NEWS @ theatre peckham

BTEC at Theatre Peckham

Did you know that Theatre Peckham now offers a BTEC programme, and that successful completion of this is the equivalent of 2 GCSEs grade A-C? Well, you do now!

The BTEC at Theatre Peckham (which is accredited by Edexcel, the leading provider of internationally recognised qualifications) is open to young people in Year 10 and above (approx 15+). The new BTEC at Theatre Peckham will hopefully help many more young actors from Southwark secure a place at Sixth Form College or Drama School.

The BTEC is the first step in formalizing the many key skills (such as acting, singing and dance) that thousands of students have achieved through attending Theatre Peckham; and the curriculum is purely vocational (measured through core acting and dance skills rather than essays).

Theatre Peckham has kicked off its pioneering range of courses with a BTEC First Certificate in Performing Arts. Their first performance was a musical based on the Cotton Club, and the show was a sell-out. They will stage Our Country’s Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker in June!

For more information about enrollment onto the BTEC course or about BTEC productions contact the office.

Jack Petchey Achievement Awards

The Jack Petchey Achievement Awards (which are funded by the Jack Petchey Foundation) are an excellent chance for students at Theatre Peckham to reward their peers and thank their tutors (as well as giving a gift of their choice to the theatre).

Previous winners have been nominated for many different reasons: from being an excellent role model to younger students to demonstrating extreme commitment to acting and dance.

Four winners are selected each year and each award winner is given the opportunity to choose a gift that they would like to give to Theatre Peckham (to the value of £600). Award winners also receive a framed certificate and medal to acknowledge their achievements.

An annual award is also available for the Jack Petchey Leader of the year which is given to a member of staff who demonstrates excellence in their commitment to the theatre. The tutor who wins this award also has the opportunity to choose a gift to give to Theatre Peckham (to the value of £1,000), as well as a framed certificate and medal.

So, without further ado, the winners so far are:

Steven Adu-Antoh
Sean Pursani
Lysia Gregory
Ruby Haycraft
Chloe Buckle
Kyle Treslove

Winner of the Jack Petchey Leader Award
Jreena Greene

Theatre Peckham would like to thank the Jack Petchey Foundation for the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our members in such a fantastic way!

Theatre Peckham RBC Dexia Investor Services Charity of the Year!

Theatre Peckham is delighted to announce that we are RBC Dexia Investor Services’ charity of the year for 2008/9. RBC Dexia Investor Services offers a complete range of investor services to institutions worldwide. They rank among the world’s top 10 global custodians, with USD 2.9 trillion in client assets under administration. Their innovative products and services help clients maximise operational efficiency, minimise risk and enhance portfolio returns. And their 4,700 professionals in 15 markets offer proven expertise to enhance clients’ business performance.
Each year their staff fundraise for a specially chosen charity, and last year they raised over £10,000 for The Samaritans, so it is a great privilege that this year they have elected to support Theatre Peckham. An RBC Dexia Investor Services spokesman commented: “In choosing a charity of the year we were looking to partner with an organisation with a focus on children and young-people and one which we could support in a variety of ways; not just financially, but also through employee volunteering and by providing professional mentoring and support. Theatre Peckham ticked all of these boxes and we were impressed by its mission to be a catalyst for challenging the perceptions of Peckham and its young people through an innovative theatre and education programme.”
We look forward to working with RBC Dexia Investor Services and their staff over the coming year!

Theatre Peckham Camberwell Society’s Charity of the Year!

Theatre Peckham has also been named as The Camberwell Society’s Charity of the Year! The Camberwell Society, which started in 1970, aims to stimulate interest in the borough of Camberwell and maintain high standards of planning and architecture. We look forward to working with members of the society throughout 2008.

Southwark’s Woman of the Year for Arts and Culture!

Theatre Peckham’s Artistic Director, Teresa Early, has been awarded the title of Southwark’s Woman of the Year for Art and Culture. Teresa founded Theatre Peckham over 22 years ago and continues to write all of the theatre’s much loved productions. Teresa’s contribution to the arts in Southwark has been profound, and her artistic vision has been paramount in engaging many new young people and communities in the magic of theatre. We are delighted Teresa’s cultural endeavors have been recognised and extend our warmest congratulations to her.