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The PQA York Newsletter
DECEMBER 2014
WELCOME TO OUR END OF TERM NEWSLETTER!
Hello everyone, welcome to our latest end of term newsletter. We have had so many exciting things
happen this term, from performances to masterclasses, and lots of exciting things planned for 2015
as well.
The work at PQA York just keeps on improving, and we have seen so many great developments
from our students, both at PQA and externally, and I’m really proud of the work that we are all
achieving. I have been very impressed this term with the way our Green, Blue and Red Group
students have really got stuck into the film projects for January’s red carpet cinema screening, and
how our Poppets have welcomed our brand new Poppets teacher to the Academy.
2015 is set to be an even more exciting year, with masterclasses, events and of course our very
exciting regional PQA show at York’s Grand Opera House.
Have a great Christmas. See you in 2015!
James Aconley - Principal
NEW MEMBERS OF STAFF
We’ve been very happy in the last term to welcome four fantastic new members of staff to the PQA
York team. Each of the new staff members have a wealth of experience in performance, theatre and
teaching, and have already started to pass on their knowledge to our students in an incredibly
positive and enthusiastic way. In case you haven’t had the opportunity to meet them yet:
Alana
Musical Theatre
Sara
Poppets
Maria
Teaching Assistant
Katy
Teaching Assistant
Stage Whispers: The PQA York Newsletter
DECEMBER 2014
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS THIS TERM!
We have had such a brilliant response from parents and students with a huge variety of different
achievements that our students have made. Here are just a few of this term’s fantastic news from
students:
Tabitha, Barnaby and Katie (Blue and Green Groups) – received parts in Seussical by We Are
Theatre, to be performed in June 2015 at Joseph Rowntree Theatre.
Catherine (Blue Group) – received a part in her school production of ‘Zombie Prom’ to be
performed at school Easter 2015.
Amelie (Blue Group) – filming a new feature film ‘Slapper and Me’ and a commercial for a
shopping centre.
Alex (Blue Group) – attended a casting workshop for the Full Monty UK Tour.
Evy (Blue Group) – appeared in Alice in Theatreland at school.
George (Red Group) – appearing in South Pacific next year and performed for Princess Beatrice at
York Theatre Royal in December.
Lailah May (Poppets) – Writer of the Month at School in November.
Annie (Blue Group) – took part in a school show.
Ashleigh (Blue Group) – performed at a school soiree.
Indie (Blue Group) – performed in the York Theatre Royal pantomime and in a school film for
teacher training days to be shown in 12 schools in January.
Anya (Blue Group) – wrote and took part in a school assembly.
Well done to all of our students for their achievements over the last term. We love to hear about
what our students are getting up to outside of PQA. Let us know!
BRING A FRIEND TO THE ACADEMY DAY
SATURDAY 17th JANUARY 2015, 9.45am-1.00pm
On Saturday 17th January, PQA York will be holding a Bring A Friend Day for the Poppets,
Green, Blue and Red Groups. Students will get the opportunity to bring one friend for a free
session at the Academy to show them all the fantastic things we get up to on a Saturday
morning. Make ‘em laugh in Comedy & Drama, learn showstoppers in Musical Theatre, and
direct, film and star in movies in Film & Television. Of course, Poppets will receive their usual
90 minutes of exciting Poppets activities!
To book your friend into the Bring A Friend Day, please send their name and their parent’s
name and contact details to James at [email protected] by Wednesday 14th January.
For more information, contact James.
Stage Whispers: The PQA York Newsletter
DECEMBER 2014
PAULINE QUIRKE & BIRDS OF A
FEATHER BACK ON TV!
Boxing Day sees the long-awaited return of our very own Pauline
in Birds of a Feather on ITV in a brand new series.
To celebrate, all our students nationwide have the opportunity to
take part in exciting competitions on our Facebook page.
Go to www.facebook.com/PQAOfficial for full details.
‘A CENTURY OF MUSICALS’ AT GRAND OPERA HOUSE YORK
On Saturday 9th May, we will be coming together with the students of PQA Scarborough, PQA
Leeds North, PQA Leeds West and PQA Harrogate to perform in a huge regional PQA show at
York’s Grand Opera House. The show, entitled ‘A Century of Musicals’ will have a Musical Theatre
theme, and we will be working on numbers for the show in Musical Theatre at PQA from January
onwards. We will also be entering the work into Trinity exams, which means we will be inviting a
Trinity Examiner to the performance and our students will hopefully all achieve these prestigious
internationally recognised awards. Tickets for the production are on sale now, and can be
purchased online at http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/a-century-of-musicals/grand-opera-houseyork/ or via the Grand Opera House Box Office in York.
QUIRKY KIDZ CASTING DAYS!
In early 2015 we will be announcing our casting days for Quirky Kidz Creative Management, our
agency for professional work in film, television and theatre for PQA students. More info to come in
the New Year.
SPECIALIST MASTERCLASS COMING IN 2015!
We are currently in the process of securing an exciting masterclass for our Green, Blue and Red
Group students in the New Year. More information to come as soon as possible!
AUDITION OPPORTUNITY FOR SCARBOROUGH MUSICAL!
Academy Principal James Aconley will be directing a new production of ‘Our House’, the Madness
Musical, at Scarborough’s YMCA Theatre this Spring. Auditions will be held from 12th-14th January
2015, and the show will be performed mid-April. Please note: all cast members must be aged 12+. If
you require further information, please contact James.
FREE WORKSHOP AT YMCA THEATRE
Sunday 11th January 2-4pm
AUDITIONS (all 6-9.30pm)
Mon 12th Jan – Principals
Tues 13th Jan – Dancers/Ensemble
Wed 14th Jan – Call Backs
Download an audition form from www.scarborough.ymca.org.uk or collect from YMCA reception.
Stage Whispers: The PQA York Newsletter
DECEMBER 2014
PQA YORK’S VERY FIRST RED
CARPET CINEMA EVENT –
JANUARY 18th – VUE YORK!
Preparations are now well underway for our very first
Red Carpet Cinema Event on Sunday 18th January at
Vue Cinema in York. We will be showcasing work
created by our Green, Blue and Red Group students
from the last term. It will be a fantastic experience for
student, with a red carpet, photographer and all of the
refreshments being open and available at the cinema.
Tickets are priced at £8.00 and a limited number of tickets are still available to purchase from PQA
on a Saturday, either before or after a session. Payments can be made in cash, cheque or
credit/debit card. Doors open on 18th January at 11.00am with a prompt 11.30am start. If you have
any questions, please contact James.
TRINITY EXAMINATIONS UPDATE!
We are very excited to announce that we will now be offering annual Trinity Group Events at PQA
free of charge to parents. As previously mentioned in this newsletter, our first Trinity event will be
our Grand Opera House performance in May, where we will invite an examiner to the performance
and the production will be used as a Trinity exam entry. In 2016, we will be holding a more
‘traditional’ Trinity event in the form of group exams at the Academy on a Saturday. We are also
proud to announce that we will soon be offering solo Trinity exams (which will incur an additional
cost). More information on this to come in the New Year.
PQA YORK CELEBRATES FIRST BIRTHDAY!
On Saturday 4th October, the students and staff at PQA York celebrated their first birthday with
cakes, a masterclass, and lots of fun in the other modules! We’d like to thank all of our parents,
students and PQA families for their support, and we can’t wait for more excitement, fun and
performing arts experiences in 2015!
The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts, York
Huntington School, Huntington Road, Huntington, York, YO32 9WT
Web: www.pqacademy.com/locations/york
Tel: 07753 179070
PQA PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK
AUTUMN TERM 2014
The following students won Performer of the Week during the
Autumn Term 2014. The certificates are awarded for
exceptional behaviour, hard work, commitment and dedication.
Well done students!
30th August 2014 – Stephen Royle
6th September 2014 – Abi Tate
13th September 2014 – Ella-Rose Wood
20th September 2014 – Dylan Lankshear
27th September 2014 – Katie Ferguson
4th October 2014 – Isla Wood
11th October 2014 – Becky Lennon
18th October 2014 – Olivia Carrington
25th October 2014 – Holly Boyle
1st November 2014 – Ethan Peck
8th November 2014 – Jaia Genet
15th November 2014 – Alice Shaw
22nd November 2014 – Kitty Lewis Ogden
29th November 2014 – Sophie Curry
6th December 2014 – Euan Mitchelson
13th December 2014 – Catherine Garbett
James Aconley
Principal of PQA York
[email protected]
07753 179070
PQA York is enrolling
now for 2015.
If you know anyone who
may like to join our
fantastic Academy,
please pass on our
details!
POPPET PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK
AUTUMN TERM 2014
The following students won Poppet Performer of the Week
during the Autumn Term 2014. The certificates are awarded
for exceptional behaviour, hard work, commitment and
dedication. Well done Poppets!
30th August 2014 – Henry Saunders
6th September 2014 – Isobel Dixon
13th September 2014 – Sam Darcy
20th September 2014 – Henry Saunders
27th September 2014 – Darcey Evans
4th October 2014 – Arlo Carter Dunn
11th October 2014 – Emily-May Snelgrove
18th October 2014 – Isobel Dixon
25th October 2014 – Ava Welsh
1st November 2014 – Erin Warren
8th November 2014 – Sam Darcy
15th November 2014 – Lailah May Carbutt
22nd November 2014 – Ophelia Parker
29th November 2014 – Evie Grant
6th December 2014 – Emily-May Snelgrove
13th December 2014 – Erin Warren
Free taster sessions
available – get in touch.
Wishing all of our students,
parents and families a very
Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year.
PQA York re-opens on
Saturday 10th January 2015.

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