2020 Is Here And It’s Time To Try Something New!
WLR have teamed up with The Arts Complex to bring you a one-stop shop for all the different groups, offerings and classes they have available this year. In a four part series, Trevor Darmody, Managing Director and Owner, will be taking us through each section individually and telling us all the amazing activities you can avail of as a member of The Arts Complex.
If you or your children are looking to delve into the art world, then look no further than the Arts Complex, Passage Cross, Waterford. With two major arts companies (WAMA and Theatre Box) now calling it home and hundreds of current students covering all areas of arts from all ages and backgrounds, it is the prime location to take your first steps into the world of art.
Check out the classes that WAMA offers, here.
Check out the classes and camps on offer at Theatrebox Stage School, here.
The Arts Complex
The Arts Complex has everything you need right from full scale productions to hobbies and private events. With multiple recording studios, training rooms, dance halls, art rooms and rooms for private rental for events all in the one location with plenty of parking and easy access. Learn all about what The Arts Complex has to offer below.
Waterford Academy of Music and Arts (WAMA)
The Waterford Academy of Music & Art (WAMA) is a stage school, music school, art school and theatre venue all under one roof!
WAMA provides tuition for students (both adults and children) with a range of goals and skill levels, from beginner right through to NFQ Level 5, preparing them for college or university.
WAMA makes a student's stay as comfortable, inclusive, productive, and enjoyable as possible. To achieve this they have professional premises, a professionally developed syllabus and a professional staff who have degrees, gigging experience, and teaching experience. In fact, every teacher there has a minimum of 5 years teaching experience, some with over 10 years’ experience.
WAMA also provides a range of performance opportunities for their students from concerts to open mics, from plays to full scale musicals and from street theatre to outreach programmes. A range of musical instrument classes are available from Guitar, Bass and Drums to Piano, Violin and Vocals. Dance and drama classes are hugely popular at the school as well and there are also art and craft classes on a weekly basis.
Theatre Box
TheatreBox Stage School, now located at The Arts Complex on the Dunmore Road, focuses on Dance & Drama tuition for ages 5 to 19. From their state of the art premises they provide a fun, safe, and creative environment, offering a high standard of training in Drama, Singing, Tap, Ballet, Contemporary, and Intensive Dance.
Students are made to feel at home, and all members are given regular performance opportunities at festivals and in full scale musical productions. Over the years they have put on some superb showcases, and are very much looking forward to their next project, The Wizard of Oz, which takes place in the Theatre Royal in May.
The Live Room Theatre
The Live Room Theatre, located in The Arts Complex, serves as a 160 seated theatrical space and a 250 standing live music venue suitable for families. The Live Room Theatre was opened in September 2014 and since then it has hosted an array of acts including guitar legend Pat McManus, magician Jack Wise, Rob Strong, tribute bands, cover bands, puppet shows, musicals, plays, and many more diverse shows and events.
The Live Room Theatre provides the students of WAMA and TheatreBox with fantastic opportunities to see professional artists, both national and local, including access to live music acts that would otherwise typically perform in pubs and clubs that aren’t accessible to youth. Not only is it a space for the pros to perform in, it's also a forum for Arts Complex students who can participate at open mics, teenage kicks, battle of the bands, recitals, plays, musicals and even play support to the professional acts.
The Live Room Theatre is a gem in the facility and is a service that they are very proud to offer. Events in the theatre are for all ages, are fully supervised, and are always free from alcohol. Tickets are discounted by up to 50% for WAMA students and their immediate families.
The venue is also available for hire for private functions, music video shoots and parties.
If you want to get involved with some of the activities at The Arts Complex, visit TheatreBoxStudios.com and Waterfordacademy.ie individually to learn more. You can also phone 051-821014 or check them out on social media.
