The Brighton Academy opened its doors to its first class of Full-Time Performing Arts students in September 2011. With four successful West End performers at its head, a new level of Performing Arts training is now available in southern England – completely professional, completely affordable.

The Brighton Principals say: “Instead of handing out free training to a select handful of students every year we have decided to make our tuition fees affordable for every student that wants to train with us. In fact, we believe that it is entirely possible for a student with no financial support to be able to train during the day at The Academy and still make enough money of an evening to put themselves through college. Such is the extent of the difference we charge in our fees compared to other institutions.”

In association with acclaimed Choreographer Matthew Bourne and with Olivier Award-winning Choreographer & Director Stephen Mear as Patron, The Brighton Academy offer you the very best start towards a successful Performing Arts career.

Stephen says: “I am honoured to be a patron of The Academy. Brighton thrives on the Arts industry, the location is wonderfully diverse and feeds the Arts community between there and London. It seems only fitting that Brighton itself be given its own Academy which will be populated with four well-respected, hard-working Principals along with some tremendously talented teachers. The Academy’s philosophy of making the fees more affordable makes it possible for all students interested in Performing Arts to have a better chance of fulfilling their dreams.”

Stephen Mear – Patron

Olivier Award Winner: Hello Dolly – Regents Park | Gigi – Regents Park | Mary Poppins – West End

Olivier Award Nominee: Sweet Charity – West End | Sinatra – West End | Singing in the Rain – West Yorkshire Playhouse | Soul Train – West End/UK Tour

Tony Award Nominee: Mary Poppins – Broadway

What’s On Stage Awards Nominee: Shoes – West End

Mary Hammond

Professor of Musical Theatre/Voice – Royal Academy Of Music, London

“I visited the Brighton Academy recently to run a workshop concentrating on intergrating acting and singing —also considering the vocal techniques necessary .
The students were open to ideas… vocal  and acting training is very  good so they were able to apply and try my ideas.I felt excited by both the students and staffs enthusiasm and passion to establish this course….which i can see will go from strengh to strength….and needed in this part of the country.”

Meet the Principals

Our four Principals are all successful performers in their own right, with years of experience – in the West End, touring and on television – to bring to their teaching work.

Stuart Dawes – Academy Principal

We Will Rock You – West End
Grease – UK Tour
Spamalot – West End
Shall We Dance – West End
Fame – West End
Singing In The Rain – West End
Passion – West End
Romeo & Juliet – West End
On The Town – West End
BBC’s Dick and Dom
ITV’s Poirot

Emma Green – Academy Principal / Head Of Dance

Wicked – West End
Spamalot – West End
Grease – West End/UK Tour
Shall We Dance – West End
Fame – UK Tour
42nd Street – UK Tour
Dancer: Kylie Minogue
BBC’s Dick and Dom
Presenter: World Poker Tour

Kate Alexander – Academy Principal / Head Of Dance

Hairspray – West End
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – West End
Guys and Dolls – West End
Footloose – UK Tour
Starlight Express – West End
Fame – West End/UK Tour
Grease – West End
Love Shack – UK Tour
Boogie Nights – West End/UK Tour
De La Guarda – West End
CBBC’s Gigglebiz

Tim Newman – Academy Principal

Jesus Christ Superstar – Arena Tour                     Mamma Mia! – International Tour
Grease – West End
Fame – UK Tour
Footloose – West End/UK Tour
Saturday Night Fever – West End
All The Fun Of The Fair – West End
Tap Dogs – UK/European Tour
Crazy For You – UK Tour
Support Act For David Essex – Rock Arena Tour    2011 What’s On Stage Awards Nominee, Best Supporting Actor In a Musical