The Somerset School of Performing Arts
at The Gateway, Addlewell Lane, Yeovil

THE SOMERSET SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS    

 

 The Somerset School of Performing Arts provides a great opportunity for children aged from 4 – 20 years to develop their acting, dancing, singing, voice, script writing, directing and improvisation skills to name but a few. The school also allows children to learn new disciplines, to grow in confidence, to make new friends and to have lots of fun.

            Each week the students take part in theatre and street dance classes, acting, singing and voice training lessons and at various times throughout the year we run workshops on other aspects of performing arts such as microphone technique, audition technique, producing, directing, recording and lots more. We have a team of very highly qualified, specialised professional staff who teach the students the correct techniques required to perform without straining or stressing the voice and body, they also help students to prepare for auditions, castings and competitions.  Our teachers have many years of experience in the Performing Arts business; they have worked professionally in West End productions, on tours both in the UK and abroad, in television series and documentaries, in films and in Theatre in Education Programmes.

            Throughout the year the students put on various shows, displays and performances which parents, families and friends are invited to watch. Each year we stage one major production  in a local theatre/entertainment venue and which raises money for local charities and a smaller production showcasing some of the term's work generally at the end of each summer term. Our most recent full-length performances were the musicals Grease, Matilda, Hairspray and Charlie and The Chocolate Factory,  Oliver and We Will Rock You which were all incredibly successful, a great challenge for our pupils and also a great learning experience. Our students also recently performed to sell out audiences at the Octagon Theatre in a charity music, song and dance gala. We also hold an annual " Search For A Star Competition", a karaoke competition, the chance to take part in live recording projects and lots more performance based activities.

             Some of our pupils are signed to children’s agencies which find them work in TV, film, advertising and modelling. Many of our former students are now working in the theatre, in the West End, on cruise ships, in Disneyland resorts,  in television, in films, in music videos in broadcasting, in promotional work and teaching various Performing Arts subjects all around the world. Most recently one of our former pupils, Kate Jordan has toured with Rita Ora, worked on the new Wicked Film, appeared in Sam Smith's music videos, Kate has also appeared in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella in The West End,  42nd Street in Paris and in The West End, Kiss me Kate and lots more. Kate is no stranger to the West End having also appeared in Billy Elliot for a year when she was 12 years old. Alex Jackson who studied with us from the age of 8 - 16 years also worked in The West End in The Musical “Thriller Live” and The Bodyguard, Alex has also appeared on stage and television with Rita Ora, Arianna GrandeRihanna, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and many other amazing stars. Alex has now moved to America where he has just completed filming in a new film “The Prom”, he has also filmed numerous music videos and he is the new face of Samsung mobiles. Abigail Matthews after completing a world tour with Evita was offered a year’s contract in The West End Show, The Warhorse. She has also appeared in the West End in Goodnight Mr Tom, The Lion the Witch  the Wardrobe, The White Feather, A Winter's Tale and many more productions. Abigail is currently touring with the fabulous production of The Wizard of Oz. There are far too many former pupils to mention here who are “living the dream” and performing, doing a job that they love, we are extremely proud of all of our pupils’ achievements.

Not all of our students want to follow Performing Arts as a career but we hope that all of our pupils will gain valuable skills during their time with us that will help them throughout their lives.

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Teaching sessions are held on Saturday afternoons at The Gateway, Addlewell Lane, Yeovil. 1-2.00pm for our Mini SSPA children aged 4-6 years and 2.10-5.10pm for 7-20 year olds during the school term time. The students are separated into groups according to age so that they work at the appropriate level. 

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