Belfast School of Performing Arts

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

info@thebspa.co.uk 028 9560 8640

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The Performance Academy at BSPA launches

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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

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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

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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.”

BSPA Senior Summer Youth Project 2022 – The Producers

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A Truly Classic Mel Brooks Musical…

Belfast School of Performing Arts is delighted to announce their first Senior Summer Youth Project since the spectacular production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” in 2019 with the comedy Mel Brooks “The Producers”

Based on the classic cult comedy film this Broadway musical set the standard for modern, outrageous, in-your-face humour. It is a truly “boffo” hit, winning a record twelve Tony Awards and wowing capacity crowds night after night.

The plot is simple: “a down-on-his-luck Broadway producer and his mild-mannered accountant come up with a scheme to produce the most notorious flop in history thereby bilking their backers (all “little old ladies”) out of millions of dollars. Only one thing goes awry: the show is a smash hit! The antics of Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom as they manoeuvre their way fecklessly through finding a show (the gloriously offensive “Springtime For Hitler”), hiring a director, raising the money and finally going to prison for their misdeeds is a lesson in broad comic construction. At the core of the insanely funny adventure is a poignant emotional journey of two very different men who become friends.”

This summer project will be Directed by Peter Corry who is thrilled to be reviving this hilarious show, one of his favourites. Peter first directed “The Producers” as the Northern Ireland premiere , in Theatre at the Mill in 2012, also as a Summer Youth Production to much acclaim.

Watch The Producers on Amazon Prime Here
Buy Tickets

The rehearsals will be held at Breda Academy and will then move to The MAC where we will be performing at least 4 shows.

Show Info

Age : 15-24 years old

Rehearsal Dates & Venue : Breda Academy
Wednesday 3rd – 5th August
Monday 8th – 12th August
Monday 15th – 19th August
Times: 10am – 6pm
**Please note that times for licensed age students ie 16 years and under will be 10am – 4.30pm tbc **
Principals may be required in evenings and on Saturday by arrangement with the production team

Theatre week – Mac Theatre

Monday 22nd August ( Tech rehearsal in evening)
Tuesday 23rd August ( dress rehearsal mid afternoon and Evening
Wednesday 24th August ( dress rehearsal or Performance tbc)
Thursday 25 & Friday 26th August Performance 7.30pm
Saturday 27th Matinee 2.30pm and evening 7.30pm
*Please keep Sunday 28th free as we may opt for a performance on that day if ticket sales dictate

The Producers Production Team

Peter Corry

Director

With over 20yrs experience in musical theatre both on stage and behind the scenes, he is the perfect person to bring our show to life.

As a performer, he has appeared throughout the world and as a director, he has staged shows which have toured the UK, USA and Europe.

Peter also runs his own company, Peter Corry Productions which is one of the leading theatre producers in NI.

Peter and his team can’t wait to get started on The Producers.

    Ashley Fulton

    Musical Director

    Ashley has worked in Musical Theatre and singing for over 20 years as an award-winning vocal coach, musical director, performer and producer. 

    He is the most successful vocal coach in Northern Ireland. To date, he has had 80 students go onto study at Drama School. This record is unprecedented and the highest number of students to go onto professional training by any individual teacher in the UK. 

    Ashley is the director of BSPA Voices and was musical director for 3 of BSPAs former summer productions

      Adam Ashford

      Choreographer

      Since training at the acclaimed Urdang Academy in London and graduating in 2016 with BA Hons degree in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre, Adam has worked as a professional dancer and singer in the UK and USA. 

      Now he’s been introduced to teaching young dancers of all skill sets, from beginners to advanced, he’s able to communicate with them and explain the techniques from today’s dancing generation. 

        Please note that as usual our BSPA Senior Summer Youth Project is open to everyone
        (not just BSPA)

        Buy Tickets

        Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr Junior Summer Youth Project 2022

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        Following the success of our 2021 summer youth production ‘Matilda Jr’ BSPA are delighted to announce our 2022 Summer Youth Production ” Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr” which will be directed by Peter Corry

        Take a fantastic musical adventure with an out-of-this-world car that flies through the air and sails the seas. Based on the record-breaking West End production and the beloved film, and featuring an unforgettable score by the Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang JR. is one blockbuster that audiences will find “Truly Scrumptious.”

        Dates: 13th -30th July 2022 Age: 8-18 years

        Eccentric inventor, Caractacus Potts, sets about restoring an old race car with the help of his children Jeremy and Jemima. They soon discover the car is magic, and has the ability to float and take flight. When the evil Baron Bomburst desires the magic car for himself, the family joins forces with Truly Scrumptious and Grandpa Potts to outwit the dastardly Baron and Baroness and their villainous henchman, the Child Catcher.

        Filled with amazing stage spectacle and unforgettable songs, including the Academy Award nominated title song, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang JR. is a high-flying fun-filled adventure that will dazzle audiences and Broadway Junior Stars alike.

        For more information and to register

        https://forms.gle/iUuUdbjW395oZrA56

        https://forms.gle/iUuUdbjW395oZrA56

        BSPA pupils stars in N Ireland’s latest BBC Drama.

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        BSPA Pupil Eliana Lamberton with her new best Friend Rambo

        BSPA Casting is thrilled that 9 year old Eliana Lamberton will be starring in BBC N Irelands latest local Drama ” Hope Street”. This show was filmed in Donaghadee which became the fictional town of Port Devine. Each episode focuses on a different character and we are excited to watch Eliana stars in Episode 5 to be shown on Wednesday 22nd December.

        Eliana seen at the welcome poster of the fictional town Port Devine

        BSPA was also delighted that Alumni pupil Louis McCartney also starred in this series at the young Shay O’Hare. Two young stars of the future.

        Louis McCartney ( Shay O’Hare )seen here with fellow stars Leila Hussain (Amara Karan) and Ciarán McMenamin ( Finn O’hare)