Stagecoach

For those serious about pursuing a career in the Performing Arts, there is a perfect exhibition in March 2012 at Olympia in London

Stan Hodgson, formerly of Darlington Further Stages, has contacted me to tell me that he has won a place at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA) for September. Stan will be going on the one year foundation course.

Stan was a student for several years, both in the main school in Darlington on Saturday mornings, and in Further Stages. Stan got together with another Further Stages student Daniel Weatherill and formed their own Windermere theatre company, which we tried to support them in.  Stan was pleased to tell me that this theatre company had won an award at the Prague Fringe Festival this year - which is absolutely brilliant. Stan was also characteristically kind enough to credit his time with Stagecoach as being key in his success, both with Windermere and in winning his place at LAMDA.

 I think genetics also has a keen role to play, given that Stan`s dad is a Drama advisor in schools!!  Whatever the combination, we are all delighted for him and would like to wish Stan well in his chosen career. Stan`s mum is a gifted photographer - so he should be alright when he needs headshots taking, as can be seen by the portrait above.

I will always remember you as a real gentleman Stan and there`s not many young men that can claim that accolade these days. Good luck!

I asked Charlotte Churchman of Further Stages to tell us about the place she has won from September at The Academy of Contemporary Music in London. Here is what she had to say:-

It focuses mainly on the music industry (unfortunately no more musical theatre for me) and runs courses from Diploma level up to Degree level. Not only do they focus on performance (vocals, drums, guitar and keyboard) they also run courses to do with Music Production, Music Business, Song-writing and even Tour Managing. I’m going onto the Music Performance vocal course where they will stretch me to sing solo and with a band, write my own music and even teach me how the music industry works.
 
The ACM has been running for about 15 years now and has gradually became one of the first stop music colleges in Europe for producers. It has produced talent from bands like Mumford and Sons and The Ting Tings but also produced musicians that are used in touring bands for people like The Noisettes, Plan B and Kate Nash. Newton Faulkner also attended the college as a Guitar student before he made his big break. The ACM also runs vocal masterclasses/workshops where they invite people in who have made it in the industry to work with the students, some of which include Jamiroquai, Paloma Faith, David and Carrie Grant and Daniel Bedingfield.
 
I went to visit the college a couple of months ago and it truly is breathtaking. The facilities there can’t be beaten and the tutors really do know what they are doing. In my opinion, for anyone that is interested in attempting to make it in the music industry, they should definitely be considering ACM,

Well done Charlotte. We all know what a terrific voice you have got and we all wish you well. We will miss you. We look forward to seeing you looking more like this from now on:-

Theo Close leaves for London very shortly, not only to start on his 2 year course at The Brit School but also because he was chosen to perform in `Mack and Mabel` when he was down at a workshop with The Brit School after he was given his place. The musical will be performed to the public across several nights.

As you can see from the newspaper article, Theo also won the `Further Stages Student of the Year` this year for all his efforts with Early Stages, his Distinction won in his LAMDA exams and for the fact that he gained the highest marks of any of the Further Stages groups in the recent PAA exams.

Theo was chosen by The Northern Echo for its scholarship for the All Boys Dance Class, when we opened in 2006.

If the piece is hard to read below then follow the link to the Northern Echo website:- http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/9182676.Performer_wins_spot_at_top_school/?ref=rss

We will all miss Theo but look forward to hearing about his future successes. WATCH THIS SPACE!