Musical Theatre Academy

The Musical Theatre Academy (The MTA) is a drama college based in Islington, London.[1]

The MTA opened in 2009 by Annemarie Lewis Thomas[2][3] running the UK's first accelerated learning programme in triple threat training.[4] It is also the only UK Musical Theatre college to split its acting focus between stage and screen. In 2012, it was awarded The Stage 100 Award of School of the Year in 2012, who named them "a new force in drama training."[5]

The academy was originally based at the Drill Hall (now the RADA Studios), before moving to 89 Holloway Road in 2011. In July 2015 the academy relocated to The Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Tottenham. Students receive a guarantee that their fees are spent on training, not on securing a profit, and consequently the academy was granted charitable status in 2012.

The course runs over 4 terms per year with 40 hours contact time per week, with classes evenly divided between all three disciplines. As a key policy all of its staff are currently working in the industry at a level of the West End (London)No 1 UK touring circuit or the equivalent in their area.[6] It produces public performances in an established off-West End venue every term - shows to date include the world premieres of Lia's Guide to Winning The Lottery (by Keren David, Paul Herbet and Andy Kaby), In Touch[7][8] (by Dougal Irvine), Dangerous Daughters, Celebs Anon, The Sunshine Gang and The Ballad of Kitty Jay (all by Nick Stimson and Annemarie Lewis Thomas).

One of the academy's productions is the Something Old, Something New - The Musical Theatre Revue'.[9] The students (as part of their training) are regularly seen in the West End in professional shows/concerts, and to date its students have backed Shoshana Bean, Patina Miller performed with Katherine Jenkins at the London Palladium, and sung on the album Lift by Craig Adams and Ian Watson.[10] They have also provided the ensemble for the Tommy Gala at the Prince Edward Theatre, the MMD 20th anniversary Gala at the Novello, and Julie Atherton No Space for Air at the Apollo Theatre.

The academy is the only UK college to have a core policy of supporting new writing in the UK and regularly has composers coming in to work with the students on new material, such as Chris Passey, Dougal Irvine, Tim Sutton and Laurence Mark Wythe.[11] The MTA sees itself as a college for life, providing their graduates with ongoing care, support and help.[12] To date 100% of students have gained agent representation prior to graduating. [13]

References

  1. ↑ "The Musical Theatre Academy". Themta.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ "Official Website". Annemarie Lewis Thomas. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
  4. ↑ "The Stage Podcast (iTunes edition) Feed". Digitalpodcast.com. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
  5. ↑ "We reveal the winners of The Stage 100 Awards | News". The Stage. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
  6. ↑ "Faculty | The Musical Theatre Academy". Themta.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
  7. ↑ "In Touch Review- Bridewell Theatre | Soliloquy's Blog". Soliloquyblog.wordpress.com. 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
  8. ↑ Shenton, Mark. "Talent lines up to revitalise West End | Features". The Stage. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
  9. ↑ "Sardines review: Something Old, Something New: The MTA Musical Revue - The MTA (student productions)". Sardinesmagazine.co.uk. 2012-03-18. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
  10. ↑ https://web.archive.org/20130828174235/http://www.perfectpitchmusicals.com/lift.php. Archived from the original on August 28, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ↑ Bird, Henry. "Musical theatre training – listings | Advice". The Stage. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
  12. ↑
  13. ↑ "Stage 100 Awards 2012: School of the year". The Stage. Retrieved 29 April 2015.

External links

Coordinates: 51°32′52″N 0°6′23″W / 51.54778°N 0.10639°W / 51.54778; -0.10639

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