Young performers shine on stage  

Liz Nicholls

Young performers from PQA Abingdon take to the West End stage in an action-adventure stage show 

Eighty young performers from the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (PQA) in Abingdon took to the stage at London’s iconic His Majesty’s Theatre on the 23rd June weekend to perform the stage show, Across the Line.  

The show is part of an ambitious series of 26 West End performances, featuring around 5,200 young people from across PQA’s nationwide network. Each performance brings together three academies, and PQA Abingdon performed alongside PQA Dartford and PQA Darlington. 

Written by Will Brenton (best known for The Tweenies, Melody, and Coronation Street), Across the Line is a bold, contemporary action-adventure stage show that draws inspiration from popular modern-day shows such as ‘Stranger Things’. 

Jenna Hones, Principal of PQA Abingdon said, “This was PQA Abingdon’s debut performance in the West End and myself and the team are beyond proud of every student. They put all their hearts into the rehearsals over the last few months and it was amazing to see them shine like the stars they are on the stage at His Majesty’s Theatre.” 

A standout feature of Across the Line is its use of puppetry. In collaboration with Little Angel Theatre, PQA launched the No Strings Attached project, where the students gained hands-on experience with professional puppetry techniques. This initiative helped young performers develop dexterity, imagination and the technical understanding required to bring puppet characters to life on stage. 

Over 22 weeks of rehearsals, the young cast worked intensively on vocal technique, dance and movement, character development, stagecraft, ensemble work and performance confidence. 

Young performer, Katie, commented, “I was so excited about performing with all my friends and had the best experience of my life starring on a West End stage, playing the role of Dink.” 

Individuals also developed vital life skills such as communication, teamwork, concentration, coordination, and resilience, all while enjoying the unforgettable experience of performing in a professional theatre environment. 

Made up of a team of industry professional teachers including Jenna Hones, Katherine Peacop, and Kia Lawrence, PQA is dedicated to providing a safe and inclusive space for young people to discover themselves whilst learning the latest techniques in performing arts. Performing arts isn’t just about singing and dancing, there are also opportunities for all young people to explore comedy, story writing, TV and filmmaking.