THE GARRICK ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS

The Garrick Academy of Performing Arts, or the GAPA as it is affectionately known, rose from the ashes of the Garrick's previous youth group and was reformed under the tutelage of Peter Birch and Dean Sumner. From its humble beginnings in September 2003, it has developed from 60 students to more than twice that number today and now has 3 teaching staff and 3 assistants, all trained in the performing arts. The GAPA currently run six classes on Saturday mornings for our 8 to 11 year olds, 12-16 year olds and our (senior group of) 15 to 18 year olds. The first classes of the day commence at 9.00am and run until 11.00am and our second set of classes commence at 11.15am and finish at 1.15pm and our teaching year is broken into three terms, each lasting ten weeks.

We provide, train and develop the performance skills of our students and give them a grounding should they wish to eventually to work on the professional stage - as a number of our students have. Our focus though is on performance, and we ensure the students are constantly working towards the presentation of their work. At the end of the Autumn term our students present a series of monologues, duologues or devised pieces in the smaller of our theatre spaces, the Lauriston Studio, allowing them to utilize the their skills in front of a 'family' audience. Our Spring and Summer terms see them preparing for a full-length show which, depending upon the production chosen, may be performed in the 400 seater auditorium at the Garrick Theatre or, if the show or play is more suited, in the Lauriston Studio.

Recent main stage productions have included Alice in Wonderland, Our Day Out, Guys and Dolls, Honk, Bugsy Malone, Fiddler on the Roof, Pirates of Penzance, Oh, What a Lovely War, Our Town and Tales from the Arabian Nights. In the Lauriston Studio we have performed a range of plays including An Inspector Calls, A Midsummer Nights Dream, Stags and Hens, Here Comes The Sun and Two Planks and a Passion. Our plays are usually performed by our senior group and are chosen to stretch them and engage their full group to ensure everyone takes an active part in the performance.

We look forward to seeing you at the next GAPA production, when you can watch our next generation of performing talent.

Whether you are interested in joining GAPA to perform, write, direct or get involved in the many back-stage activities that no show can do without, please contact Eileen Featherstone on 0161 928 1677 or email us at academy@altrinchamgarrick.co.uk

Copyright © 2011, Altrincham Garrick Playhouse