Emil Dale Academy

Emil Dale Academy is a musical theatre school founded in Hitchin, Hertfordshire before relocating to Letchworth in 2024. The Hertfordshire school offers a Bachelor of Arts degree awarded by the University of Bedfordshire, BTEC Level 3 diploma, and foundation and sixth form courses for full-time students (16+). Weekend classes for part-time students (3–21) are also held.

Emil Dale Academy

Letchworth campus (Old Grammar School)
Established	2009
Academic affiliations	University of Bedfordshire The Knights Templar School
Students	270 (full-time) 400 (part-time)
Address	The Old Grammar School, Broadway , Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire SG6 3PA , England
Nickname	EDA
Website	emildale.co.uk

In 2014, a second campus opened in Cambridge under the name Emil Dale's School of Performing Arts, which ran part-time and weekend programmes until closing in 2023.

The Stage called Emil Dale one of the fastest-growing musical theatre schools in the country in 2016. The school is affiliated with Dale Hammond Associates.

History

The school's namesake Emil Dale, a graduate of London's ArtsEd from Biggleswade, began hosting a musical theatre Sunday school with co-founder Victoria Hammond when he was 23 with the idea of inviting West End professionals to guest teach classes at a more affordable rate than other programmes of its kind.^[1] They started off with 22 students in the school hall of St Andrews' Church of England Primary School in Benslow.^[2]

The Cambridge branch, affiliated with North Cambridge Academy, began in 2014.^[3][4]

An official Hitchin campus was established at the site of a former factory on Wilbury Road converted into studios in 2014 and a 200-seat theatre, known as the Factory Playhouse Theatre, in 2015. West Side Story was the venue's inaugural performance.^[5][4]

In 2018, the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Musical Theatre path was introduced in a partnership with the University of Bedfordshire.^[6]

A new campus at the site of a former grammar school on Broadway in Letchworth opened its doors in 2024, moving the theatre school up the road from Hitchin.^[7]

Productions

The school has their own 200 seat theatre, known as Factory Playhouse. First opened in May 2015, they have since productions numerous theatre productions involving the students of the academy, as well as professional productions.^{[citation needed]}

Notable people

• Elijah Holloway
• Bradley Riches
• Nethra Tilakumara

References

1. "Emil Dale, the in-demand school shaping in-demand performers". The Stage. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2021.(subscription required)
2. "How did Emil Dale start". Emil Dale. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
3. "Emil Dale's School of Performing Arts" (PDF). St Alban's CCC. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
4. "Photo Flash: Sneak Peek - WEST SIDE STORY to Launch Factory Playhouse in Hitchin". BroadwayWorld. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
5. "About". The Factory Playhouse Theatre Hitchin. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
6. Vale, Paul (9 January 2019). "The Stage Scholarships 2019: Emil Dale Academy". The Stage. Retrieved 8 December 2021.(subscription required)
7. Smith, James (3 September 2024). "WATCH: Take a look inside new Emil Dale Academy as it prepares to open following move to Letchworth". Hitchin Nub News. Retrieved 24 September 2024.