Jonathan Wilkes to set up fame academy in Swindon (From This Is Wiltshire)

Jonathan Wilkes to set up fame academy in Swindon

9:00am Tuesday 4th August 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(7)

FAMOUS faces from the world of dance, drama and singing will be showing Swindon youngsters how to tread the boards from this autumn.

Jonathan Wilkes and his wife Nikki are opening a performing arts school with business partner Kim Watts on September 19.

The couple, who are also opening a similar school in Jonathan’s home town of Stoke, said they cannot wait for The Wilkes Academy to open.

“I’m so excited about it,” said Swindon-born Nikki.

“I just wish it was this month – the sooner we start the better.”

They are hoping to teach children aged between three and 16 all the tricks of the showbiz trade, while stressing that they need to put in hard work if they want to succeed.

“Whenever you ask kids what they want to do when they grow up they all say they want to be famous – they want to be a celebrity,” said Jonathan, who is a close friend of pop singer Robbie Williams.

“They want to put in as little work as possible but make as much money as they can and that’s not the way to achieve longevity in the business.

“I come from the school that saw you working at the end of Blackpool pier and working your way up through the profession.

“We want to instil good values into the kids who come along.”

Classes will take place every Saturday at Lethbridge School in Old Town.

Sessions for three to five-year-olds will run for an hour from 9am.

Lessons for the five to 16-year-olds will run from 10am until 1pm, with an hour each for dance, drama and singing.

Classes will cost £5 per hour, but places will be limited to 30 per class due to space.

Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

“We’re going to be using our contacts to get some of the top names from all three industries to come along and teach classes,” said Nikki.

The pair hope to have Susie Amy, who played Chardonnay in Footballers’ Wives, to take the first drama class, Louise Dearman, who took on the title role in the recent tour of Evita, for singing lessons, and Fame Academy’s Kevin Adams to run the dance session.

The children will not take exams, but they will work towards an end of term project.

Jonathan said he hopes they will also be able to put on a show at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon each year.

“We want to build up to that,” he said.

“I’d be in the show with the kids and we’re already looking at the different shows we could do.

“I’m in We Will Rock You at the moment and Ben Elton and Brian May have given us the rights to perform it so we’re planning on doing that.

“It will be great for the kids. We’re so excited about opening the doors to the academy – we can’t wait.”

For more information, or to sign up for The Wilkes Academy, call 07909 673651 or email wilkesacademyswindon@live.com

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(7)