Many, many congratulations to GAPA’s Lucy Summers and Olivia Floydd who are now dancing their way around the UK on the Billy Elliot 2016-17 national tour.

The two best friends were blessed to have been cast in the show together and are looking forward to sharing this exciting experience together in this award winning musical, written by Ben Elton.

Everyone at GAPA is very proud of thier achievement and we look forward to seeing them perform in the show. For tour dates please see the Billy Elliot website.

Many congratulations to all our pupils who took part in the ISTD Imperial Ballet Senior Awards at the Hawth Theatre last weekend.

Competing in the Grade 6 class were Sophie Gray, Tilliana Greenwood, Eloise Harwood and Hannah Wood.

Tilliana was also a finalist in the Grade 6 section.

Well done Girls !!

Congratualtions to GAPA pupil William Blenkinsop who makes his TV debut this weekend on ITV in the new movie Churchill’s Secrets. Tune in at 8pm this Sunday to see 12 year old William playing the role of the young Randolph Churchill, son of Sir Winston Churchill who is played by the British Acting heavyweight Micheal Gambon. It was a wonderful opportunity for Will to work in a film directed by Charles Sturridge, the respected Director well known for his Brideshead Revisted, A Handful of Dust and Where Angles Fear to Tread.

William’s dedication and hard work at GAPA in his dance, drama and screen acting lessons has really paid off and we look forward to seeing his career continue to move forward. Will’s has also just been cast this week in an animated film whose Director’s last film was BAFTA winning and Oscar nominated.

Eight lucky pupils from the Gielgud Academy enjoyed their first ever performance in a professional ballet Company recently.

Dreams came true when Iris (age 9), Isaac (age 9), Lauren (age 10), Lily (age 11), Isobel (age 11), Isabelle (age 11), James (age 11) and Kerry (age 13) all appeared in a production of The Nutracker with Vienna Festival Ballet during their UK Tour. They performed at both the Chequer Mead Theatre East Grinstead on Wednesday 25th and the Martlett’s Hall in Burgess Hill on Friday 27th November.

Afterwards the Director of Vienna Festival Ballet said “It was a delight to have the Gielgud Academy children performing with VFB”

Congratulations to GAPA pupils and clients Imogen & Willem Paskins, who successfully auditioned and were recently cast in a new Flu PR Campagin video for the Public Heath England (PHE). The shoot took place a few weeks ago, and they had a great time.

We also received some lovely feedback from the Producer –

‘Everyone was fab, the edit is looking brilliant, and the client is over the moon which is great!’

Well done Imogen and Willem – GAPA is very proud of you!

Photographs by Natasha Merchant.