COME September, Great Dunmow will be able to boast about being home to a new academic centre, the likes of which “will not be found between London and Cambridge”.

The Scene II Performing Arts Academy (SPAA) is the brainchild of Jacky and Mikki Rom who have worked to create a course that is suitable for young people who “live, sleep and breathe being a performer”.

“Our students will be taught by some of the best teachers in the land who are already teaching in top performing acting academies,” said Mrs Rom. “Couple this with our small class size, we are delighted that we will be offering something similar to private education.”

Classes will include musical theatre: All sorts of types of dance including ballet, tap, bontemporary, and break dancing; dialect; audition techniques; how to run yourself as a business; acting; and script work.

Exams will be LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts) accredited and will take pupils up to a standard where they themselves can teach.

“The important thing is that each and every student needs to be passionate about their craft,” said Mrs Rom. “Having talent is undoubtedly important, but if they have the desire and will to succeed, then we will teach them everything they need to know in order to have the best of starts in what is a very competitive industry.”

All of the teachers are currently appearing in stage and/or screen productions.

? Creative course director Leigh Ann Stone has stared in Shrek, Fame, Grease, Cats and Sister Act and will be teaching vocal, tap, and musical theatre.

? Tom Kanavan has appeared in Rent, Wizard of Oz, Starlight Express and Viva Forever and will be taking musical theatre and vocal.

? Tom Cunnigham is a commercial dancer who has worked with the likes of Alesha Dixon, Kimberley Wyatt, Fergie, Beat Feaks and Whitney Houston. He will instruct pupils on street, contemporary and par de deux.

? Karl Stevens boasts shows such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Spamalot, Saturday Night Fever and Sunset Boulevard on his CV and will be taking classes in musical theatre, jazz and boys ballet.

? Dan Looney has had staring rolls in Guys & Dolls, Olivier Awards, Concrete Jungle and Aladdin and teaches technical jazz.

Anna Karen is famous for her roles in EastEnders, On The Buses and Rag Trade among many others. She will be teaching acting.

? A-Level English/language classes will be taken by Paul Bloomfield.

Aspiring actors who are interested in auditioning for a place should call SPAA on 01371 878020 or visit sceneii.net/academy