Articles

There are many myths and superstitions within and surrounding the theatre world, and actors often hold them close. I think it’s fair to say we’re a superstitious group on the whole. And it doesn’t stop at superstitions. Ghosts play a huge part in our world too. There is nothing more eerie than the age old story of the theatre ghost or creeping up to the more decrepit parts of the building where said ghosts are said to reside, scaring yourselves silly in the process. Though perhaps, when it comes to our departed friends, it’s not entirely hogwash. In 1939, whilst rehearsing their curtain call, almost an entire cast reported seeing a man in grey walk across the back of the upper circle at the Theatre Royal Drury lane and disappear into the rear wall. An earlier excavation in 1848 had uncovered the Skelton of a man wearing a grey cloak, with a dagger through his chest, walled up in a side passage.  The man in Grey has since become one of the most famous theatre ghosts with many reported sightings, some very recently. So perhaps not everything is merely made up… Continue reading Very Superstitious – Myths of the Theatre >>

London based teen pop group EverYoung are quite simply proving their place in the pop chart. They managed to climb up to number 141 with their debut single Warrior in the space of less than 24 hours, amongst the likes of Lady Gaga and Rihanna. Continue reading EverYoung storm the iTunes pop chart with debut single >>

Gareth Gates (Joseph, Les Misérables) headlines Momentous Musicals, a world première gala concert at New Wimbledon Theatre, for one night only on Saturday 14th July 2012.

Gareth Gates leads this sophisticated homage to musical theatre, featuring songs from much-loved shows including West Side Story, Phantom of the Opera, Wicked and Miss Saigon. He is joined by a cast of West End stars including blonde bombshell Rachael Wooding (Jersey Boys, Hairspray), an amazing ensemble of dancers and a live on stage band. Continue reading Gareth Gates headlines Momentous Musicals >>

They’re the Academy Award of the stage, the Brit Award of the dance floor, and the epitome of all that is theatrical. That’s right folks, it’s that time of year again…so roll up your stockings and put down those scripts, the Olivier Awards 2012 with MasterCard are beckoning.

Without doubt the UK’s most prestigious (and sought after!) theatrical awards, this year both press and public alike have held their breath while awaiting the announcement of those nominees. Well, the wait is over; today saw the shortlist finally revealed. And with such a plethora of talent to choose from, it’s a wonder the panel managed to come to any decision at all. Continue reading Olivier Awards 2012 nominations revealed… >>

So the 2012 Olivier Award nominations were revealed today at an exclusive event which took place at London’s Luxury Mayfair Hotel by Last year’s Best Actress and Best Actor Olivier Award winners Nancy Carroll and Roger Allam and for the first time theatre fans could watch a live stream of the announcement on the Olivier Awards website. Continue reading Thoughts on Olivier Awards 2012 nominations >>

Joe, 17, has been a member of West End Kids since January 2010.  He has been involved in musical theatre since the age of 11. Joe is currently studying for A Levels at Bexley Grammar School.  He plays the saxophone, piano and guitar and is also the resident West End Kids blogger!  
Professional theatre credits include: Oliver! (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Fantastic Mr Fox (Regents Park Open Air Theatre); Peter Pan (Churchill Theatre, Bromley). Continue reading West End Kids: What it’s really like to be a WEK >>

“I’m standing in the wings in my sparkly, bright pink dress. The dress especially made for the bows and for me. I wear it for all of 4min max..crazy. I can hear the audience going nuts when the girl who plays Paulette takes her bow, rightly so, she’s hilarious and fab in the show. The music swells to a crescendo and soon it’ll be my turn to step out in the light.  I’m biting my cheek trying to stop the tears. I’m thinking about how lucky and grateful I am for this moment, for this job and this opportunity. Continue reading ‘Blonde Ambitions’ by Kaisa Hammarlund >>

Male & Female Singers/Dancers (10 – 18yrs) from South of England

West End Kids is looking for outstanding male and female singer/dancers from the South of England to join its high profile song and dance troupe. Auditions are being held in Central London on Saturday, 7th January, 2012. Continue reading West End Kids Auditions >>

Ever felt lost amongst the ferocious world of work and money? Well you’re not alone…

Breakthrough Fringe act, Modus Operandi, present their second project at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this season; a witty new musical conquering the trials and tribulations of a common pastime – fighting to find your dream job. The highly acclaimed company previously appeared at the Fringe in 2006, premiering the widely successful ‘an Asylum on Every Corner’, which went on to open the inaugural Bucharest Theatre Festival. Labelled “charming and whole hearted” by Time Out magazine, the comedic theatre company are certainly not ones to be missed this season. Continue reading Your Chance to ‘Apply Within’ >>

Trinity College London’s International Playwriting Competition

Information

• Aspiring writers of any age and ability are asked to write a one-act play in English (20-40 minutes in duration) for young people, either for performers 11 years and under or for an audience of 12-16 year olds
• Winners in each category will receive £1,000 and will have their play published
• Prizes will be presented at an inaugural performance of the winning plays at a theatre in central London.
• Travel and accommodation expenses will be covered for winners who are attending.
• Runners-up receive a prize of £500
• Entry fee £10 (£20 if you want feedback from the judging panel)
• Closing date 1^st September 2011

• For an entry form and more information about the judges and the competition please see: http://www.trinitycollege.co.uk/playwriting

Continue reading Write a play for young people and win £1000! >>

Star of Jersey Boys and ex-S Club sensation Jon Lee will join the line-up for Julie Atherton’s first ever West End solo concert, at the Apollo Theatre on Sunday 26^thJune. He completes a roster of guest stars, which includes ex-Coronation Street star Richard Fleeshman, and West End favourite Daniel Boys, plus Emmy Award winning composer Lance Horne, and Brit composer Michael Bruce. Continue reading Jon Lee joins Julie Atherton in her biggest solo concert yet >>

Julie Atherton, the star of the international YouTube sensation Portrait of a Princess, will perform her biggest solo concert yet for one night only at the Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue on Sunday 26th June 2011. Fellow West End stars Daniel Boys and Richard Fleeshman will be joining Atherton to perform tracks from her album No Space for Air, as well as songs from the shows that have shaped her fabulous career to date.

Continue reading Julie Atherton to perform her biggest solo concert yet >>

Comprehensive Training Presented in a Fresh & Unique Way

Based on the five elements of the Monkey, Fourth Monkey’s Year of the Monkey is a contemporary Rep Theatre Company and training programme with a difference. Continue reading Fourth Monkey’s ‘YEAR OF THE MONKEY’ accepting applications >>

Kane Ricca, semi-finalist of Sky 1′s Got To Dance, launched his new dance production [Control.] Live: The Prodigy at Pineapple Dance Studios. We were there to catch all the action! Continue reading Feature: Kane Ricca Launches [Control.] >>

May saw the launch of a brand new Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (PQA) in Wigston, Leicestershire. PQA Leicester opened on Saturday 14^th May at 10am and children and their parents are invited to come along and find out what it’s all about.

Modules at PQA include Comedy and Drama, Musical Theatre and Film & Television which teaches students about the different acting styles required for camera work.  Students at the Academies also learn how film and television productions are created, and get the chance to take part in frequent specialist Masterclasses, which include stage combat, clowning, junk percussion, street dance and even casualty make up.

Parents are able to monitor their child’s progress through PQA’s unique Creative Stages Awards scheme, which recognises their achievements and records their progress. Parents can also watch their children at performances throughout the year, which include a red carpet screening of student film premieres at local cinemas. In addition, a number of lucky Academies are selected each year to take part in the prestigious PQA West End season at a top London theatre. PQA students are also eligible to join Quirky Kidz, a creative management agency exclusively representing students who wish to be considered for professional jobs in theatre, television and film.

Principal of PQA Leicester, Karen Stevens has worked as a professional actress since graduating from Middlesex University, in 2002 with a degree in Theatre Studies and Technical Arts and has experience of performing both on the stage and in front of the camera, and has even tried her hand at stand up comedy!

Karren said to us ‘We are very excited to launch a new PQA in Wigston, particularly since South Leicestershire College is a brand new state of the art building which has its own purpose built TV studio which will come in very useful for our students! We hope that the new Academy will instill children in the area with a love of the performing arts and give them the opportunity to try something new’.

PQA hold classes every Saturday at South Leicestershire College from 10am – 1pm, PQA have a very warm and inviting atmosphere with a well trained teacher, the classes run for just £7.50 per student.

For more information check out  www.pqacademy.com or call 08456 732022.

PRESS RELEASE:

Renowned for diversity and cutting edge training by industry professionals, Urdang graduates are constantly in for West End and dance leads. Based close to Sadler’s Wells in central London, the Urdang Academy is fast becoming  the UK’s first choice for training  in Dance and Musical Theatre. Continue reading Urdang Academy aim high with “Outstanding” >>

Speckulation Entertainment will  produce a brand new  series of acoustic sessions with three of its roster of recording artists, Julie Atherton, Helena Blackman and Michael Bruce, at the recently refurbished Pheasantry on the Kings Road in Chelsea during June. This is not to be missed! More Details… Continue reading Speckulation announce Acoustic Sessions >>

As a new theatre company on the block the pressure is often present to find a ‘niche’. Maybe you produce exclusively new work or work that explores certain issues ,or  perhaps it is delivered in site specific venues or locations; regardless there seems a need to find a unique selling point in your work. Continue reading Fourth Monkey Theatre Company – Pushing a boundary or two >>

We forget this at our peril, but at the heart of theatre is storytelling. And for a story to thrive it needs two things – voices to tell it, and ears to listen. Listening – active, engaging listening – is becoming all too rare, as bland, uninspiring noise from the television becomes increasingly ubiquitous. Continue reading Audio-drama – the pictures are better… >>

The West End is an extremely glamorous and ever-changing world that continually keeps us on our toes. With some London shows lasting years and others quickly vanishing it can be hard to know what’s currently hot in Theatreland; however one thing is for sure, there are always a host of excellent new shows waiting to enjoy a run on the big stage. Continue reading Whats New In The West End? (2010-2011) >>

Over the past five years, one performing arts school has stood head and shoulders above the rest and established itself as the UK’s finest in theatrical training for young people. Its name is West End Stage.

Starting in 2006 with only 70 students, it has grown in size and stature and now boasts Summer Schools in London, Bristol, Nottingham, Manchester and North Wales as well as a school term-time West End Academy in London and Bristol, all dedicated to providing young people aged 8 to 21 with the very best performing arts training. Continue reading West End Stage Summer School >>

As the nights draw closer and a winter chill sets in, you may not be able to trip to the beach for ice cream and games in the sun, but you can head to out to enjoy a fun-filled theatre break with the family. Continue reading Six Family Shows to Enjoy This Winter >>

Every day people ask me how do I start a band or get band members! Well this is the quick guide to starting a band! Continue reading Starting a band >>

Welcome to Stage Door Mag, the number 1 place to find information, inspiration and guidance for young performers on the net. Let me introduce you to the people who work behind the scenes to create, update and keep Stage Door Mag alive on a day to day basis… Continue reading Meet The Creators >>

Your career is like the most sweet, indulgent chocolate cake you spot in the bakery window. It’s so inviting; you find yourself dreaming after it. You know how bad it is for you, yet the more you walk past it, the more you crave it. Then you see some other girl with a piece, and your heart roars like a lion confined in your chest. ‘That’s not fair’, the lion snarls. If she has it, there is nothing you can do but follow in her path. Then, you have a slice…a delicious, succulent slice that makes your mouth water, your heart race; you feel contented, at ease. Peace and serenity washes over you. Yet it’s over far too quickly, and all too soon, you’re left with nothing but an after-treat buzz. You need another fill, but this time, it’s significantly more than a craving. It’s a need, a burning desire that has to be fulfilled, and quickly before it drives you insane. Continue reading Lost the Heart? >>

Okay, let’s be honest — when it comes to singing, our friends in the West have got it bang on. Our American friends have been gifted with vocal chords of steels, and not through any randomness, I can assure you, but a history of singing in churches and the community. A culture for singing, if you will. However, when it comes to the singing tuition, the American biz is no better off than the UK. There is still a large deficit between professional singing tuition and those teaching random, pointless and in some case, harmful, singing technique. Continue reading The Estillian Way – A Short Guide to new MT Singing >>

I always knew I wanted to create, and, performing appealed because it is hugely artistic and immensely satisfying. I knew when applying in comparison with other people, I would not have had as much experience as them, but, there was something about the stage which attracted me.

Continue reading A Student’s Life at London Studio Centre >>

Have you heard the news!

Im writing this after recently hearing that Leicester city council is proposing to cut all funding for Leicestershire arts. This could mean no more fantastic shows from them, and no more talented people coming out of Leicestershire!

Continue reading Have you heard the news!?! >>

Clearvision Imagery is for Actors and Models who are looking to get portfolios or head shots done at very affordable prices! AN AWARD WINNING photographer taking the photos you can’t really get a better deal.

Continue reading Clearvision Imagery >>

Continue reading Success! >>