Our tutors

Headed by Artistic Director Peter Corry

"Welcome to The Performance Academy. This is the place to be in Northern Ireland to enhance your training in Musical Theatre and Acting and take your performance skills to the next level.

Here at the Academy, you will get the chance to experience classes and workshops each week with a variety of professional tutors as well as being put through your paces, in-depth training across all three disciplines of Acting, Singing and Dance. You will learn about the origins of the theatre as we know it and the practitioners who have created some of the most recognisable work that has shaped and changed the industry to today.

If you are interested in auditioning for Drama School, developing your skills for a professional career in the Theatre or wanting to get your Diploma in Musical Theatre or Acting. then the Performance Academy is the place for you. "

Peter Corry

Jay Hutchinson

Jay is a performer originally from Jersey. He trained at Performance Preparation Academy and Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in Musical Theatre.

He worked for various workshop performances in London before being a lead vocalist in the world premiere of Frozen on stage at Disneyland Paris. Since then, he has performed all over the world and has also produced a number of productions. Having the knowledge of working on and off stage has huge benefits which he is passionate to teach whilst also unlocking potential in monologues & acting through song.

Jay is the co-founder & Director of Little Giant Productions & Singers by Surprise.

Adam Gillian

Adam is an actor from Co. Armagh. He has worked professionally since 2018, making his stage debut in the National Theatre production of Hadestown before it transferred to Broadway.

He has since performed in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and the Original West End Cast of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. His most recent roles have included Romeo in the Lyric Theatre production of Romeo and Juliet and Aladdin in Armagh Marketplace Theatre’s Aladdin. You may also find him in Hope Street and Doctors!

Adam has been teaching and coaching for over 4 years, teaching at Emil Dale, Urdang and LSDA to name a few. He also teaches on the Foundation Degree in Screen Acting and Producing at Belfast Metropolitan College.

Adam is delighted to be teaching at Performance Academy this year!

Ryan Greer

Ryan is a music graduate of York University and works as a freelance pianist and musical director in Northern Ireland. He enjoys working in both musical theatre and choral environments, and in July 2016 he founded EastSide Community Choir, which he continues to work with. His musical theatre work includes productions of Company, Oliver!, Chicago, The Addams Family Jnr., The Wizard of Oz and Little Shop of Horrors, and BSPA’s 2022 summer youth production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

From 2019 until May 2022 Ryan taught at the International College of Musical Theatre, Belfast branch, teaching music theory, accompanying students and directing ensemble singing classes. Since February 2017 he has been a member of ‘The Björn Identity,’ Ireland’s most authentic touring ABBA tribute band, in which he regularly performs as Benny Andersson. They have recently returned from theatre and arena tours of Germany and Austria, with further tours planned throughout 2024.

He is passionate about working with students at the Performance Academy to develop new skillsand insights.

Johanna Johnston

Johanna is a graduate from The Urdang Academy where she trained in professional musical theatre and dance. Since then she has worked extensively in the UK/Ireland and Europe across a variety of stage and TV productions as an actor, singer and dancer.

Credits include: Follies, Jack and The Beanstalk, Where Eagles Fly, The Showman Is Coming, Beauty And The Beast, Rapunzel: A Tangled Tale, Macbeth, Tink The Musical (Original Demo), Aladdin, Hope Street (BBCNI), Sophie Top 10 (Mamma Mia: I Have A Dream! ITV).

On top of being a performer, Johanna has been working as a freelance teacher, choreographer and director for 7+ years, across many productions and schools across the UK and Ireland, coaching at all levels, from beginner to drama school, to professional. Johanna is absolutely delighted to be a part of the teaching faculty at The Performance Academy.

Tina McVeigh

BSPA Director / Course Administrator

Tina is the Managing Director of Belfast School of Performing Arts (BSPA) and has been running the Company since it was established in 2010. Supported by an excellent team, Tina, has developed BSPA into Northern Ireland’s leading theatre school which currently has ten schools providing professional tuition to over 850 young people, aged 3-19 years, from across the Province.

Last year she was delighted to set up The Performance Academy at BSPA along with Course Director Peter Corry to provide a next step and more specialised tuition to our older students.. She is responsible for the administrative and operational aspects of the Academy and enjoys working alongside the Team and Students.