Exceptional Dance & Musical Theatre Training

We have quickly become one of the country’s leading performing arts colleges, our mission is clear:

To provide our students with the finest professional training & education available.

We are dedicated to equipping our students with the skills and techniques necessary to succeed and thrive in one of the most competitive yet fulfilling industries. Our goal is to ensure our students have the tools and knowledge to achieve longevity and excellence in their careers.

Industry-leading faculty and professional guest teachers

Exceptional triple-threat training to prepare students to become a professional performer in all genres of Musical Theatre.

We are dedicated to providing unwavering support for our students’ mental and physical health and well-being throughout their training journey.

To our students, graduates, faculty, and patrons, we sincerely hope that you take immense pride in being a valued member of our Wilkes Family.

Ant & Dec

British Television Presenters (Patrons)

“We are really pleased to be Patrons of Wilkes Academy and know how much hard work and effort has gone in to setting the academy up. We are thrilled to be involved and in such a fantastic place.

Congratulations on your first ten years and here’s to many, many more”

Arlene Phillips

World-renowned Choreographer & Theatre Director (Patron)

“I remember Jonathan Wilkes when he was on a tour of Grease playing Danny saying “I want to open a school, I want to open a place to teach people about the business of Musical Theatre”, and boy has he and everyone that works there achieved something great. I work with so many of the students from Wilkes Academy and let me say they are MINDBLOWING…”

Dean Lee

Global Choreographer

“My creative partnership with Wilkes Academy is truly something special, I’ve just completed one of THE most precious weeks of Dance. It’s actually quite hard to put into words what happened in that room, but I will say that these dancers are some of the most exceptional I’ve ever had the pleasure of getting to work with. I love you guys…..”

Ope Sowande

Graduate & West End Performer

“When I joined Wilkes I was a 17 year old troublemaker who had never danced before. I am now part of the cast of an original West End production. Thank you Wilkes Academy for changing my life.”

I.N.C Artists

Scholarship Providers

“The Wilkes Academy/I.N.C collaboration been an incredible journey to be a part of…the professional training is unrivalled in the U.K, and the graduates we now represent are World class. The future is shining”

Upcoming Events

Pippin
8th April – 7pm, 9th April – 2pm & 7pm
Directed & Choreographed by Leanne Pinder and Musical Direction by Pete Faint.
Fame The Musical
4th April – 7pm, 5th April – 2pm & 7pm
Directed by Noel Sullivan, Choreographed by James Bennet and Musical Direction by Aaron Nice.
9 To 5 The Musical
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Pippin
8th April – 7pm, 9th April – 2pm & 7pm
Directed & Choreographed by Leanne Pinder and Musical Direction by Pete Faint.
Fame The Musical
4th April – 7pm, 5th April – 2pm & 7pm
Directed by Noel Sullivan, Choreographed by James Bennet and Musical Direction by Aaron Nice.

Guest Teachers

Dean Lee
Choreographer
Janet Jackson, Kylie Minogue, The Jacksons, Little Mix, Take That, The Pussycat Dolls
Jerry Reeve
Choreographer
Taylor Swift, John Legend, Jonas Brothers, Will I Am, Creative Director of The Voice UK.
Noel Sullivan
Performer
Hear’Say, In Dreams, But I’m A Cheerleader The Musical, School of Rock
Julie Armstrong
Performer & Choreographer
The Witches, Disney’s Snow White, Follies National Theatre, West Side Story, Spend Spend Spend (Offie Nominated – Best Female), Annie, Chicago, Chess, Elton John
Graeme Pickering
Choreographer & Casting Consultant
Celebrity Cruises Casting Director, TCB Group, Here Come The Boys
John Barr
Performer
Oliver, Les Miserables (Film), Ragtime, Bat Boy The Musical, A Class Act (Offie & BroadwayWorld.com Award Nominations), The Who’s Tommy, Evita
Nikki Bentley
Performer
Elphaba – Wicked, Ghost, Shrek The Musical, Starting Here Starting Now
Melissa Jacques
Performer
Queen of Hearts – Alice in Wonderland, Carol’s Mum – 42 Balloons, Margaret – Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Wicked, Kinky Boots, Mamma Mia, The Full Monty