Prize giving a proud event for ESSPA

IT is ten years since the East Sussex School of Performing Arts moved to its London Road premises. The Bexhill-based school is a non profit organisation that trains children from the age of three in all forms of theatre arts.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Aug 2008, 10:38 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 20:12 BST

ESSPA's annual prize giving was a proud event.

Seventy-six Royal Academy of Dance ballet certificates and 35 ISTD tap and modern certificates were awarded.

Eleven GCSE certificates were awarded for Dance and Drama. The LAMDA Teaching Diploma was awarded to Ciaran Bird.

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Cups were presented to Oliver Metzler (Snr. Jazz, Snr. Ballet), India Giggins (Snr. Tap), Adam Smith (All Round Performers), Sami Stefanos (Personal Achievement), Jackson Tigwell (Personality), Amy Hemsley (loyalty), Maria Southgate (Snr. Drama), Alex Newsome (Musical Theatre), Lucy Puddefoot (Jnr. Ballet), Jemima Bowler (Jnr. Jazz), Ben Smith (Jnr. Drama), Tia Austin (Jnr. Musical Theatre), Amber May Hookway (Jnr. Tap).

Four senior students have auditioned and been accepted for full time vocation training from September. Oliver Metzler auditioned and was offered full scholarships to both Italia Conti and Performers College. He has accepted the place at 'Performers' alongside India Giggins. Emily Adams auditioned and was accepted for the Millennium Dance 2000 Theatre School. Sami Stefanos has been accepted for 'Kent and Surrey Academy of Performing Arts'.

Kimberly Manser will embark on her second year of the 'Royal Academy of Dance BA Honours Degree'. She passed her first year with flying colours and is now a registered RAD teacher.

ESSPA children have been working in the professional theatre this year. Ten were engaged at Glyndebourne for the festival season from May to July. Oliver Metzler, India Giggins, Emily Adams, Tia Austin and Mollie Tucker were engaged in Sleeping Beauty at the White Rock Theatre. In March, Arts funded Brighton film makers engaged six of the ESSPA teenagers to create their menacing dramatisation "Innocent".

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ESSPA ran its annual musical at the De La Warr Pavilion in March. Legend was the title and 270 children took part.

Past pupils are also doing extremely well. Stephanie Phillips, who has just completed her second year at 'Italia Conti' has been awarded a full scholarship. Zoe Doano who has just completed her second year at Arts Educational, took the lead role of Florence Nightingale in the musical play Nightingale at the POSK theatre, Hammersmith.

Amy Maynard who just successfully completed her course at the Drama Studio has been engaged on a year's contract for the national tour of The Jungle Book.

Related topics:London Road