Business Details
14 Years
experience
Award-Winning Performing Arts School in Witney
Established in 2012, West Oxfordshire Academy of Performing Arts (WOAPA) is an award-winning theatre school dedicated to nurturing young talent in Witney, Oxfordshire. Our experienced tutors, all holding enhanced DBS clearance and first-aid training, deliver specialist instruction in singing, dance, and drama for children aged 4-21. We pride ourselves on a 100% pass rate in LAMDA examinations, with most students achieving Merit or Distinction grades. Our curriculum emphasizes individual development within a collaborative environment, fostering creativity, confidence, and technical proficiency. Industry professionals regularly conduct masterclasses, while our students have secured placements at prestigious institutions like the Royal Academy of Music.Beyond core classes, we offer unique opportunities including professional stage appearances, film work, and partnerships with national youth theatre organizations. Our adult programmes - including Witney Choir and Guitar Club - extend our commitment to community engagement. With a focus on inclusivity, we provide tailored sessions for children with learning disabilities and maintain strong parental referrals through consistent quality delivery.
Services
Singing Lessons
Dance Classes
Drama Workshops
LAMDA Exams
Adult Choir
Guitar Club
Summer School
Youth Choir
Encore Class
Pop-up Choir
Details
- Year established: 2012
Highlights and features
- Experienced tutors with enhanced DBS clearance and first-aid training
- 100% pass rate in LAMDA examinations since 2012
- Professional performance opportunities with national touring companies
- Industry masterclasses led by West End and television professionals
- Inclusive programmes for children with learning disabilities
Associations and certifications
- LAMDA
- Trinity College London
Services
Singing Lessons
Professional singing tuition for ages 4-21 develops technical proficiency and performance skills. Our structured curriculum prepares students for LAMDA exams while nurturing individual vocal style. Industry connections provide unique performance opportunities in professional productions.
Dance Classes
Comprehensive dance training covering jazz, contemporary, ballet, and musical theatre styles. Classes focus on technical development, choreography, and performance readiness. Students gain stage experience through regular showcases and professional productions.
Drama Workshops
Specialist drama tuition builds acting techniques through Stanislavski and Shakespearean methods. Students develop characterisation, improvisation, and stagecraft skills, culminating in regular performance opportunities and LAMDA examinations.
LAMDA Exams
Accredited LAMDA examination preparation with 100% pass rate since 2012. Tailored coaching develops speech, performance, and interpretation skills. Most students achieve Merit or Distinction grades through our structured exam programme.
Adult Choir
Vocal group for adults aged 16+ combines choral singing with performance opportunities. Led by experienced conductors, the choir develops ensemble singing skills while maintaining the accessibility and enjoyment of group music-making.
People
Brian Conroy
Principal Director
With 40+ years in performing arts, Brian combines stage experience with community development expertise. A qualified Arts Award adviser, he has trained humanitarian aid workers and appeared in Netflix's The Diplomat.
Louise Conroy
Director
Over 30 years teaching experience, Louise specialises in music education. As SLE for Music, she trains non-specialist teachers and conducts choirs performing at national venues including Wembley Arena.
Kieran Donnelly
Drama Tutor
Oxford School of Drama graduate with MA in Performing Arts. Specialising in Shakespearean techniques, he has taught at WOAPA since 2012 achieving 100% LAMDA exam success while maintaining an active theatre career.
Edward Conroy
Singing Tutor
Royal Academy of Music graduate with West End experience. Combines teaching with professional performance work, recently appearing in national tours of Zog and Robin Hood while mentoring emerging musical theatre talent.
Lauren Berry
Dance Tutor
Musical theatre specialist with professional experience in film, television, and music videos. Trained at Stella Mann College, she brings industry expertise to weekend dance classes while directing local cheerleading champions.
Questions
What age ranges do your classes cover?
We offer performing arts classes for children aged 4-21 and adult singing groups for ages 16+. Specialised programmes include toddler sessions and advanced training for pre-professional students.
Do you offer exam preparation?
Yes, we provide LAMDA examination coaching with a 100% pass rate since 2012. Most students achieve Merit or Distinction grades through our structured exam preparation programme.
Are there performance opportunities?
Students regularly participate in professional productions, film work, and local performances. We maintain industry connections that have led to appearances in West End tours and television productions.
What about inclusivity for special needs?
We offer tailored classes for children with learning disabilities, following our successful model developed through The Wild Theatre Co's inclusive performances at major London venues.
Do you provide adult programmes?
Yes, our adult offerings include Witney Choir for ages 16+ and the Witney Guitar Club for musicians aged 18+, both focusing on community engagement through music.
What qualifications do your tutors hold?
All tutors have enhanced DBS clearance and first-aid training. Our team includes university graduates with specialist performing arts qualifications and active industry professionals.
Reviews (6)
Jenny Durno
Aug 06, 2021
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Cara’s last day at WOAPA today and she loved every second of the last 2-3 years. Thanks to all the staff who worked with her and gave her the confidence and skills she needs to carry on in performing arts industry.
Annabel Mulcahy
May 07, 2019
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Excellent performing arts school with such dedicated staff, kind and friendly tutors and breatht-aking end of term performances!
Aisha Saliki
Jan 28, 2019
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My son joined WOAPA last year. He has really grown in confidence within himself. He is now more focused. He enjoys singing,dancing and the acting classes. the tutors are fantastic and have helped him to develop his talent. thank you
L. Kent
Jan 27, 2019
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My son joined WOAPA in April and absolutely loves it! The level of tuition is amazing and thats evident in the performances that they put on at the end of each term. Hes also been involved in extras such as singing at the Christmas Lights switch on which he loved. Louise and Brian are so friendly and helpful. Definitely worth the money, you get what you pay for here!
Victoria Brown
Jan 12, 2019
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Fantastic performance school who care deeply about their students performance encouraging and supporting them into professional productions. They always go the extra mile. Highly recommended.
Jan Algar
Jan 08, 2019
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My son has attended WOAPA for over 3 years now and absolutely loves it. His confidence has grown and we have been blown away by their performances. Highly recommend it for children of all ages.
