Experience what it feels like to be training in Acting, Musical Theatre or Dance at industry level.
A Week in the Life runs during school summer holiday, Monday 7th August to Friday 11th August 2023
Enjoy five full days following a Full-Time Student’s intense weekly schedule with our expert teaching faculty here at MGA. Scotlands only CDMT-accredited drama school.
Choose your course – Acting, Musical Theatre or Dance – and take your first step on a journey towards a successful career within the performing arts industry where previous students have gone on to appear in shows on Disney+ and HBO Max as well as starring roles on London’s West End.
This experience is ideal for those considering applying for a place on one of our full-time courses!
This degree taster course is for students aged 15+.
Course runs Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm.
Email registrar@themgaacademy.com to secure your place!
Are you ready for some summer fun? Summer School returns to The MGA of Academy of Performing Arts
The course runs during school summer holiday, Monday 31st July to Friday 4th August 2023
Summer school is returning to MGA and it’s going to bigger and better than ever before! Once Upon a Fairytale promises to be an exciting and fun-filled exploration of your favourite and best-known tales. Descendants, Shrek, Enchanted, Revolting Rhymes and many more will feature in the action-packed week that you won’t want to miss!
The week long programme will run from 31st July to 4th August 2023 from 10am – 4pm with an option for early and late drop-off and collection.
Those in attendance will have the opportunity to participate in musical theatre, dance, and acting activities, all set in a magical world inspired by beloved fairy-tales with some modern twists.
At MGA Academy of Performing Arts, we believe in nurturing and developing the talents of each and every child, and our experienced and enthusiastic teaching staff are dedicated to guiding participants in a supportive and fun environment.
This is an ideal programme for children who are passionate about performing arts, regardless of whether they are seasoned performers or new to the stage. They will have the chance to make new friends, build confidence, and develop skills that will serve them well both on stage and in life.
PRICE: £225 for the week
Payment information will be provided on application. No refunds or exchanges.
Summer School courses are for students aged between 7 and 14 years.
Course runs Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.
Make sure you do something incredible this summer – come to the MGA Academy of Performing Arts and learn from some of the best teachers and performers the UK has to offer!
The course runs during school summer holiday, Monday 1st August to Friday 5th August 2022
Join us for a week of exceptional training, fabulous confidence building, ridiculous amounts of fun, and excellent friend-making opportunities. MGA’s Summer School is designed to give young people a real insight into the world of Performing Arts.
With opportunity to work with the incredible team at MGA not only will you have a great time – you will learn loads too!
We are delighted to announce that star of Six! The Musical UK Tour and MGA alum Caitlin Tipping will be returning to the MGA Academy to lead this workshop.
Caitlin Tipping studied musical theatre at the MGA Academy before graduating in 2018. She then went on to join the UK Tour of the world’s newest stage phenomenon ‘Six! The Musical’ as Jane Seymour! Caitlin is the youngest person in the world to have played this role, having joined the cast at just 22 years old.
We are incredibly proud to welcome her back to MGA to bring the fabulous world of Six! to our Junior School. Caitlin and the MGA Junior School staff will be workshopping the songs, script and choreography from the show. There will be a performance at the end of the week for friends and family, as well as plenty of Q&A opportunities with Caitlin about life as a professional performer. This is a week not to be missed by anyone with a passion for musicals and a love of performing!
We are calling all stars of tomorrow to join us and unleash your inner QUEEN! Find out what it’s like to perform on a professional stage, and work towards a performance based around Six! for friends and family at the end of the workshop week.
PRICE: £225 for the week
Payment information will be provided on application. No refunds or exchanges.
Summer School courses are for students aged between 7 and 15 years old.
Course runs Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.
Want to know what life is like as a full-time performing arts student?
Experience what it feels like to be training in Acting, Musical Theatre or Dance at degree level. Enjoy a free online insight day following a full-time student’s intense daily schedule with our teaching faculty here at The MGA Academy.
Choose your course – Acting, Musical Theatre or Dance – and get the perfect opportunity to experience life as a student, learn what is expected and how to succeed.
Friday 6th August 2021
This course run online Friday from 9am to 5pm
For age 13+
Course cost: FREE
Thinking about a career in the performing arts?
The MGA Academy in Edinburgh is offering an online day-long taster course in professional full-time training exclusively for lads aged 13 and up.
Your choice of course in either Musical Theatre, Dance or Acting – plus workshops and Q&A sessions led by male performers and teachers from the industry.
A fantastic day of experience – and all completely free! Limited spaces available so book your place now.
Friday 30th July 2021
This course runs online from 10am to 4pm
For age 13+
Course cost: FREE
Great news! Although we have had to scale back our annual Lads’ Week due to the pandemic situation, you can still sign up for Lads’ Day! Running for one day only, this day of classes will be run entirely online and is completely free of charge, designed to give you an insight into training here at The MGA Academy.
WHEN? Friday 31st July 2020
WHO? Open to any boys, aged 13+
WHAT? A full day of free classes and industry Q & As
To book a spot or get more information, email principal.parttime@themgaacademy.com today!
MGA are also running our Week in the Life course in the say day-long format – see here for more.
Sunday masterclasses from industry professionals
Sunday 8th March 2020
MGA is delighted to welcome Sherry Tay, Dance Captain from The Lion King UK Tour, to lead two workshops at our Balgreen campus in Edinburgh. Workshop participants will learn choreography from the show and find out what life is like as a professional Musical Theatre performer on the road!
These masterclasses are open to anyone aged 8 to 17 with an interest in performing and musical theatre!
Schedule
10am – 11am Ages 8 to 11
11am – 12pm Age 12 to 17
Venue
The workshops will be held at MGA Balgreen campus:
The MGA Academy of Performing Arts, 207 Balgreen Road, Edinburgh EH11 2RZ
Workshop costs
1 class: £20
Places are limited so book now to avoid disappointment!
For further details about this and all workshops and part-time courses at MGA, call the MGA office on 0330 058 0656.
Meet the tutor…
Sherry Tay is the Dance Captain and Swing of The Lion King UK and Ireland Tour. She started her Lion King journey as a Swing in the Dutch production from 2016 and was promoted to Dance Captain in 2018. Before venturing into musicals, Tay was a contemporary dancer in Singapore. She toured and performed with T.H.E Dance Company for three years and was also a freelance choreographer, performer and have worked with companies such as Raw Moves, John Mead Dance Company, Maya Dance Theatre, Dance Nucleus, Connecticut Ballet (USA). A highlight was directing and performing in an original dance-theatre production “Loop Theory” which was critic’s pick as one of the Top 10 Local Arts Production of the year. Tay is also a certified Stott Pilates Instructor.
Training for the profession from the profession
Ever wanted to be in a music video? Want to experience what it feels like to be a professional backing dancer?
Spend your October holiday with guest world‑class professional choreographers from Los Angeles and London. Learn the hottest new commercial dance moves and film in the coolest venues – right here in Edinburgh!
Spend three exciting days with commercial dance experts – Monday to Wednesday, 10am til 4pm. Enjoy masterclasses and learn all the tricks of dancing on camera. The week then concludes with two shoot days where you will have the chance to perform on set in central Edinburgh and take home fully-edited music video to share with your family and friends. We are really excited to announce that our two locations for the shoot days are The Old Dr Bells Baths and The Music Box.
Commercial Video Week is for ages 8 to 25 and classes are streamed.
Monday 14th – Wednesday 16th October 2019
10am to 4pm daily
at The MGA Academy: 207 Balgreen Road, Edinburgh EH11 2RZ
Thursday 17th and Friday 18th October
– half-day shoots (to be allocated between 9am and 6pm) at The Old Dr Bells Baths and The Music Box
Early bird booking: £175 (until 5th February)
Full price: £200
Sibling discount available of 25%
Meet the tutors
BRIONY ALBERT has spent the last few years working with Shaun Mendes, Christina Aguilera and Ellen Degeneres, and has choreographed for The Greatest Dancer tv show.
PAMELA DISTEFANO, winner of Living TV’s Dirty Dancing Time of your Life, has spent the last decade dancing for some of the world’s biggest artists. After her win, her career shot stateside to Los Angeles to be signed with leading Dance agency, Bloc. Credits include the Ellen show, The Today Show NY, MTV Teen Awards, The Brit Awards, Latin Music Awards, Country Music Awards, AMAs and the Grammys. Pamela has backed major Artists including Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Usher, Janet Jackson, Katy Perry, Take That, Cheryl Cole, Jessie J, Toni Braxton, Cassie and many more.
ASHLEY JACK is an award-winning Hip Hop dancer and choreographer, born and based in Edinburgh. Trained at Edinburgh’s Telford college (now PASS), as well as with Hip Hop and House Dance pioneers in New York, Paris and Holland, she has around a decade of experience in both teaching and performing. Ashley has a love of Hip Hop culture, imparting its history and foundations to her students. In 2017, Ashley founded House of Jack, which provides Street Dance classes for adults and kids at a dedicated studio in Leith, as well as workshops, youth company training, performances and events. Ashley’s two youth companies, Mini Jackers and Jackin’ the Box, frequently perform at prominent events and theatre nights around Edinburgh. In recognition of this contribution to the dance scene, Ashley recently won Creative Edinburgh’s 2018 Independent Award.
Want to know what life is like as a Full-time Student?
Experience what it feels like to be training in Acting, Musical Theatre or Dance at Degree Level. Enjoy five full days following a Full-Time Student’s intense weekly schedule with our teaching faculty here at The MGA Academy.
Choose your course – Acting, Musical Theatre or Dance – and get the perfect opportunity to experience life as a student, learn what is expected and how to succeed.
29th July – 2nd August 2019
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
For age 13+
Workshop cost: £175 via the MGA Shop
Sibling discount available
Make sure you do something incredible this summer – come to The MGA Academy of Performing Arts and learn from some of the best teachers and professional performers the UK has to offer!
Not just a great time for all involved! Our summer courses offer specialist training, learning and development opportunities through the study of the Performing Arts. With West End professionals as guest tutors and an opportunity to work with the incredible team at MGA not only will you have a great time – you will learn loads too!
This year’s themes are MAMMA MIA and MARY POPPINS and we are thrilled to announce we will be joined by special guest tutor ADAM DAVIDSON, coming fresh from the West End production of Mamma Mia and previously in Mary Poppins in Germany. We can’t wait to welcome him to MGA this summer – book your spots now to come and work with this amazing performer!
The courses run during the 2019 school summer holiday in two blocks:
- WEEK 1: 22nd to 26th July
- WEEK 2: 29th July to 2nd August
PRICES: £200 for one week or £350 for two weeks.
+ £2.50 Online transaction fee (marked as shipping)
To book, simply visit the MGA Shop >
Join us for one, or make the most of your summer and come along for two weeks of exceptional training, fabulous confidence building, ridiculous amounts of fun, and excellent friend-making opportunities.
The Summer School is designed to give young people a real insight into the Performing Arts, and training focuses on both the enjoyment and the discipline of professional theatre.
Professional training – professional levels of FUN!
The details…
Summer School courses are aimed at students aged between 7 and 15 years old.
Courses run Monday to Friday each week – 10am to 4pm.
Each week ends with a presentation of participants’ work at Academy building for an invited audience of friends and family.
Worried about childcare?
Drop-off available from 9am and pick-up available up to 5pm with advanced booking (contact the MGA Office for more information).
Questions? Call the MGA Office on 0330 058 0656 for more info. Places are limited on each course so booking early is recommended!