Does anyone have any experience with British Theatre Academy?

[Donatella]

Are they legit? I've seen something on Facebook offering kids the chance to audition to be in a show they are putting on, it says it is free to audition and free to perform (so no rehearsal fees), looking deeper it looks like it's probably to hook you in to paying for ongoing classes with them, but I'm still a bit dubious. Has anyone come across them before?

Thanks, that fits with some other things I've read online. We've pretty much decided already that she won't carry on with the paid version, this is just a bit of fun for one term.

Oh and I was also blocked at the same time! Nice guy to allow your child to be with!!

Not surprised at this. I have heard similar about Stagebox. Abusive response if you dare to question anything at all. It’s a shame this industry is like this. It doesn’t need to be.

They seem to have only positive reviews on trustpilot, suspiciously synchronised by date. Has anyone considered leaving an honest review on there? It would help give balance for parents to make a more informed decision.

A previous student here, i joined in 2021 and left in 2022. I did 4 shows with bta in total but my experience was both good and bad, which made it hard for me to decide whether to leave. My first ever lesson was an audition, I had no idea what to expect and my audition went really bad. I would've definitely benefitted from an introductory lesson. My first show was directed by Dean who was amazing but after that i didnt enjoy lessons that much anywhere. And yes the facebook ranting is real. I remember someone from the bta team warning parents not to join mark jermin management for some reason. They took the 'BTA Family' notion too far, it felt weird to see constant rants from an organisation that constantly enforced 'professionalism'. I also remember the chaperone fining, which is completely unreasonable because my mum is a nurse so it was very hard for her to chaperone. I will never forget an audition that I did with Matthew Chandler for a concert. When he called me and another girl to do the dance in front of all the other auditionees, I was very nervous, so I wasn't smiling during the dance. After we were done, Matthew said that I looked like a serial killer. It was humiliating because everyone laughed. He asked me to do it again smiling, so I did it again with a forced smile. I also remember a time where another BTA teacher called a girl 'a turtle' simply because she was moving too slow in rehearsals. Overall, it was a confusing experience because it felt like I was the only one not enjoying it. Everyone else would be saying how much BTA has changed them but I never felt like that. It's kind of a cult.

I just wanted to share a positive experience about the British Theatre Academy (BTA) after seeing a few negative posts recently.

My children have been attending for nearly five years now, and in that time they’ve had some incredible opportunities: from performing in lots of shows to taking part in JTF and even performing at the famous Minack Theatre.

BTA isn’t like most stage schools. Yes, they have rules and high expectations, but personally I really like that. It’s a professional environment, and in all our years there I’ve never had a negative email or any issues with Matthew (the CEO) or the rest of the team.

If your child were working as a young actor in the industry, they’d be expected to meet the same standards so I think it’s brilliant that BTA helps prepare them for that level of professionalism.

It can be demanding and it does require commitment, but I see that as a positive. It’s taught my children discipline, resilience and teamwork. They’ve grown not only as performers but as people, made friends for life, and absolutely love working with the amazing creatives TJ, Corin and Katy.

If your child is hardworking and genuinely passionate about performing, and you’re happy to support the commitment involved, then I honestly think BTA is the right place for them.

Hold on a minute!!

Having read through all these negative comments about Matthew and The British Theatre Academy,
I thought I would address some real facts about Matthew and the BTA.
I do not work for the BTA, I’m a parent.

firstly the British Theatre Academy is a legit professional theatre company and NO it’s not a scam! Please act your age, it’s not productive to spread misleading information and it’s actually unlawful. If you have a formal complaint I would suggest you write to the BTA, this would be a much better practice for all concerned moving forward.

The classes and workshops are not your standard after school drama theatre drop off class. It’s professional training for committed students who are dedicated and wish to become an artist within TV/Musical Theatre industry.

There is a fee if students wish to continue the BTA after their first show, which is free!
Now not all professional theatre companies offer students an opportunity to learn and perform on stage for free, this gives the student a chance to see if they enjoy and if the BTA is right for them while meeting new friends and developing connections with like minded people making BTA ruthlessly inclusive as well as a diversity environment.
However all theatre companies charge a fee so how is the BTA a scam? Not true!

BTA works with high profile professionals within the TV Film and Theatre industry.
Therefore all student are treated like professionals which means following the rules set out within the BTA way, this is to help the students to develop their craft and a professional attitude to support their future within the industry.

All students are most definitely nurtured and given the skills to learn and grow within a friendly caring supportive environment.
The dedicated Creative Directors do a fantastic job looking out for all students at all times. The fantastic parents who chaperone
the students are HOT on safe guarding and the health & mental health of all students.
The safety and safe guarding of students is a number one priority within the BTA.

My child started his journey at the BTA when only eight years old and now 18 years of age.
My child has a profile of ASD/ADHD with complex delayed speech & language.
A child who was bullied at school found a safe place at the BTA, who then improved his skills and developed he’s craft in theatre, acting singing and dancing and public speaking.

My child improved so much he went on to became one very strong actor/singer, public speaker, he’s speech and social interaction improved to the point he was elected as a youth mayor for one of boroughs of west London.

Now let me give some feedback on Matthew from my experience.
Matthew who is the chief executive of the BTA, is a very passionate, creative talented knows he’s craft brand knows the industry very well, who is always extremely proud of all his students regardless.
if anyone doesn’t get a response from Matthew within emails that’s because he’s busy and there is a dedicated creative team who can answer you’re question's or concern’s.

Unfortunately there will always be some parents who sometimes displays terrible attitudes and have their own ego themselves then they expect their child to be given parts or they don’t fully commit on some level which then they become sour towards Matthew and the BTA staff.

My child who started age 8 is now 18 still at BTA and he loves Matthew and the creative team and all the students at BTA love Matthew and the staff.
The personal negative comments about Matthew’s ego I think shows you got confused with his passion. Matthew has then final say and if parents start acting entitled and mouthing off demands.

lets stop spreading negative misleading information. If BTA wasn’t for you then move on, please don’t spoil it for others.

Anyone wanting to join BTA should NOT be put off by a small group of parents who have agreed to upload misleading inappropriate unkind information when the BTA have hundreds of parents and students who would say otherwise.

Hope this helps, don’t come at me, I’m just giving you my experiences.

We have been with BTA for over 11 years and both my daughter & I have had only positive experiences. I say WE as I have been a Parent helper from the start, helping with rehearsals and at the theatre as a licensed chaperone. BTA have Parent helpers for rehearsals in case of any incidents, ie sickness & just to help the children with things. The comment about chaperoning, I am afraid that some groups hardly any parents come forward to help so this ends up with the same people helping which really if everyone took a turn that this would be resolved. You cannot blame BTA for asking parents to help make sure our children are being taken care of. All creatives are very professional and have found them all very caring and kind & have our children’s best interest at heart. BTA have the most amazing opportunities & yes you do have to be committed & be open to feed back for your child to improve & grow. If you are looking for a junior theatre company for your child to progress into the Musical theatre world then this is the place for them.

Some genuine insights which could help…

A friend sent me this link as they were considering joining following a recommendation I personally made as they were looking for something a little more challenging after a good introduction to MT at a local Stagecoach school but given their DD wanted more and more they wanted to explore alternative options. They were naturally nervous with some of the comments over the years…so I thought it useful to put down what I told them.

As background my DD has been a BTA member for over 8 years and my Son coming up to 5. What started as just another “thing” has dramatically changed their lives tbh, both are now at the Brit school with aspirations of doing more training at Uni (we are also out of the catchment area so it was a big decision and accomplishment). Both have made friends for life, both are totally immersed and invested in the ethos and commitment encouraged at the BTA and my son in particular has transformed both in a physical and social sense.

The things that make BTA different? Well it’s not a crèche, a lot is expected of the kids and sometimes the parents in support of both the performers and performances. This is an organisation with over 1000 members across many local BTA schools which we had little idea of when we first joined. There is so much unseen until you have spent some
time involved in some capacity. The licensing of shows and planning/scheduling needed sometimes a year in advance, the strict rules licensing can have, the logistics of Theatre bookings, the welfare rules and chaperone dependancies, the storage of sets, costumes and props, the creatives that want to challenge your young performer but mindful of where they are at with their journey vs the inevitable expectations of ensemble working - all this is a huge, huge responsibility and undertaking that cannot be underestimated. BTA put on several productions per school a year and sometimes there are special projects or PRO projects where members from different schools collaborate on larger productions/work. It can be hard work for all both physically, mentally and logistically.

Is it like any other after school activity? No! MT is a team sport requiring teamwork & collaboration, discipline and dedication, communication and reliance; all together with shared goals. There is also plenty of self learning (homework) to ensure everyone is working together to a common end goal. Just like a football or cheer team train together and encouraged to self develop, or indeed a band … every member is important in their role and bring the final performance to life. Members audition for all roles as they naturally progress at different pace as they get older so roles that were not necessarily right for them at the beginning are right for them now so everyone has an opportunity to demonstrate their progression to the creatives as part of casting. What always strikes me however is the power of the ensemble and you can always see those who have gone the extra mile to add depth and context and leaned in on the creatives vision.

How is BTA run? With so many members and double the amount of parents it must be a huge challenge (notwithstanding all the previous statements above). The small team that make it happen are extremely credible, knowledgeable, capable and passionate. Yes communication is “to the point” but that’s what I like - clear and direct, yes there is sometimes disappointment with casting but that’s because there is some amazingly talented members (some in west end shows right now!) but ultimately everyone is on their own journey and having now seen how the creatives work they only have the best intentions towards members. Every creative works slightly different but the oversight from the principle and VP are there to ensure a safe and structured approach to the world of MT and ultimately prepare those that wish to peruse there passion further the opportunities to hone their craft - no matter the age. BTA has a good reputation with industry professionals and this is down to those that run the academy. Sometimes very honest assessments are made (like when at school my kids teacher says they are falling being in maths or not selected for the football team and need to work on x) but this feedback is important and actually in my case led to ballet lessons for DD aged 10 and now she is grade 8 and absolutely in love with Ballet as it is the foundation for all dance and has truly helped her progress (just as I was told all those years ago whether I thought she was Darcey Bussell or not).

Is BTA for everyone? Well you have to audition to get in to demonstrate some basic skills and Yes the first show and all your training is absolutely free to that point (you will need to buy a ticket to the theatre mind and sometimes a script which again is sometimes a licensing requirement) but if you then are accepted as meeting a basic standard you are then invited to join that school for the next show which is chargeable. When you breakdown the hourly cost I have found this to be extremely good value for money ! And I mean extremely good based on other clubs…

All in all I have found BTA to be a hugely rewarding part of my kids lives and mine actually and with skills for life such as learning to follow directions, develop attention span and concentration, teamwork skills, self discipline and accepting honest criticism why would you not try and see if BTA is for your young performer for free ?!

Be good to hear other balanced honest reviews.

Hi, I just wanted to address a few of the negative comments as someone who’s kids have been going to BTA for over five years.

It is definitely intense compared to other drama schools that they went to in the past, but that is because of the very high standards that they have for their shows. My kids love BTA and I have definitely seen them grow since they first started. The creatives are all incredibly talented and supportive of all the kids in the room, regardless of if they are a lead or in the ensemble. Unlike some drama schools, where they are not very strict about making sure that everyone knows what they are doing and is not interrupting the rehearsals, BTA pushes everyone to always try their hardest, and I get that some people might find that hard to get used to.

My kids have worked with Matthew in the past and he has always been very professional and passionate about the shows that he has worked on, I honestly think that some of the people on here just don’t know what it’s like to work with a director who cares that much about their shows doing well because talking to some friends whose kids have had professional roles it seems like BTA does a really good at preparing kids for the industry.

I would like to echo some of the positive reviews for BTA. My son has been a member for nearly 10 years now and he has never had a negative experience with any of the creatives in any of the projects he's been a part of.

As well as making huge progress as a performer in this time, the most important lessons he has learned are the value of hard work; commitment; and, above all, politeness, kindness and respect for other members and creatives. I have been backstage at countless BTA productions as a parent chaperone and the young people involved are unfailingly polite and take genuine care of one another.

Yes, the expectations are high but so is the standard of performance and, in my opinion, you can't have one without the other. Additionally, the expectations (attendance, punctuality, work ethic, uniform) are made absolutely clear from the start of the process so you can decide if that's for you or not. I would argue that in a world where young people increasingly lack resilience, high expectations from adults and fair consequences when they are not met is no bad thing.

In our experience where our son has worked with most of the creatives including Katy, Corin, TJ and Matthew they are all encouraging, creative and offer original creative challenges. They strongly promote their ethos of preparation, hard work, respect and kindness and, as a result, create productions of an extremely high standard and inspire a large cohort of young people to be kind and supportive to one another.

We are a group of parents who wish to share an honest review of our experience with The British Theatre Academy

It’s often the case on forums like Mumsnet that posts appear mainly when people are unhappy or have faced an issue. With such a large, active membership, BTA will naturally receive some negative comments—and those individuals are, of course, entitled to their views. However, we would like to offer our own perspective based on many years collectively with the academy.

Between us, our children have trained at BTA for around 11 years, giving us a broad and long-term understanding of how the organisation is run.

One standout quality of BTA is their commitment to giving frank, honest and professional feedback —something that is surprisingly rare in youth theatre training. Many schools avoid difficult conversations, but BTA is clear about its purpose: their classes are designed for young people who are serious about training at a professional level. While this honesty may not always be what every parent wants to hear, it is absolutely what helps the children grow.

In our own experience, this approach works. One of our children has performed in a West Show, an opportunity that would not have been possible without the high-quality, focused training they received at BTA.

To anyone feeling uncertain after reading negative comments, we encourage you to look more deeply into what BTA actually offers. Our positive experiences strongly outweigh the handful of negative ones. For every disappointed parent, there are many more of us who are grateful, impressed, and extremely happy with the training and opportunities our children have received.

I see the cavalry has arrived. I have no skin in this game - just enjoying the popcorn 😁

What was wrong with the comment that was deleted? I saw it earlier, didn't strike me as deletion-worthy

I’m not sure why my comment was deleted.

I was just sharing our positive experience with my son being a member of BTA and the incredible time he has had and life long friends and memories he has made.

My daughter has been attending The British Theatre Academy for many many years, she is EXTREMELY happy there, has been involved in numerous shows and offered additional opportunities that I believe she would never have been given with any other extracurricular theatre school. Attending BTA classes has always been the highlight of her week. The culture at BTA is professional, kids are taught how to rehearse, behave and perform in a manner which prepares them for the world of theatre and as a result the shows and performances BTA deliver are of the very highest standard. Matthew and his creative team have always been informative, approachable, supportive and honest. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend BTA to anyone looking for theatre and performance classes for their child.