Even SuBo’s in on the act now!
A Burnside woman is hoping that she will be acting up for years to come.
Lisa Cleugh started the Performance Academy in Rutherglen in 2008, hoping to give youngsters a place to tread the boards and have fun.
From small beginnings with nine pupils the acting school has grown and grown, and she currently has over 25 classes a week being taught, at a range of different Scottish locations.
Lisa admits reaching a full decade, which the group will do next year, is something she never expected.
She said:“When we started it was just a holiday club, and we had nine kids in total.
“We’ve still got members from back then, who were four or five when we started, and who are in the seniors classes now.
“I’d started it because I always loved drama, and used to go to Burnside Church when they had a drama club when I was a kid.
“I was working as an actress and thought about how there wasn’t really anything like that anymore in Rutherglen, which was when I thought about starting something up.
“It was something that was just for the holidays and then it started to grow beyond what I’d thought of.”
After 10 years Lisa, a former Burnside Primary and Stonelaw High pupil, still loves encouraging youngsters to take up acting.
She believes it has plenty of benefits:“It’s been nice seeing the children build up their confidence over the years.
“For younger pupils they can really use their imagination for the first time but there’s lots of benefits for kids of any age.
“Drama and acting can help with confidence, teamwork, speech skills and role play.
“As they get older we try and bring in things like script writing, or bringing directors and scriptwriters in for specialist workshops.”
Several guests have visited the classes over the years, including Rutherglen actor Scott Kyle and Scottish casting director Lenny Mullan.
Lisa’s Bathgate classes were even visited by Susan Boyle, who was often practicing nearby.
She added:“We lead the drama school programme at the Regal Theatre in Bathgate now.
“Susan Boyle was quite often in the theatre, so she’d pop her head round the door and say how good we were sounding, and get right in with the singing.”
However, Lisa admits she is still thrilled when any of her pupils go on to land professional acting roles.
“I’m always so proud, whatever the role is.
“It’s a great feeling, and what’s been brilliant is that we’ve had pupils here who’ve gone on to study drama at college, and now help teach here.”
The academy is currently casting this year’s Christmas show, Elf.
For more information email lisa@ theperformanceacademy.co.uk or call Lisa on 0781 351 8016.