Youngsters to star in London's West End

DOZENS of talented Vale performers are to experience the glamour of starring in London's West End after being chosen to take part in a brand new musical.

Pupils from The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (PQA) in Evesham will perform at the famous setting of the capital's Her Majesty's Theatre next summer and will start preparations next month when classes resume.

The Evesham academy was chosen for the prestigious event ahead of dozens more PQAs up and down the country by two creative directors leading the musical.

The musical is yet to be written but will incorporate music, dance and acting, and for the youngsters it will be their first ever performance in London.

Pauline Quirke, who starred in BBC comedy Birds of a Feather and most recently ITV soap Emmerdale, will perform as a narrator meaning the youngsters will get to work with her during the production stages.

The Evesham academy, which was founded in October last year, runs classes at its home at Evesham Arts Centre on Saturday mornings for youngsters aged between 5 and 18.

Trelawney Kerrigan, academy principal, told the Observer this was a huge achievement for the Evesham academy and everyone involved is hugely excited.

"It's a massive achievement because we have over 40 academies nationwide and the fact we have been chosen to perform with two others is really good," she said.

"It just shows the dedication of our teachers and pupils which has been witnessed when the creative directors from the PQA have visited us.

"Since we started in October we have gone from nobody having made a film before to people sitting down and working out stories, characters and scripts. The youngsters are up for every challenge which is really inspiring.

"I think the fact we have made such progress in such a short space of time helped us get selected. For most of them it will be their first real opportunity on stage so its great for them. Everyone is really excited."

The academy celebrated the news with a red carpet event at the Evesham Arts Centre where nine of the group's regional short films were premiered on the big screen followed by a performance of Broadway musical '13' by some of the academy's older students.

For more information about the academy visit www.pqacademy.com/locations/evesham/.

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