Youngsters will be able to immerse themselves regularly in a mix of performance and backstage skills at The Corn Exchange in Blandford.

The Artori Academy held a great open day to launch their new classes after winning a £50,000 Culture Recovery Scheme grant. Some 40 children took part in a series of workshops hosted by West End stars and industry professionals, who performed a medley of showtunes and Christmas hits at the Winter Spectacular Showcase.

Taught by stage and screen stars who have performed in or worked on Les Miserables, Hamilton, Everyone’s Talking About Jamie and Star Wars, the children learned techniques used on stage and behind the scenes along with skills including hand-casting, special effects make-up and a song and dance routine plus a drama-filled exploration of the range of emotions, from joy to exhaustion, Christmas Day can bring.

Bertie and Kelly Hunter, who own Stagecore Productions, were responsible for the audio production for Glastonbury’s South East Corner, and worked with artists such as Liam Gallagher, Echo and the Bunnymen, Spandau Ballet and many more.
After the pandemic struck, the pair diversified and secured the grant for The Artori Academy, of which Kelly is the director. The academy is offering courses and training in all sorts of arts disciplines, from acting to scenic artistry, singing to sound engineering, or even dance to puppetry.

The open day was broken down into three sessions, to adhere to covid guidelines. And rather than hindering progress, the guidance enabled Kelly to tailor teaching and give extra support for those who needed it. Following its success, Saturday classes will be held at The Town Hall, Corn Exchange with a different area of performance and backstage skills taught each week. Classes will culminate in an end-of-year spectacular, complete with professional level sound, lights and music, along with the chance for children to perform on stage or backstage, helping to run the show.

Director and acting teacher Kelly said: “The open day was a fantastic chance to meet local children interested in performance and production, and it was a real pleasure to share our knowledge with them. “Whatever path your child chooses, The Artori Academy is there to support them every step of the way.”

Classes are available for children aged between 7-10 and 11-16-year-olds.

For more information and to sign up, The Artori Academy can be contacted at info@theartoriacademy.com or by phone on 01258 920355.

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