Belfast School of Performing Arts

Northern Ireland's Leading Theatre School For 3-19 Year Olds

info@thebspa.co.uk 028 9560 8640

Uncategorized

Drama teacher Ross White wins award

by

We are so thrilled that BSPA Drama teacher Ross White who is one of the directors of this gorgeous short film AN IRISH GOODBYE has won the Grand Jury Prize at the Academy Award® Qualifying Edmonton International Film Festival in Alberta, Canada 🇨🇦🏆

This great honour from the esteemed Edmonton International Film Festival Jury means the film is now eligible for consideration at the 2023 Oscars!

BSPA is so fortunate that the pupils of BSPA Belfast South and BSPA Lisburn PM are able to benefit from the expertise of this talented Director and wish him all the best for the 2023 Oscars

AN Irish Goodbye this is a winner at Edmonton International Film Festival 2022

BSPA Perform at “Northern Lights”

by

On 28th September 2022 a group of our students had the honour to perform in “Northern Lights” at the new performance venue Banana Block

Hosted by the amazing Ian McElhinney this wonderful production brought together talented singers, musicians, Irish and Scottish dancers and even a Lambeg Drum, to introduce our musical culture and welcome people who had recently come to live in Northern Ireland.

Huge thanks to Peter Corry Productions for inviting our students to take part in this lovely evenings entertainment.

Still amazed that bananas I remember as a child use to be grown there in East Belfast

BSPA Voices perform at Business in the Community Awards

by

BSPA Pupils who performed at the Business in theCommunity Awards at ICC Belfast. 8th September 2022

We always remember where we were when significant world events happen and its something we seldom forget.

On Thursday 8th September just after this first photo was taken the sad news came through that Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth had passed away.

These members of BSPA Voices were about to provide the opening entertainment at the Business in the Community Awards Gala in the ICC, Belfast and had been very excited.

Following the announcement and a two minute silence these young people performed to a packed hall of guests from many of the businesses across N Ireand.

BSPA Voices performing at Business in the Community Awards ICC Belfast

A difficult job for these young people under these sad circumstances and we are so proud of how they conducted themselves with respect and professionalism and also gave a wonderful performance.

The Performance Academy at BSPA launches

by

The Performance Academy at BSPA opened its doors of Thursday 1st September in Vault Artists Studio. It was lovely to welcome our new students aged 16-24 years and we hope they enjoyed the evening.

The new Academy will be led by Course Director Peter Corry and with Dance Coach Emily McDonaghy, Drama Coach Nik Parks and Music Coach Adam Darcy.

Whether considering auditioning for drama school, going into the business or exploring a passion, there is something for all within this concentrated evening course:

• Vocal techniques

• Dance classes

• Acting technique classes

• How to integrate different disciplines

• Song and monologue preparation

• Audition technique

• Voice production

• Movement

• Scene studies

• Physicality


If you would like to join us please contact us at performanceacademy@thebspa.co.uk

Austin 7 converted into a Chitty Car

by

When Peter and Andy first suggested to me they had located an old Austin 7 that they felt could be converted into a Chitty Car I was naturally excited. Then they sent me the photos ( see first few photos ) and I was perhaps understandably a little sceptical, especially as we wouldn’t get the car until we reached the Theatre?

Ive learnt ever since Peter told me in his first show “Singing in the rain” his ideas about how he planed to do the famous rain scene, that’s its best to trust and go along with it and that him and Andy will find a way to make it work.

By the time I arrived at the Theatre on Wednesday around lunch time, Andrew and my husband had already transformed the car and by tech that evening we had a car that was looking great and that that 4 people could sit in.

Im sure you will agree the restoration team did an incredible job and Peter Mann who owned the car hardly recognised it when he came to the show on opening night.

Well done all such a transformation that added to the magic of the show and that every child in the cast loved and will always remember.

BSPA Celebrates 11 Years with Prestigious Award Win

by

BSPA win the ‘Performing Arts School of the Year’ at the Northern Ireland Prestige Awards 2021/22

We offer weekly classes in eight schools in Ballymena, Lisburn, Belfast and Bangor. We have also seen our highest number of applications since the return of the start of term. Tina McVeigh, Managing Director is delighted with the interest and the confidence in the growing company;

“Last year was our 10th anniversary and we weren’t able to celebrate it quite as we would have liked, so to move into our 11th year with such an accolade and unprecedented interest really delights me. A number of our schools have waiting lists, but some have a few spaces still available so I’d encourage anyone on the fence about getting their child involved to get in touch.

“This year we have a stunning collection of shows in the pipeline, all of our 800 students , aged from just 3 – 19, are looking forward to putting on eight exciting shows in the spring months and we are also in the process of planning our two summer youth projects, which have both garnered huge interest already.”

“This acknowledgment from the Northern Ireland Prestige Awards is a wonderful accolade which really recognises the hard work and dedication delivered on a daily and weekly basis from all our teachers and students alike.”

Pictured celebrating BSPA’s win are some of the students from BSPA Lisburn (back r – l) Mark McKenzie, aged 12, Catherine Walsh, aged 13, (front l-r) Alexandra Quibael aged 6, Isaac Pyper, aged 9 and Ella Magee aged 8.
Pictured celebrating the award win are some of the students from BSPA Ballymena, (back left – right) Amelia Galbraith 16 years, Isla Glenn 10yrs,  Leah Milliken 12yrs, (front left – right) Sofia Sweetlove 5yrs, Front Right Sophia McNeill 7yrs.

Young people involved in Performing Arts take home many benefits which are widely recognised as advantageous to them in many areas of their lives; from stimulating imagination, encouraging collaboration, developing a sense of discipline and confidence while promoting a greater understanding and awareness of the world around them. This is a concept that the Belfast School of Performing Arts, which boasts household name, Peter Corry as its Artistic Director, holds dear, Tina explains;

But Most Importantly…

“We value every child and we understand that not everyone is here to make a career for themselves on the stage! Some are here for the friendship, the fun, the challenges and the laughs, many who have performed as principals in our numerous shows have gone on to follow different paths, but we hope that the skills and the memories they get from being part of the BSPA family will be with them long into adulthood.”