Emil Dale Academy
| Established | 2009 |
|---|---|
Academic affiliations | |
| Students |
|
| Address | 60 Wilbury Way , Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG4 0TP , England |
| Nickname | EDA |
| Website | emildale |
Other name | EDSA |
|---|---|
Academic affiliations | North Cambridge Academy |
| Address | Arbury Road , Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB4 2JF , England |
Emil Dale Academy is a musical theatre school in England. The Hitchin campus offers a Bachelor of Arts degree awarded by the University of Bedfordshire, BTEC Level 3 diploma, and foundation and sixth form courses for full-time students (16+). Weekend classes for part-time students (3–21) are held at both the Hitchin and Cambridge campuses.
The Stage called it one of the fastest-growing musical theatre schools in the country in 2016. The school is affiliated with Dale Hammond Associates.
History[edit]
The school's namesake Emil Dale, a graduate of London's ArtsEd from Biggleswade, began hosting a musical theatre Sunday school with co-founder Victoria Hammond when he was 23 with the idea of inviting West End professionals to guest teach classes at a more affordable rate than other programmes of its kind.[1] They started off with 22 students in the school hall of St Andrews' Church of England Primary School in Benslow.[2]
The Cambridge branch, affiliated with North Cambridge Academy, began in 2014.[3][4]
The official campus was established at the site of a former factory on Wilbury Road in Hitchin converted into studios in 2014 and a 200-seat theatre, known as the Factory Playhouse Theatre, in 2015. West Side Story was the venue's inaugural performance.[5][4]
In 2018, the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Musical Theatre path was introduced in a partnership with the University of Bedfordshire.[6]
Productions[edit]
The school has their own 200 seat theatre, known as Factory Playhouse. First opened in May 2015, they have since productions numerous theatre productions involving the students of the academy, as well as professional productions.
Productions:
- West Side Story (2015)
- Oliver! (2015)
- Grease (2016)
- Les Misérables (2017)
- Hairspray (2017)
- Thoroughly Modern Millie (2018)
- Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2018)
- Legally Blonde (2018)
- In the Heights (2019)
- Little Shop of Horrors (2020) [Closed early, due to Covid-19 Pandemic]
- Footloose (2020) [Cancelled, due to Covid-19 Pandemic]
- Spring Awakening (2021) [This Production had no audience, due to Covid restrictions]
- Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2021)
- Made in Dagenham (2022)
- Footloose (2022)
- Kin: A New Musical (September 2022) [Non-School Related]
- The Wedding Singer (2023)
- The Little Mermaid (2023)
- 9 to 5: The Musical (2024)
- The Wizard of Oz (2024)
Notable people[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Emil Dale, the in-demand school shaping in-demand performers". The Stage. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2021.(subscription required)
- ^ "How did Emil Dale start". Emil Dale. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ "Emil Dale's School of Performing Arts" (PDF). St Alban's CCC. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Photo Flash: Sneak Peek - WEST SIDE STORY to Launch Factory Playhouse in Hitchin". BroadwayWorld. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ "About". The Factory Playhouse Theatre Hitchin. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ Vale, Paul (9 January 2019). "The Stage Scholarships 2019: Emil Dale Academy". The Stage. Retrieved 8 December 2021.(subscription required)
