Blog - What have we been up to?
BUGSY MALONE THEATRE TRIP
We went along to the Theatre Royal Glasgow to see Bugsy Malone ahead of our production next year!
PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL OF THE YEAR (again!)
We were delighted to hear that we have held on to the title Performing Arts School of the Year for the second consecutive year!
The judging panel based their decision upon areas such as service excellence, quality of the service provided, innovative practices, value, ethical and sustainable methods of working, as well as consistency in performance.
SKY ACADEMY STUDIOS
Our students had a great time visiting the Sky Academy Studios. Our students had the opportunity to script, edit and shoot their very own content using cutting-edge technology, take a behind-the scenes tour and work with an expert Sky team.
FUN DAY!
Our senior students were delighted to make a special appearance at Katherine Park today for the Bear Necessities fun day! Raising important funds for a great charity!
SPONSORED BUNGEE JUMP
In June, our Senior Musical Theatre student Cormac bungee jumped to raise funds for our up and coming productions - dressed as a pantomime dame! The bungee jump is a free-fall experience of 40 metres towards water from a bridge Bungee jump platform! An airborne flight of a few seconds at over 50 mph before a special Bungee jump cord springs you back to normal, upright, life!
Watch the jump HERE.
EXAM RESULTS
We couldn’t be prouder of our second cohort of LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art) students with their exam results this year. All students passed their respective grade with merit or distinction!
Bravo!
We are now enrolling new students for next years LAMDA class. Read about our LAMDA class here.
GREEN ARTS INITIATIVE
With COP26 beginning in Glasgow, Imagine That Performing Arts have been thinking about how we can play our part in the climate crisis.
We have a long journey ahead but we are proud to have signed the Green Arts Initiative - committing to improve our environmental efforts each year, completing an annual survey to share any environmental action we've taken.
Imagine That Performing Arts has added Greta Thunberg's book "No One is Too Small to Make a Difference" to our studio library - students can borrow this book at any time!
PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL OF THE YEAR!
We were delighted to be nominated earlier this year for this award and were ecstatic to hear that we have won!
The judging panel base their decisions upon areas such as service excellence, quality of the product/service provided, innovative practices, value, ethical or sustainable methods of working, as well as consistency in performance. Thank you to our students, their families, and our supporters for your support - you are Imagine That Performing Arts!
PANTOMIME RETURNS TO AIRDRIE ARTS CENTRE!
Imagine That Performing Arts bring pantomime back to the historic Airdrie Arts Centre for the first time in almost a decade!
WE’RE GOING TO LONDON!
We are delighted to announce that our 2023 summer school will be a trip to London! This trip will be an unforgettable opportunity for students to experience theatre first-hand, bringing performing arts to life.
MARY POPPINS WORKSHOP WITH LONDON’S WEST END SAM LATHWOOD
SAM'S CREDITS
TRAINING: The Arts Educational Schools, London.
THEATRE INCLUDES: Messenger Boy/ 1st Robertson Ay/ 1st Valentine in Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre, West End); Assistant Dance Captain/ Gym Captain/ Swing/ 1st Michael Wormwood/ 2nd Doctor in Matilda the Musical (UK and Ireland Tour); Sam in Elf the Musical (Plymouth/Manchester); Swing/ Understudy Robertson Ay in Mary Poppins (International Tour Zurich/Dubai); Crossover Swing in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Theatre Royal Drury Lane, West End); Disaster! (Charing Cross Theatre); Jim in Elf the Musical (European Premiere, Plymouth/Dublin); Mark/Lynch in Damn Yankees (Landor Theatre); Assistant Dance Captain/Swing in Hairspray (UK and Ireland Tour); Ensemble/ 1st Samuel in The Pirates of Penzance (Hackney Empire/Australian Tour); Momentous Musicals (New Wimbledon Theatre).
WORKSHOP CREDITS INCLUDE: Caladar in Vānara: A New Musical (London); Groundhog Day (Old Vic); Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Pre-Broadway).
CHOREOGRAPHY: Grim: A New Musical which received a transfer to the Charing Cross Theatre in London after its success at the Rose Theatre, Kingston.
OTHER: Elf the Musical (Channel 5); The Jane McDonald Show; Singer/ Vocalist in Mary Poppins Returns (Disney Movie/ Soundtrack); Backing Vocalist for Adele at Wembley Stadium before 98,000 people; Singer for ‘Eurosport Winter Olympics 2018’ Commercial; Royal Variety Performance (London Palladium, 2019); Mary Poppins Cast Recording (West End, 2020), Matilda the Movie Workshops (2020), Britain’s Got Talent (ITV, 2020).
OUR VERY OWN STUDIO!
In March we closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and since then we have been itching to get back to doing what we love! Unfortunately our much loved home, Cairnlea Church, is not currently available - not only because of the on-going restrictions but also because the building is now undergoing huge renovation work.
However, we are delighted to announce that we are moving to our very own studio. We will be moving into a newly refurbished studio in the old Airdrie Arts Centre building. Built in 1893, the building was Airdrie’s first purpose built public library and was converted to an arts centre in 1967. The building is seeping with history and we are delighted to be the next chapter in this gorgeous building’s story.
MUSICAL THEATRE MASTERCLASS WITH JAMES LOWRIE
This musical theatre masterclass with choreographer James Lowrie was based on The Lion King. James is no stranger to Disney musicals having recently performed as Grimsby in the UK premiere of 'The Little Mermaid'
James' other credits include: Dwarf/Dance Captain in SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (QDOS); Boy in BUTTERFLY KISS (Òran Mór); Ensemble in HANSEL AND GRETEL (Scottish Opera); Charley in MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG; Joe Sharpe in THE HIRED MAN (The Guildford School of Acting). Joe in 9 TO 5; Batboy in BATBOY (The Dance School of Scotland)
WEST END WORKSHOP WITH PHIL MENNELL
Phil Mennell whisked our students off to Agrabah for our very own Aladdin workshop!
Phil trained at Performers College and Bird College.
Credits include - Frank Manero Junior/1st Cover Fusco/2nd Cover Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever (UK and International Tour), Ensemble/2nd Cover Omar in Aladdin (Prince Edward Theatre), Ensemble in Bodyguard the Musical (Tour of China), Dance Captain/1st Cover Brit in We Will Rock You (Anthem of the Seas), JoJo/Il Ross in Newsies il Musical (Original Italian Production) and Swing/ASM in Happy Days the Musical (UK Tour).
CASTING SUCCESS
Imagine That Drama Classes alumnus Patrick Proven does it again! We couldn't be more proud when we spotted Patrick in the latest advert for Porsche.
Patrick’s other credits include:
Film and TV: River City: Featured Role: Teen Victim Jack, The Wife: Featured Role: Peter Finch, Outlander: Featured Role: Prince Charlies Valet Boy, Demon Head Master: Boy, Outlander: Jamie’s Militia, Eliz is Missing: Featured Role: Paper Boy, The Nest: Teen Ned: Episode 2, Advert for Porsche 2020: Full Feature, Clique Episode 1, Barbarossa Advert 2020: Lead Feature, SNP Independence Advert 2016/17, Bollywood movie: 82 – Cricket Captain, Royal Navy Advert: Supporting Artist, Party is Just Beginning: Boy named Trevor (cut), Anna and the Apocalypse: Asthmatic Bullied Kid (cut) Theatre: Aladdin (Aladdin), Into The Woods (Jack), Rent (Mark & Roger)
WORKSHOP WITH LONDON’S WEST END LIZZIE BEA
Lizzie is set to star in the iconic role of Tracey Turnblad in the return of Hairsrpay to the West End, alongside Michael Ball as Edna Turnblad and Marisha Wallace as Motormouth Maybell.
As you can see from Lizzie’s credits below she recently toured the UK with Kinky Boots and was also involved in the creation of Heathers! Lizzie joined our students for two fantastic workshops based on her previous credits - The Three Little Pigs and Kinky Boots!
Lizzie Bea’s Credits
Theatre productions include: Abigail in the World Premiere of Becoming Nancy (Alliance Theatre, Atlanta), Pat in Kinky Boots (UK Tour), u/s Kelly, Betty & Val in Fat Friends the Musical (UK Tour); Rose in Dino Story and Ducky Daddles in Chicken Little (From Page to Stage – The Other Palace); Actress 2 in The Shakespeare Revue (UK Tour); Bee/Mother Pig in The 3 Little Pigs (UK & International Tour); Polly Parish in The Other School (St James Theatre) Workshops: Abigail Henson in Becoming Nancy (Stiles and Drewe, Jammy Productions, Inc., and Foresight Theatrical – London and New York casts); Martha Dunstock in Heathers (The Other Palace). Recordings: Flo Bates in Half a Sixpence (Demo Recording – Cameron Mackintosh Ltd).
EDINBURGH FRINGE TRIP
Our students enjoyed a fabulous day in Scotland’s capital soaking in the amazing festival atmosphere, watching the street performers and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s production of Legally Blonde the Musical!