A programme of Summer Academies have been announced at the Blackburn Empire for budding performers looking to improve their confidence, musicality and skills.
Blackburn’s biggest community theatre, at Ewood, are running the popular academies in association with the successful team from Pendle Productions. The same team who bring the pantomime to Blackburn with the 2017 run for “Cinderella” already announced.
Pendle Productions are a nationally recognised professional Theatre and Arts Company who have been touring and performing across the UK since 1985.
The week-long academies have three different themes to appeal to as wide a range of children as possible and feature everything from musical theatre to film making and set design and production.
From 31st July is Musical Theatre Week, with a heavy emphasis on teaching musical theatre skills and performance from the musical theatre world. This workshop is also for those who would like to work on their technical production skills, as there will be opportunities to work on set design, lighting and sound. So if you’re a budding musical performer, dancer, singer or actor this workshop will be right up your street.
The second week, beginning on 7th August, is the Film and Movie Making Week. Whether behind the camera as a director, writer and camera person or in front of the camera as an actor, dancer and singer you will have the opportunity of working with one of this country’s leading award winning film makers.
The final week is your opportunity to star in a fully produced pantomime performance for parents and friends to enjoy. Scripted by Pendle Productions own Artistic Director you will be taught all the skills you require to take part in the Thwaites Empire Theatre’s third Summer Pantomime of the classic The Pied Piper. You could be playing The Pied Piper, The Wicked King Rat Simple Simon, Alderman Poor, Alice Poor or one of the Lost Children.
From singing and dancing to working on the set design, lighting and sound, there will be a range of opportunities for those aged 7-18 years.
Chairman of the Thwaites Empire Theatre, Michael Berry, said: “These weeks provide youngsters with an insight into the musical theatre industry whilst improving essential skills. The Summer Academy Activity Weeks have proved popular in the past. We recommend booking in advance to reserve a space.”
Details of costs and how to book are available here