Marlborough Academy of Dance and Drama(MAD) opened on September 9, 2013 and offered 46 students Modern, Tap, Ballet and Theatre classes in what was St Peter’s School. Now, 10 years later, MAD, has over 200 students and classes include: Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz funk, Street dance, Contemporary, Acro, Saturday Stage School (drama, singing and dance), adult Tap and adult Ballet barre. Founder and Principal, Cheryl Heuston, said, “The aim of our school is to provide a family atmosphere and support for all students whether they wish to attend classes for pure enjoyment, or to pursue a career in the industry. We want to help students gain confidence while at the same time passing on our passion for the Arts.”
Over the past ten years hundreds of students have been prepared through MAD classes to take various exams such as : ISTD Ballet Modern and Tap exams and LAMDA Acting, Verse and Prose and Mime exams (All with 100% pass rate). 2023 saw Francesca Dimond Smith join ex-student Archie Fisher, in gaining the final LAMDA Acting exam, grade 8, with a distinction. This year also saw Alex Piper, Erin Webb, Evie Montague-Smith, Francesca Dimond Smith and Gracie Grainger pass their intermediate modern dance exams with distinctions. Gracie Grainger has recently won a scholarship to the BIRD Summer School 2024 in Sidcup Kent. Fellow St John’s student, Isabelle Collister, was the first MAD student to take a Trinity Musical Theatre Exam. She is awaiting her result.
MAD students have also had success in competitions. Competition success first came in 2014 when the first MAD entry, a duet with Jessica Lamb and Sophie Little gained third place at the Wiltshire Festival of Dance. Since then, students have entered Wootton Bassett Arts festival, Devizes Eistedford, Wiltshire Festival of Dance, Swindon Music Festival and Banbury dance Festival.
This year MAD won several trophies including: Songs from Shows trophy, group speaking cup, choral cup, musical theatre cup Year 9 and under, group speaking cup Year 4 and under, the cabaret group trophy. The Royal Wootton Bassett Arts Festival dance trophy for excellence was awarded to MAD’s senior dancers. The trophy for the highest mark in a ballet solo was won by Gracie Grainger at both Wootton Bassett and Wiltshire festival of dance.
Some of MAD’s younger students have successfully auditioned for some prestigious associate programmes. Isabel Schembri, who attends Preshute Primary School, will be attending weekly classes with the Royal Ballet Junior Associates from September.
Audrey Williams, who attends Ramsbury Primary School, will be taking weekly classes with Ballet Boost. Audrey will be joined by Aurelie Henderson, who has also successfully auditioned for their balletic arts programme. Milo Pfeiler has successfully auditioned for the Steps2 programme at Swindon Dance.
MAD performs a bi-annual show. Starting in 2014 at the Theatre on the Hill at St John’s School, the shows have now moved to the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon where there were 2 sell out shows in 2018 and 2022. The next big show will be at the Wyvern on Sunday 28th July 2024.
Performing at the Marlborough Christmas Light Switch-On is a highlight of the year for MAD. This event gives the Saturday Students an opportunity to perform for family and friends on Marlborough High Street before enjoying the event themselves. During lockdown the students made a video for the virtual switch on.
MAD students also raise money for charity. Fund raising events include a video of song and dance for the NHS in Lockdown, a cabaret fundraiser, the gang show for Ramsbury Scouts and Mad’s got talent, which raised money for the Marlborough Christmas Lunch.
Students attending MAD classes have gone on to train at vocational schools including the London Studio Centre, Performers College, Laban and The Place. This year one of the first MAD students, Archie Fisher, graduated from Bristol Old Vic. MAD students have also auditioned successfully for the Swindon Youth project, Pantomime at the Corn Exchange in Newbury, Swindon Panto at the Wyvern Theatre and Oliver and Whistle Down the Wind at the Watermill in Newbury.
Cheryl told Marlborough.news, “2023/24 is going to be another big year for MAD as we celebrate our 10th Anniversary. I would like to thank our amazing teachers, Jackie Lawrence, Gemma Forde and Lisa Frost, parents and students for all the support over the last 10 years. It has been amazing to meet every single student that has attended class with us.
This year we look forward to welcoming two new teachers to the team, Nellie Reason who will be teaching Jazz Funk and Musical Theatre and Beth Richards who will be starting Acro classes.
Mad term starts Monday 11th September 2023 and information about all the classes we offer can be found here.”
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