The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts Bristol
BEST FOR
Ages 4-18
WHERE
Bristol
What it’s like
Weekly singing, dancing, acting and film classes for kids aged 4 to 18, run as a term-time membership rather than a one-off ticket.
This isn't a day out so much as a regular Friday or Saturday fixture. Younger ones (4 to 6) go into Poppets, where they get a taste of singing, dancing and acting in shorter, gentler sessions. From 6 up, it's the Main Academy, where kids pick between Musical Theatre, Comedy & Drama, or Film & TV, the last of which covers proper behind-the-scenes stuff like screenwriting, lighting, sound and animation rather than just performing.
Saturdays are the big day here, with two Poppets slots in the morning and Main Academy running most of the day in two blocks. Fridays are shorter and after school, useful if weekends are already spoken for. Either way, you're signing up for a term-time commitment rather than dropping in whenever, and it runs across 39 weeks of the academic year.
The membership costs sting a bit if you're used to pay-as-you-go activities. Poppets is £47 a month, Main Academy is £94, and there's a 25% sibling discount that brings it down to £70.50 if you've got two enrolled. You pay through the summer holidays too, which feels odd until you realise it's what holds your child's place rather than paying for sessions that aren't happening. There's a minimum two-month commitment and they want four weeks notice to leave, so it's not something to sign up for on a whim.
The sensible way in is the free trial session, which every academy offers if there's space in the right age group. If the group's full you go on a waiting list. Worth booking the trial with a real intention to join, because if your child misses it you'll need to go through a rebooking form rather than just turning up another week.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 4 to 18, with Poppets for the younger end and Main Academy from 6 up
- Worth knowing
- Free trial session. Place held for few days after to decide on membership
- It's a term-time membership across 39 weeks, not a single ticketed visit
- You keep paying through the summer holidays to hold your child's place
- Shared custody arrangements attending fortnightly are discouraged as kids can miss key skills and it complicates rehearsals
- Book the free trial with intent to join, missing it means filling in a rebooking form
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Poppets (4 to 6 years) is £47 a month. Main Academy (6 to 18) is £94 a month, or £70.50 each if you've got siblings enrolled together.
Can we try it before committing?
Yes, every academy offers one free trial session if there's space in your child's age group. Miss it and you'll need to fill in a rebooking form rather than just turning up the following week.
Do we have to sign up for a whole year?
The minimum membership is two months, with four weeks notice needed to leave.
What age groups run and when?
Poppets (4 to 6) runs Friday evenings and two Saturday morning slots. Main Academy (6 to 18) runs Friday evening and two Saturday sessions covering most of the day.
Can we pay with childcare vouchers?
Membership payments go through Direct Debit only. If your employer or council wants to fund it directly, the academy can arrange that instead.
What do the classes actually involve?
Kids choose between Musical Theatre (singing, dancing, acting), Comedy & Drama (physical theatre and improvisation), or Film & TV (screenwriting, lighting, sound and animation). Poppets is a gentler mix of singing, dancing and acting for the younger ones.
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