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BSPA Hosts the Irish Premiere of Matilda Jr

Charlotte Prentice ( Bruce) in a scene from Matilda Jr

During a summer when Covid regulations stopped most Performing Arts Companies from doing shows BSPA led the way to present the Irish Premiere of ” Matilda Jr’

Demand for places from young people who were missing the chance to perform was such that we had two casts, Team Trunchbull and Team Wormwood each performing three shows. With Theatres still closed to the general public BSPA though outside the box and decided to convert “The Lid” at Crawfordsburn Scout Centre into a socially distanced Theatre.

“The Lid” at Crawfordsburn Scout Centre ready to be transformed.

The BSPA team created a stage, brought in lighting, sound and applied for necessary Entertainment licences and risk assessments to transform this space into an outdoor theatre. With safetly to the fore all seats were socially distanced but this provided our children and our sold out audiences with an incredible experience. An achievement to be proud of during days when the Arts Industry were suffering. Theatre is back ( at least at BSPA)

Audience watching Matilda JR at Crawfordsburn Scout Centre

Matilda Jr cast perform at ” Back in Bangor” event

The two casts of Matilda Jr were delighted to join the BSPA Artistic Director: Peter Corry at the ‘Back in Bangor” event on Saturday 21st August.

Both casts performed a few excerpts from the show to passers by before heading back up the road to Crawfordsburn for their final performance. What a busy but exciting end to a fantastic summer project.

Team Wormwood take to the stage with BSPA Director Peter Corry

Matilda Jr cast promote on UTV LIFE

Michael Nevin ( Miss Trunchbull) is interviewed by UTV Life reported Rita

What an exciting morning “Team Trunchbull” had at the start of rehearsals for Matilda Jr when they had a visit from Rita from UTV who dropped in to film for UTV Life.

This also gave our talented pupils Holly Mountstephens (Matilda), Keris Dodds (Miss Honey) and Michael Nevin (Miss Trunchbull) a chance to try on costumes for their interviews.

Holly Mountstephens ( Matilda) being interviewed for UTV Life

The cast who were in early rehearsals enjoyed showing Rita a sneak preview of the chorus ” Naughty “

Keris Dodds ( Miss Honey) performing for UTV Life

The Irish Premiere of Matilda Jr will be performed with two casts at Crawfordsburn Scout Centre from 18th – 21st August.

https://www.itv.com/utvprogr…/articles/utv-life-episode-28

UTV Life Episode, please scroll to 7minutes 50

BSPA would like to thank presenter Pamela Ballantine for the opportunity to tell her audience about our production

Hamilton Dance Workshops with Kelly Downing

BSPA Patron and Hamilton star Kelly Downing

What a fantastic way to end the BSPA year but with three Hamilton workshops taken by our BSPA Patron Kelly Downing and held over a sunny weekend at Crawfordsburn Scout Camp.

Workshop 1 with Kelly Downing and BSPA Director Tina McVeigh and BSPA Artistic Director Peter Corry

Kelly was delighted to work with our pupils teaching them the Choreography from the Iconic show before returning to rehearsals for the re opening of Hamilton in the West End.

Workshop 2 with Kelly Downing

Kelly told them all about her experiences and ensured that when they decide to audition for the musical they will know whats required and will know some of the routines. Such a fun weekend and the sun came out to celebrate with our pupils.

Workshop 3 and the turn of our oldest pupils

Midweek pupils excel in LAMDA Exams

Emily, Benjamin, Jackson and Erin

We are so incredibly proud of our last group of Midweek drama pupils who received their results and gained an incredible 15 distinctions and 6 merits in their LAMDA exams.

Misha, Ella and Aodhan

What incredible results for these young people who have spent this year working mostly on zoom.

Maize, Jessica, Isabella and Harry

Congratulations also to their hard working teacher Julie Alderdice who is rightly so proud of them.

Archie and Kristianne
Sam, Erin, Suzanne and Erin
Hannah with her certificate

If you would like to join our midweek classes and work towards your LAMDA exams starting in September please just message us at info@thebspa.co.uk

Performing Arts Students enjoy Europe wide success

BSPA pupils performing ” Revolting Children” for the MTI Junior Theatre Festival

The ‘Revoltingly’ talented young people from BSPA, were recently chosen from a collection of 33 drama schools from all across Europe to launch the much anticipated, Junior stage production of Roald Dahl’s, Matilda Jr for MTI Europe shows

The exceptionally talented performing arts students came together to create videos which were used to mark the official launch of the stage show at the MTI Europe Festival. In true form the students produced an impressive, lively, fun and passion fuelled showcase and were the highlight of the ‘Matilda Takeover’ element of the festival.

Cora Magee in a scene from ” When I Grow up” for the MTI Junior Theatre Fesival

Hot on the heels of this successful launch, BSPA are now delighted that they will be hosting the Irish Premiere for Matilda Jr as part of their series of Summer Youth Projects.

Peter Corry, Artistic Director, Producer and renowned singer and performer said: BSPA will be staging the production in an outdoor venue and in front of a live audience, something I know so many of us have missed desperately. I am confident it will be an experience that those who take part will never forget.

“We got a real taste for the show when were invited to produce these two amazing videos for MTI, both of which showcased at the MTI Junior Theatre Festival. The young people performed both ‘When I grow up’ and ‘ Revolting Children’.

The MTI Junior Theatre Festival is a key date in the musical theatre world and this time, the show went online. The event, which every year brings together schools and youth groups from the across the UK and Europe, was enjoyed by 850 performing arts, teachers, creatives and students who came together to celebrate, educate, motivate and participate in all-things musical theatre.