Rooftop teachers to start in professional Pantos!
One of the things that sets us apart from other performing arts academies is that all our teachers are professional performers in their own right. And this festive season will see not one – but three – of our Stone teaching staff head off to perform in professional Pantomimes in Norfolk
Stage Academy drama teacher, Nick Earnshaw, has been writing and directing professional pantomimes for nearly 10 years – and has been performing in them for even longer. Having played the Dame for many years at Hertford Theatre, he was asked to direct for Sheringham Little Theatre in Norfolk. Over the years Nick then started to write for Sheringham as well. The shows became so successful that Nick started was also commissioned to write for Great Yarmouth Theatre.
This year he has written “Peter Pan” for Great Yarmouth – where he is also playing Captain Hook – and has also written “Snow White” for Sheringham, and will be taking two Rooftop teachers with him! Singing teacher, Kit Henson, appeared with Nick in Dick Whittington in 2019 and is going to play the Evil Queen in Snow White, while Stage Academy dance teacher, Alex Mellor, will play Tinkerbell alongside Nick in Peter Pan. Nick says:
“It is such a joy to work with Kit and Alex every Saturday and they are perfect for Pantomime, so it is nice to have my Rooftops family in Norfolk”.
“It is extra special as Alex played Tracy in “Hairspray” with Rooftops was my first ever show as a director, and we’ll also be joined by former Rooftops student Grace Pennington as Kit’s comedy sidekick Ida No in Snow White”
Rooftop Studios’ director, Laura Keeling says:
“It’s fantastic to see so many of our talented team still doing what they love – we’re super-prpoud of all of them, and the fact that Nick started his Panto writing career when he penned our 2012 performance of ‘Robin Hood’ that we performed at the Mitchell Arts Centre in Stoke makes it even more special. From a studio perspective, it’s a real inspiration for our students to see their teachers working professionally – and we look forward to hearing all their stories in January when they’re back from their run. Break a leg, guys!”
To find out more about Rooftop Studios’ classes – which include dance, drama, singing and a Saturday Stage Academy for all ages – head to www.rooftopstudios.co.uk