BTA. British Theatre Academy

[Yellowbutterfly1]

Does anybody know anything about BTA?
I’ve seen an advert asking for children to preform in one of their shows for free but can’t seem to find out much about them.
Most preforming arts companies advertise their fees etc but this one seems to be quite secretive.

I found their Facebook and website with no trouble.

They're very clear and professional so not sure what you find "secretive" about them?

www.facebook.com/BritishTheatreAcademy/

thebritishtheatreacademy.com/

If you're worried about hidden costs, this article from The Stage should allay your fears.

www.thestage.co.uk/features/2017/train-free-youth-groups-masterclasse/

Offering classes and opportunities to perform, this Isleworth stage school operates in a similar way to the big-name franchises – except that participating under-23s pay nothing.

Founded and run by Matthew Chandler- Garcia, BTA stages shows in the West End and elsewhere with big, rotating casts. The shows more or less break even so that costs are covered although Chandler-Garcia (“My husband pays the domestic bills!”) takes no salary.

Last summer, BTA’s version of The Secret Garden, which ran at Ambassadors Theatre, was professionally impressive. It featured 359 children and young actors in different cast teams. BTA’s The Wizard of Oz runs at Rickmansworth in March and Annie runs at Aylesbury in April. At present, around 10% of Chandler-Garcia’s participants go on to vocational training; he wants to increase that.

It's free basically...for under 23s anyway. Like a Youth Theatre. It's there to improve opportunities for young people and children. Looks amazing actually.

Thanks. I’m not on Facebook so only found their website.
I was hoping there would be parents on mumsnet who have children that attend who could tell me more.
It seems you have to pay fees after your first show but doesn’t go into anymore detail.

I'm not on Facebook either...you can still look at the pages on there though.

A close family member is involved and has been for a few years. They came in on the Annie Jr production which is what I guess you've seen advertised. There's no fee for doing that but if they like the look of you they will invite you to join and there's a fee for that, plus an awfully big commitment which they take very seriously.

Once you commit to joining there is a fee, £250 per term. They are a very committed group and take their craft very very seriously. It can be an amazing experience, but a lot is expected of the children and parents alike.

BTA (British Theatre Academy) is a scam.
They promise musical theatre training but in reality, they are a paid agency. They offer a class once a week where they do lip singing to a recording.
When i tried to withdraw my daughter after a month, Dean Johnson who is their admin, was extremely rude and discriminative towards me and my daughter.
Stay away from them! Total waste of money.

I had exactly the same experience Dean Johnson is very rude unsavoury character, who will let you be in a free show so that you will pay for there drama club after, but the drama club is not good My daughter has been in a lot of drama clubs while moving up the ladder BTA is the most racist and basic of all the clubs white children are told not to sing songs black people sing and vise verse, horrible little place the kids mess around a lot and have poor attitudes.

Hi, we have just joined to the Dulwich BTA group and so far I'm very impressed: 1: audition for joining in is great as all kids there are talented. Which I was able to hear even after their first rehearsal when I arrived early to collect my DD, I felt like I'm listening to concert. 2: their head office is super helpful. As we are living a bit far from the venue we had a bit of uncertainty which venue would suit us best, so I emailed several times and I received kind and very fast responses all the time. They were so patient with me. 3: the Facebook group is also professional, there is no other comments or coms only which related to the production ahead. 4: My DD loves to be there, and they do vocal warm up etc..5: I also like that all kids are so respectful , especially how the older ones encouraging the younger ones and working as one group. So overall all I can say that everyone have their own opinion and experience, therefore probably it's always better to see it for yourself.

@Napo1
@Verrity1987
Dean was my daughter's BTA teacher and I have to disagree with you. We are POC and Dean has been nothing but respectful to us as well as everyone at BTA. They offer scholarships to people who may struggle to pay the fees. They even did a 'Trans Teen Scholarship'. The children there are very disciplined as they are taught the etiquette and behaviour you should present in the entertainment industry. It is definitely not a paid agency. You pay for the training but BTA has a good reputation and many casting directors often come to BTA to find talent. They assess kids and put them forward for suitable roles but they aren't an agency. My daughter has an agent and BTA works with them to make sure nothing clashes.

I am glad you had that experience ,unfortunately I did not, dean was not accommodating, and the children messed around, my daughter was unhappy there, but is now much happier at the Sylvia young school, when my child wanted to leave she was told she should stay grounded and she is not that good, even though dean has stated he has not had a main role in anything, then we tried out Itali Conte and the dance teacher said my child was the best in the class better than her own child who is in the class ,my daughter also has an agent and has been in numerous films plays and done voiceovers ,we have tried out every top school to see where she liked the most BTA have been the rudest on our journey , you are free to disagree. we are not poc we are Black people.