New-look performing arts team to spread joy of the arts through challenging times

: Created: 30 September 2020

The partnership kicked-off last month (September) at our Greenwich Campus, the home of the Greenwich Little Theatre, as well as LCPA’s established campus based in Abbey Wood.

Since its first intake of students in 2014, the College’s performing arts provision has gone from strength to strength, increasing in popularity each year and attracting students from all across the UK and even from Europe with graduates progressing on to the some of the most prestigious courses in the country such as Arts Ed, Laine Theatre Arts and East 15.

This year, to strengthen its ties with London’s West End theatreland and the wider entertainment sector, the College has formed a solid partnership with LCPA to deliver its courses overseen by Creative Director and West End leading man Gary Watson. Gary’s credits to date include leading roles in Les Misérables, Jersey Boys, Matilda, CATS, and Strictly Ballroom. He has assembled an outstanding team of over twenty other professional full-time and visiting staff led by the College’s hugely experienced Course Director Chris Stoddart, star of many West End and touring musicals.

After much deliberation and planning, together with social distancing rules and regulations being put in place, the new performing arts collaboration has finally launched and our new cohort of budding actors, dancers, singers and production art students have taken to the stage.

Gary says: “After such a long period of lockdown and having to communicate over Zoom meetings and classes, we are at last back in the studio. It is so wonderful to see and hear the studios come alive again, filling the College with song, script, music and movement. Whether you are a performer or behind the scenes, if showbusiness is in your blood, it is incredibly frustrating to be separated from practical studio life for so long.”

“The enthusiasm and talent in this year’s cohort is truly exciting and inspiring to see. We have a wonderful group of students drawn from hundreds of applications received this year and they are serious about reaching the very top of their profession. As a college, we are completely committed to nurturing their potential and celebrating their individuality; spring-boarding them to the next step of their journey.”

“LCPA has a magnificent line-up of professional artists to work alongside the students and equip them with everything they need to take their first steps into the wonderful world of showbusiness. During lockdown, so many of us turned to the arts for entertainment, hope and light during a challenging period. We will continue to inspire and spread joy at London South East Colleges into the next academic year and beyond.”

If you think you have what it takes to become a professional dancer, actor, set designer or screenwriter/director and build a successful career in the theatre or film and TV industries, we’d like to hear from you. We have a great range of courses to get you started. Come along to one of our forthcoming open events.