News

On Monday, we invited our prospective Drama and Dance GCSE students in Year 9, along with our Year 10, 11 and Sixth Form BTEC Performing Arts pupils, to a professional musical theatre workshop delivered by Emma Falcon.

Emma trained at Laine Theatre Arts where she graduated in 2019 with a 1st Class BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre. Emma is a professional dancer, actress, model and voice over artist working nationally and internationally on various film and television productions as well as advertising campaigns.

 

In the first session, students were taught professional routines from the musicals ‘Six’ and ‘The Wiz’ and some audition-style activities with tips and tricks to make it in the industry. The second session focused on acting techniques used in musical theatre. Students honed their skills in improvisation alongside sight reading and collaboration.

The free workshop aimed to encourage students to explore performing arts as a career choice and to refine their skills ready for the next stage in their education.

Our BTEC students commented that:

“The workshop gave me a really good insight into the reality of becoming a performer and what is expected of you. Next year, I plan to study performing arts at university - this has definitely helped me prepare for that.” (Faith)

“I have a much better understanding now of the perseverance and resilience needed to make it in the industry. Emma talked to us about how to prepare for rejection and how to stand out at auditions.” (Beau)

“The workshop allowed me to collaborate with KS3 and KS4 students - they were able to build on my ideas and expand them creatively. I would also like to study musical theatre at university and this definitely helped develop my skills in leading others in a group setting.” (Tom)

Emma ended the workshop with a 30-minute Q&A about her professional career and suggested next steps for students who want to further their education in performing arts. She was hugely positive in her feedback:

“There was a vibrant energy in the room and the students displayed exceptional behaviour and performance skills. Their enthusiasm and commitment were evident as they actively participated in the activities, showcasing high levels of engagement and performance quality. It was a joy to see the students stepping out of their comfort zones and supporting each other throughout the process. I was thoroughly impressed by their talent and collaborative spirit – well done everyone!"

Our heartfelt thanks to Emma for such enjoyable and valuable sessions!