Musical Theatre Academy

The Musical Theatre Academy
Motto Rigorously Professional
Established 2009
Founder Annemarie Lewis Thomas
Location Bernie Grant Arts Centre
Townhall Approach Road
London
N15 4RX
United Kingdom United Kingdom
Gender Mixed
Students 42
Website Official Website

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

College History

The MTA opened in 2009 by Annemarie Lewis Thomas[2] running the UK's first accelerated learning programme in triple threat training.[3] 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 Award of School of the Year in 2012, who named them "a new force in drama training."[4] In 2017 The MTA was once again named as The Stage School of the Year. This time the citation commended them on the #time4change campaign, whilst acknowledging The MTA's growing influence within the training sector

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 college has been actively campaigning for better Mental Health provision within drama schools, and in 2016 hosted the #time4change conference, focussing on Mental Health within vocational colleges. In July 2016 it launched the #time4change Mental Health charter – which has over 100 companies signed up, including the Theatre Royal Stratford East, Rose Bruford College, Mountview, plus most of the major off West End production companies, along with over 60 major theatrical agencies.

Academic Year

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.[5] 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[6][7] (by Dougal Irvine), Dangerous Daughters, Celebs Anon, The Sunshine Gang, The Ballad of Kitty Jay, Just the Ticket and The Venus Factor (all by Nick Stimson and Annemarie Lewis Thomas), Animus (by Webborn and Finn)

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.[8] The MTA sees itself as a college for life, providing their graduates with ongoing care, support and help.[9] To date 100% of students have gained agent representation prior to graduating. [10] One of the academy's productions is Something Old, Something New – The Musical Theatre Revue'.[11]

Performances

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.[12] 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.


Performance History
DatePerformanceVenueWriterMusicDirector
Mar 2010Something Old, Something NewThe Drill HallAnnemarie Lewis Thomas
June 2010Bad GirlsThe Drill HallMaureen Chadwick & Ann McManusKath GottsSimon Greiff
15–17 Sept 2010Dangerous DaughtersThe Drill HallNick StimsonAnnemarie Lewis ThomasNick Stimson
Dec 2010CinderellaThe Drill HallDaniel O'BrienAnnemarie Lewis Thomas
16–19 Mar 2011Something Old, Something NewThe Drill HallAnnemarie Lewis ThomasJack Gunn
15–18 June 2011Zombie PromThe Drill HallJohn DempseyDana P RoweHelen Evens
14–17 Sept 2011Celebs AnonThe Drill HallNick StimsonAnnemarie Lewis ThomasPip Minnthorpe
20–23 Dec 2011Puss In BootsWaterloo EastDaniel O'BrienAnnemarie Lewis ThomasGerry Flanagan
14–16 Dec 2011Don JuanWaterloo Eastn/aHelen Evans
14–17 Mar 2012Something Old, Something NewBridewell TheatreAnnemarie Lewis ThomasJack Gunn
13–16 June 2012In TouchBridewell TheatreDougal IrvineDougal IrvineJohn Brant
12–15 Sept 2012The Sunshine GangBridewell TheatreNick StimsonAnnemarie Lewis ThomasKate Golledge
12–15 Dec 2012Jack & The BeanstalkCourtyard Theatre, LondonDaniel O'BrienAnnemarie Lewis ThomasHoward Samuels
13–15 Dec 2012ElectraCourtyard Theatre, Londonn/aHelen Evens
13–16 Mar 2013Something Old, Something NewBridewell TheatreAnnemarie Lewis ThomasJack Gunn
12–15 June 2013Lia's Guide To Winning The LotteryBridewell TheatreKeren DavidPaul HerbertRyan McBryde
11–14 Sept 2013The Ballad of Kitty JayBridewell TheatreNick StimsonAnnemarie Lewis ThomasPip Minnithorpe
Dec 2013Jack and the BeanstalkCourtyardAnnemarie Lewis ThomasHoward Samuels
Dec 2013Ting Tang MineCourtyard TheatreTilly Vosburgh
Mar 2014Something Old, Something NewBridewell TheatreAnnemarie Lewis ThomasJack Gunn
June 2014Just SoBridewell TheatreInga Davis-RutterChristian Durham
10–13 Sept 2014Just The TicketBridewell TheatreNick StimsonAnnemarie Lewis ThomasSimon Greiff
10–17 Dec 2014Beauty & the BeastBernie Grant Arts CentreDaniel O'BrienAnnemarie Lewis ThomasHoward Samuels
15–17 Dec 2014Welcome to ThebesBernie Grant Arts Centren/aTilly Vosburgh
11–14 Mar 2015Something Old, Something NewBridewell TheatreAnnmarie Lewis ThomasCressida Carre
10–13 June 2015Sunshine On LeithBridewell TheatreStephen GreenhornMary McAdamMichael Howcroft
9–12 Sept 2015The Venus FactorBridewell TheatreNick StimsonAnnemarie Lewis ThomasPip Minnithorpe
9–19 Dec 2015CinderellaBernie Grant Arts CentreDaniel O'BrienAnnemarie Lewis ThomasHoward Samuels
Dec 2015A State AffairBernie Grant Arts Centren/aPaul Foster
9–12 Mar 2016Something Old, Something NewBernie Grant Arts CentreAnnemarie Lewis ThomasSteve Elias
8–11 June 2016Around The World In 80 DaysBernie Grant Arts CentrePhil WillmottAnnemarie Lewis ThomasRacky Plews
7–10 Sept 2016AnimusBridewell TheatreWebborn & FinnMichael WebbornChristian Durham
Dec 2016"Robinson Crusoe"Bernie Grant Arts CentreDaniel O'BrienAnnemarie Lewis ThomasHoward Samuels
Dec 2016"Tess of the D'Urbervilles"Bernie Grant Arts Centren/aTilly Vosburgh

References

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

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

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