The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts is launching a brand-new academy in Wilmslow on Saturday 18 April, with a free open day for local young people aged four to 18.
The Main Academy (ages six to 18) will run three-hour sessions every Saturday from 9:45 am to 1:00 pm at Wilmslow High School, offering young people the chance to explore comedy, drama, musical theatre and TV & film in a fun and supportive environment.
As part of the launch, the academy will also be introducing ‘Poppets’, a dedicated weekly class on a Saturday morning from 09:45 am to 11:30 am, for children aged four to six, designed to spark imaginations and encourage creativity in a safe, nurturing environment. These sessions help little ones build confidence, make friends, and develop essential life skills through the magic of performing arts.
The launch is led by Principal Kerrie Burgoyne, who brings over a decade of experience working in film and television. Kerrie has worked as an Assistant Director on major productions including Star Wars Episode VI, Downton Abbey, and Call The Midwife, where she gained extensive knowledge in the technical and creative aspects of filmmaking.
She joined the Pauline Quirke Academy in 2023 as a Film and Television Teacher, and has since been passionate about helping young people understand how the industry works both on and off screen. Alongside this role, Kerrie also ran a local film school for children.
Principal Kerrie said, “Seeing how much confidence, creativity and enjoyment the young performers gain from the academy has been incredibly rewarding. Through this experience, I realised that I wanted to bring the same opportunities to more young people in my local area. Opening a PQA in Wilmslow felt like the natural next step.”
She added, “Performing arts can make such a difference to young people’s confidence, creativity and sense of belonging, and I’m passionate about creating a space where they feel supported to explore their talent.”
In addition to the academy launch, Kerrie is also opening the Northwich Community Cinema at the Youth and Community Centre on 25 April. The cinema will host a range of screenings, including youth, adult, Silver and SEN-friendly showings, ensuring accessibility for audiences of all ages.
Young performers will have opportunities to showcase their work through in-house performances, cinema screenings of their own short films, and the chance to perform in the West End at His Majesty’s Theatre.
Principal Kerrie will be joined by Megan Carruthers, a Musical Theatre Teacher who owns Harmony Choir and Academy Assistant Skye Barber. Together, they are dedicated to providing a safe and inclusive space for young people to discover themselves whilst learning the latest techniques in performing arts.
For those who cannot attend on Saturday, PQA is proud to offer a free session throughout the year. To book, please visit www.pqacademy.com/
