Performance Preparation Academy: ‘Lively, tight-knit school is like family’

At Performance Preparation Academy in Guildford, the environment is electric. The bright and airy canteen is buzzing with chatter as students get stuck into the new academic year. The focus in various studios – where students take acting and dance classes and rehearse upcoming performances – is palpable.

The drama school, which is a 40-minute train ride from London, was founded by Louise Pieri and is run by Sarah Thorne (head of faculty and education) and a long-established senior management team. It has a friendly, family atmosphere, where everyone knows each other’s names, and there is a clear network of support and care.

As PPA gears up to welcome its next intake of auditionees for the 2024/25 academic year, third-year student Rónán Evan Johnson tells The Stage about his experiences on the BA (hons) Acting for Stage and Screen course.

Johnson, who is from a small town called Coalisland in Ireland, received a scholarship to train at PPA, after undertaking a one-year musical theatre foundation course.

He describes what attracted him to PPA: “It’s really lively. I’m from the back end of nowhere, so I love that it’s quite a small, tight-knit community here.”

There are only 20 people in Johnson’s year group, which means he has had the opportunity to get to know students on the other courses.

“It’s nice knowing that I’m going to leave here and have 70 other people in the industry at the same time that I know will help me out and that I would help out,” he tells The Stage.

Another big draw was that, while Johnson is on an acting course, there are still plenty of opportunities for him to get involved with musical theatre, including classes specially aimed at male-presenting dancers.

In terms of the course itself, there is an even split between stage and screen training. The cohort also receives classes in dance, singing and stage combat, as well as industry preparation sessions to ready them for things such as finances and auditions.

‘It’s nice knowing that I’m going to leave here and have 70 other people in the industry at the same time that I know will help me out and that I would help out’ – student Rónán Evan Johnson

Other highlights include an agent showcase in central London, and the option to take self-made work to the Guildford Fringe.

Unlike many other drama schools, the students do not have an enforced dress code but are instead encouraged to choose appropriate clothing that they feel comfortable in. This is reflective of PPA’s ethos to allow performers to flourish as individuals.

“They want you to come in with the person that you are and build on it,” says Johnson. “They want everyone to feel seen, and to know that we have PPA as a family, but also that we are very fine, crafted individual performers.”

Johnson says that he has felt supported by the school throughout his time there, which included PPA putting him forward for the 2024 Laurence Olivier Bursary for talented students in need of financial support. Johnson says his whole year group “went crazy” in celebration when he received the bursary.

PPA is nestled in a state-of-the art 30,000 sq ft facility, which includes 15 studios, dressing rooms, a costume store, library, self-tape studio, canteen, parking and a fully equipped studio theatre seating 130 people.

Other courses that PPA offers include both the BA (hons) Acting for Stage and Screen and Musical Theatre courses with a foundation year.

PPA is validated by De Montfort University and has a long-standing partnership with DMU.

Prospective students can apply for September 2025 entry online via PPA’s admissions team.

---

ppacademy.co.uk