Our Citation
The panel is keen to reward pluck alongside excellence and the Musical Theatre Academy has both these credentials in spades. Set up by Annemarie Lewis Thomas, the MTA offers two-year training courses rather than the traditional three-year format and aims to fast track its students into the industry. Lewis Thomas’ first cohort of students graduated in 2011. All of them have agent representation and, within one month of graduating, they had all secured at least one professional job or gig. These are the kind of statistics that the most established drama schools aim for – let alone a newcomer. The MTA also has a policy of only employing staff who are still actively working in the industry. Deciding to adopt this strategy as a fledgling school could not have been easy, but demonstrates the professionalism of the enterprise, forging an active link between the students and the sector from the outset.
Within just a few years of opening, Lewis Thomas and her team have established themselves as a new force in drama training that is not afraid to approach things differently. The panel unanimously wanted to recognise their vision with this award.
“Annemarie Lewis Thomas and her colleagues have worked their socks off to establish a fresh, ethical college offering very high quality, no-frills training. During several journalistic visits to the college and at two shows I have watched the original cohort of students grow from raw beginners into accomplished, very employable performers. If this is what the college can achieve in just over two years, goodness knows what ground it will be breaking in a decade’s time. Congratulations to The MTA on all your achievements.”Susan Elkin. Education and Training Editor, The Stage.
“Having worked in the theatre and been involved for over thirty years in the training of artists for a career in musical theatre, I can honestly say that The MTA is without a doubt on a different level to any other I have worked in. The personal involvement and deep commitment to excellence is ingrained in every student from day one. The graduating inaugural year group are so exciting, talented and well trained in all of the disciplines in the theatre. Especially in manners and being open to constructive advice and criticism. I know there are future stars amongst them.This course is not for the faint-hearted. It is hard work. There is great camaraderie and support amongst the students for each other. Apart from working so very hard, the atmosphere is enthusiastic and fun as they are pushed to their limits. This starts from the top with Annemarie and her talented hard-working staff, (all of whom are working in the business) and infiltrates down to the newest pupil. This course is outstanding in every way. Jack Gunn. West End Director/Choreographer
“I was extremely impressed with The MTA. It was very clear to me within minutes that this was a program that was giving the students the right tools to become powerhouse musical theatre performers. I could feel the positive energy and support in the classroom from each and every student which is extremely important in an actor’s developmental journey. I look forward to returning to The MTA and to further working with the students both in the classroom and on stage in my future productions.” Bobby Cronin. American Composer/Lyricist
“After just two years of life, The MTA is already producing a higher standard of student from its two-year course than most of its competitors do in three. This is due to only accepting first-rate applicants and having knowledgable, industry-experienced teachers who love what they do.” George Stiles. Composer
“As a Patron of The MTA, I am delighted to see that Annemarie Lewis Thomas and her team are devoted to offering their students such a well-rounded training, for them to be best equipped to become the next generation of musical theatre actors. I have not heard a group of young people sing so healthily and effortlessly, it’s a credit to their teachers and the maturity and intelligence of the students. The MTA are giving the students the best possible start, allowing them to constantly work and learn from people already in many different aspects of the industry” Lara Pulver, Actor
“I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting to the students of The MTA this week and what a fantastic group they are! The MTA really seems to have tapped into a new current way of thinking and teaching. I was truly inspired when I left the studios. This is definitely one to watch.” Kerry Ellis, West End & Broadway Leading Lady
“The MTA is a truly innovative and forward-thinking college. The balance between education, training and practice is spot-on. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend anyone undertaking the course.” Andy Barnes. Executive Producer of Perfect Pitch Musicals
“After working with The MTA students I was so impressed by how talented, bright & professional they were. These students have a great attitude and have been excellently trained! The MTA definitely gets it right!!!” Julie Atherton. West End Leading Lady
“Having recently used some of The MTA’s students for a corporate event I can only say that the level of professionalism and expertise was unique and quite thrilling for me to work with. They worked alongside seasoned professional musical theatre performers and they held their own. They were able to cope with the fast pace of learning harmonies/staging/choreography which these type of jobs require, and they were a testament to the excellent work that is being done at The MTA. Excellent work to all!!
I’ll be recommending The MTA to anyone who asks and to all that don’t!!!” Stacey Haynes. Director and Choreographer
“The MTA is producing outstandingly talented young performers, all of whom have great careers ahead of them, we are happy to help them in their training.” Joanne Benjamin & Clive Chenery. The Entertainment Business
“If only The MTA was around when I was first starting out. The standard at both the shows I’ve seen was excellent. And is top of my list when asked for recommendations for the famous ‘Triple Threat’ training academies available in the Capital today” Ria Jones. West End Leading Lady
“Having followed the students from the very beginnings of this course, I am very pleased to witness the improvement and progress they have made under the guidance of the staff of The MTA and I wish them every success in the future” Judith Jeffrey. Jeffrey & White Management
“I recently used the students from The MTA for a prestigious corporate gig – I was blown away by the way in which they not only produced an exceptional quality of work but were able to deliver under pressure all the while with a smile.
In fact all my dealings with The MTA have been fantastic and I am looking forward to the next time we work togther again.” Ben Douglas. Founder Fusion Entertainment
‘The MTA is producing outstanding students – conscientious, imaginative, enthusiastic, and an absolute delight to work with. Having had the pleasure of directing the inaugural year, and subsequently choosing to use students in my own professional projects on numerous occasions, I would not hesitate to consider any student from this college in the future.‘ Simon Greiff. – Director/Producer
“I was so impressed by the quality, diligence and calibre of The MTA students. They’re welcome to sing anything of mine, anytime!”. Elliot Davis. Composer. Co-Writer of Loserville due to hit the West End 2011
It was a privilege to workshop new material from my musical “The Buskers Opera” with the students of The MTA. They’re talented, quick to learn, adaptable and forthcoming with ideas. I was particularly impressed with their professional attitude. I think the students have really benefited from the applied nature of their course, they’ve got a great understanding of the shape of the business they are entering into and I predict great things from them and future graduates of this fine academy. Dougal Irvine. Composer/Lyricist/Book Writer
“In its first two years The MTA has already pushed the boundaries in how to train for the Musical Theatre profession in this country.
As a composer – writing for Musical Theatre – the work The MTA allows you to do through vocal and acting workshops is invaluable for a creative process and amazing for the students progression, allowing them to work alongside and create relationships with new, up and coming composers who are out there, in the big bad world, doing it. The training model that The MTA have created will be a model that’s copied in other drama schools in the future.”
CRAIG ADAMS – writer of LIFT, THERESE RAQUIN, THE WATCHERS/GHOSTS OF THE PAST
“The atmosphere and method at The MTA is unique – caring, constant individual monitoring of student progress and a feeling of real commitment from a highly skilled staff. An ambitious but truly supportive environment. ” Nick Stimson, Associate Director of the Theatre Royal Plymouth, Book Writer and Lyricist
“I recently spent a fantastic afternoon working with the two current intakes of MTA students. We rehearsed and performed a long extract from Cycle Song, an opera written by Ian McMillan and myself, and I was thrilled with the way the students met the challenge of the score, throwing themselves into the demanding rhythms and harmonies with great confidence. Apart from having a great deal of immediately evident talent, they were extremely attentive and respectful, which isn’t always the case with theatre students, and understood the discipline of the rehearsal room. Annemarie and her team are obviously doing a wonderful job, and I look forward to seeing the school go from strength to strength.” Tim Sutton, Composer/Lyricist