Kenilworth talent is honed at youth centre’s new academy
Kids Academy
TALENTED children from Kenilworth have been honing their skills at a new acting school in the town which has given them the opportunity to appear in television shows and commercials.
The ReAct Kids Academy, set up by drama and dance teacher Samantha Ferry, is run at The Kenilworth Centre in Abbey End every Wednesday from 5.45pm to 7pm, and aims to provide children of all ages with a range of skills for stage, television and film.
Since it started two years ago Ciaran O’Sullivan, age 13, from Kenilworth School, has starred in Stephen Ploilkoff’s BBC2 series Dancing on the Edge with John Goodman, Sainsbury’s and Muller Lite commercials, The Eye of the Driver - a road traffic awareness film to be shown in all Warwickshire schools - Invasion and Grass Man short films and The Chronicals of Spider Wick Game, as well as in the annual shows at the Priory Youth Theatre. He was also recalled recently and made the shortlist for Mariah Mundhi, a feature film now in production.
Redmond O’Sullivan, age 15, who also attends Kenilworth School, has starred in Waterloo Road and co-wrote a show while he was at the Priory Youth Theatre that was performed with the youth theatre. He has also been involved in the making of local films with Call the Shots local independent film-makers.
Some other students from the academy who have also appeared in theatre and on screen include Sam Cullen, Jessica Smith, Katy Jeromson and Jack Foskett Jones.
Mrs Ferry, who used to teach at the Priory Youth Theatre but now dedicates all her time to her academy work, said: “I feel very lucky to hold classes at The Kenilworth Centre as it offers a lot of great activities for the children, not only who attend my workshops but for singing and recording. ReAct Kids Academy workshops include acting for camera, audition technique, script work and improvisation, and teaches the terminology used on set and what to expect when you are on a television or film shoot.
“The workshops are designed to build confidence and knowledge about the filming industry in order to be more successful when attending castings. It feels so good to see the children get more confidence and then get call backs.
“I really want to give youngsters in the town the opportunity to perform and do well in acting if that’s where their talents lie and I’m so pleased with what we have been able to achieve so far.”
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Weather for Kenilworth
Friday 24 May 2013
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