done, and it is far more important for our young people now than it ever has been. When I began this newsletter I was worried I might not have much to say, given everything that has happened, but surprisingly I had more to write this year than I have before! In the last year we have had a Film & TV Masterclass, filmed a Musical Theatre showcase, won a film competition, won scriptwriting competitions, had students accepted into drama schools, delivered our first Monologue Slam, shot a TV Series, and welcomed two Vice Principals. I feel like we did it. We pulled together, teachers, students and you parents, to not just ‘get through’ coronavirus, but make the most of it and come out even better and stronger. I am so proud to be the principal of such an incredible academy and have the best performing arts students in
Cambridge. Whenever I visit a class, the students are just buzzing with enthusiasm and joy for what they do. Watching Green Group call ‘action’ on a film set that they have created out of boxes and blankets; seeing a Red Group student choreograph their own moments in the group number; or hearing Blue Group’s creative script ideas — every week I look forward to coming to PQA and this year has just made me appreciate it even more. Finally, one more thank you. I promise this is the last one (okay, it probably won’t be!). Our teachers are performing arts industry professionals and faced some incredibly difficult times last year. Every time I had the chance to open our doors (whether in person, or online) was an opportunity to support them through this, and that would not have been possible without your support in getting your child connected, or dropped off at the other side of town. Thank you for being there for us, and please know you are appreciated. From the bottom of all of our hearts, thank you for being yourselves, and being amazing.
With Love and Best Wishes,
Mikey Kowalczyk Principal
MA SCHOOLS FOR AGES 4 TO 18 YEARS AM Academy Blue Group
Runner Up: Jess W
Winner: Kiran B
AM Academy Red Group
On Saturday 26th July, our Blue and Red Group students partook in our first ever Monologue Slam! It was a perfect way to ensure our students got a performance opportunity with social distancing in place, and it turned into a fantastic event! We were joined by professional actor Rafe Watts, who has worked with young performers in Matilda, School of Rock and Billy Elliot! Rafe loved our students’ performances, and was hugely impressed with the standard. Our students monologues ranged from Shakespeare to contemporary, with some even from films such as Sophie’s excellent delivery of Cruella’s speech from Cruella. Monologues are such an important part of our students preparing for a career in the performing arts and Head of Comedy & Drama, Harriet, was so impressed with how enthusiastically our students approached the project and with such maturity!
Runner Up: Cecilia V
Winner: Nate F
PM Academy Blue Group
Runner Up: Jess M
Winner: Mia S
PM Academy Red Group
Maria A
Shula A
Along with a winner and runner up in each colour group, producer and Vice Principal, Laura, nominated a student from each Academy for the ‘Be Yourself Be Amazing’ Award for excellence, progress and professionalism throughout the monologue process. A huge congratulations to our two winners, Maria A (AM Red) and Shula A (PM Red)!
Runner Up: Cara M
Winner: Ellie S
THE NEW GENERATION OF WEEKEND DRAM
MUSICAL
SHOWCA In July our students took part in their first ever filmed Musical Theatre showcase! Each colour group learnt one song and one dance number, and performed these at a specially organised location suitable for filming. In addition to the group numbers, students were invited at the beginning of the term to audition for a solo or duet singing or dance piece to be included in the film. We were hugely impressed with the standard of auditions that came from the students across all colour groups and the decision process was incredibly difficult for all of us - If time was permitting we would have included all of them! Despite being a term rocked by lockdowns, isolating students and families, and 2 other large projects taking place, we were thrilled to get our students into a place where they could perform something this term. Usually we would invite parents in for an end of year showcase to share some of the work our students have done in musical theatre, but this year without being sure of the rules we decided to play it safe and record it for parents. The video is now live online available for anyone to watch as many times as they like! We recognised during the editing process that there may be occasions where not all students are in shot, so we have also released a private link for parents which
MA SCHOOLS FOR AGES 4 TO 18 YEARS
THEATRE
ASE 2021 includes all the group numbers as a wide shot so all students can be seen. It looks a little less ‘flashy’ but we thought this would be nice to include too for parents.
We were very impressed with how our students adapted to working in front of a camera instead of a live audience, and the additional challenges that brings. We are sure you agree that the final product is excellent, and a great representation of the progress our students make as they work their way through the academy. I want to use this opportunity to thank the parents for generous donations which allowed us to improve the quality of the filming that took place - just inviting parents into our usual venue to sit on a bench and watch our work isn’t quite as big a feat as decorating a new venue and running audio and video equipment and then editing on top of that! The event was a success and we are likely to organise another one in the future for our students, next time giving ourselves hopefully more classroom time (without lockdowns!) to include more group performances!
THE NEW GENERATION OF WEEKEND DRAM
STUDENT INTERVIEW
A chat with a Red Group student going to Italia Conti Drama School in September to study on the Acting Course.
When did you start performing? I started dancing at 3 and did some small shows. I did some gymnastics then decided I wanted to sing. I got singing lessons then my singing teacher told me I should get into acting because my face moves a lot! What have you gained from PQA? I came to PQA 3 years ago and my confidence has improved so much - I am now able to do things I didn’t know I had in me! My passion for performing has grown so much, I now can’t do anything other than perform, or sing, or act - I am that passionate about it! Were you not always super confident then? It’s quite funny because I remember going into the casting for Quirky Kidz, I felt so anxious that I felt sick before I went in, but as soon as I went into the room it just all went, like, I could just do it. I genuinely think that was the moment that I went “I really, just, love it, so much.” I found out that I am less anxious on a stage than I am in a room with like three people. So what’s plan? I just want to get into acting and have a career. I know it’s going to be hard but I know that I just want it and if I don’t give it my all then I won’t do it, so I’m determined to make my dream come true!
May (Red AM) Studying Acting at Italia Conti in September
Is there anything else you’d like to add before you go? I like that PQA helped me find myself. PQA pushes us to get ourselves together and make sure that we are prepared and ready for the real industry. I used to just love singing, but PQA has opened my eyes to the world of acting in so many new ways that I have found a new passion for it. I still love singing and I’ll hope that my course allows me to keep doing it (I’ll sing anyway - no one can stop me!) Lastly I just want to say thank you for helping me follow my dreams!
MA SCHOOLS FOR AGES 4 TO 18 YEARS
VICE FILM & TV PRINCIPALS
This year we welcomed our first ever Vice Principals to the team at PQA Cambridge. Lauren and Laura have taken a significant step up into managing and organising PQA, with extra responsibilities including producing our most recent projects! They have been doing a fantastic job already and are excited to get hands on with even more next year!
More excellent Film & TV productions came out of PQA Cambridge this year, with Head of Film & TV Tom directing and producing some excellent entries into the 5-week film challenges, and ‘Once Upon a Western’ winning another award! We have also entered some international Film competitions and embarked on our very first TV Series! Green Group have been exploring opening sequences, Blue Group have created a PQA’s Got Talent Mockumentary, and Red Group have created a Comedy Sketch Show!
BEN HUNTE Lauren Alderson
Laura Saunders
IF YOU HAVE ANY NEWS YOU WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE IN FUTURE NEWSLETTERS PLEASE CONTACT: MIKEY@PQACADEMY.COM 07549 923 885
MASTERCLASS In December we were fortunate enough to have the BBC’s LGBT Correspondent, Ben Hunte, join us at PQA Cambridge to deliver a TV Presenting Masterclass! All of our students had a great time learning the skills of TV presenting, and gained valuable insights and experience about what it is like to work in the documentary and reporting side of television! Getting industry professionals in to work with our students is something that we value greatly at PQA Cambridge.
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