Budding male performers invited to attend free summer school

Budding male performers from North Edinburgh are being invited to spend a week enjoying a series of free classes, workshops and question-and-answer sessions at one of the UK’s leading performing arts academies this summer.

The MGA Academy of Performing Arts, based in Balgreen, will throw open its doors to boys aged 14 and older with an interest in pursuing a career in performing arts from July 24-28 as part of a unique initiative to encourage more boys into the industry.

Those who attend Boys’ Scholarship Week will be given the opportunity to have fun while learning some tricks of the trade from guest tutors and staff from The MGA Academy, which recently became the first full-time professional training academy in Scotland to be awarded accreditation by CDET, the UK’s quality assurance and membership body for the professional dance, drama and musical theatre industries.

International choreographer Murray Grant (above) co-founded The MGA Academy with Andrew Gowland in 2005 to provide a platform for aspiring performers to remain in Scotland while studying at a level equivalent to prestigious London colleges. He has previously performed in professional musical theatre, opera, and cabaret productions in Los Angeles, New York, Sydney and Vienna.

Murray explained: “We would be delighted to welcome any boys from North Edinburgh with an interest in pursuing a career in the performing arts industry to join us for our first Boys’ Scholarship Week. I wanted to organise a project like this to give boys the opportunity to come along and meet others that share the same interests whilst learning more about acting, dancing and singing.

“Many of our male graduates have gone onto great things, with Thomas Doherty from Cramond (above )now working for Disney and Fergal McGoff performing in London’s West End. We’d like to encourage more boys to consider pursuing careers in the industry.”

“When I was growing up, I was always the only boy in drama classes and I wish opportunities like Boys’ Scholarship Week had been available then. It is completely free to attend but places are limited and must be booked in advance.”

Those interested in attending Boys’ Scholarship Week at The MGA Academy should call 0131 466 9392 or email murray@themgaacademy.com