About Octagon Studios
Octagon Studios is Ely's Performing Arts Centre founded in 1997 it has proved to be a very successful venture. With approximately 500 pupils of all ages it provides training in the Performing Arts for all abilities and ambitions!
100% Success Rate
We have a full term–time programme and hold a four week Summer School during August plus various professional workshops during the year. The centre also teaches GCSE Performing Arts — Dance with 100% success rate. The school also hope to offer GCSE Music and Drama, and AS / A2 GCE Dance in the near future.
We now have a thriving music department. As well as singing lessons we offer pupils teaching on piano, recorder, flute, clarinet, saxophone, violin, cello, guitar etc. We also offer the new Music Medals Award Scheme (for music groups) from the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music.
We also take 'outreach projects' into local schools and teach dance to interested pupils of all abilities who may not otherwise have access to a dance class. The students are then able to perform the dance pieces they have learnt, in front of an audience.
Dance & Musical Theatre
The centre has its own company:–
The main performance company: 'The Octagon Dance And Musical Theatre Company', 'Loose Canon' a contemporary dance company which meets for rehearsals on Friday and 'Howzat Dance Group', a new group for 10—14 year olds which concentrates on developing choreography for musical theatre and contempory dance.
July is the month for our School Performance. It is staged at The Maltings in Ely. Some of our previous productions include 'Mary Poppins', 'The Little Mermaid', 'Old Time Music Hall', 'A Midsummers Night Dream', 'The Jewelled Slipper', & 'The Firebird'. The productions are written especially for the school by a member of the staff in order that all the different performance genres and most of the pupils can be included.
Our 2004 production was 'Swanhilda and the Magic Toy Shop' an adaption of the ballet 'Coppelia' and 2005 saw a more contemporary production of 'A Midsummer Nights Dream' which included some quite ambitious drama pieces using the Shakespearian script. In 2006 the production was "The Sleeping Beauty".
During August, as part of our 'Summer School Contempory Dance Workshop' week, a lunch–time performance in Ely Cathedral is given by the contemporary dance students with some excellent singing by 'The Goldsmith Singers' who also have workshops during the same week. 'Dance Divine' is now an annual event on the Cathedral's calender.
In the Autumn our adult students are given the opportunity to perform at The Maltings and again at a Christmas concert.
Educate & Encourage
As our aim is to educate and encourage our pupils we also take educational trips to see performances at The Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Sadlers Wells and more local theatres such as The Arts in Cambridge and Theatre Royal Norwich.
Our timetable of classes can be viewed here
If you would like to talk to a member of staff or arrange classes please visit the Studios (times as per timetable) or use our Contact Form. You can also telephone on 01353 661919.