The Performance Academy
at BSPA
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
Nik Parks
Nick trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and the Royal Irish Academy of Music under Dr. Veronica Dunne.
Credits include Dead Man Walking (Irish Premier), Little Women The Musical (Irish Premier), The International Magic Tenors (European Tour), The New Jersey Boys (Mallorca), Rock of Ages (Mallorca), Peter Corry’s Moulin Rouge (World Premier), Red Velvet Cabaret, The Sound of Musicals & The Music Box and, most recently, Celtic Nights: Spirit of Freedom (US and Canadian Tour & Olympia Theatre, Dublin).
He is passionate about acting through song and believes the key to unlocking ones vocal potential lies in having confidence in oneself- whether that is as a professional singer or as someone taking up a new hobby.
Mira Rendilheiro
Mira Rendilheiro graduated from the University of Cape Town’s School of Dance, specialising in Contemporary and Jazz performance.
Since then she has toured the world, performing in a multitude of contracts including; a Netherlands tour of The Showman as Dance Captain (Peter Corry Productions), and 3 years as a choreographer for a resort in France.
Mira has recently returned to Belfast and accepted the position of Associate Creative Director of the Cabaret Supper Club.
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.
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.
Emily McDonagh
Emily trained in Musical theatre and dance, she is now a dancer/choreographer based in Belfast, Northern Ireland as well as a circus artist and cabaret performer.
Emily has been a rolling member of Yuck Circus, an all-female multi-award winning circus company since its birth in 2018 and is the founder and co-director of POKE Theatre, an up and coming interdisciplinary physical theatre company.
Adam Darcy
Adam is a musical director, accompanist and vocal tutor, having graduated in 2015 with a first-class honours degree in Drama and Music from Edge Hill University in Liverpool.
While studying in Liverpool, Adam worked as a Musical Director on a number of plays and musicals. He also composed and performed an original composition, ‘Belfast Child’ in the Liverpool Everyman Theatre.
He has played and conducted for countless musical theatre productions in Northern Ireland in venues such as The Ulster Hall, The MAC and The Grand Opera House. He also conducted the Irish premieres of In the Heights and Godspell (2012 Revival) at the Belfast Waterfront.
Adam is co-founder of youth theatre company ‘Ravara Productions’.
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.
