Triple Threat Theatre Academy celebrates its tenth birthday

Triple Threat Theatre Academy has seen its popularity grow since it gained a permanent studio last year at Nine Trees Trading Estate, Morthen Road, Thurcroft.

Principal and owner Rebecca Noble (38) founded the academy in November 2009 following her career as a professional singer and dancer.

“We started off as a musical theatre class teaching every Saturday with children from age three upwards,” said Rebecca.

“We ran it from various different venues up until last January when we got our own place.”

“We were based in various village halls and church halls around Rotherham,” said Rebecca.

“It’s a bit more established now.

“It’s meant we have got so many more classes on the timetable now which we have been wanting to do since we set up.

“We teach tap, ballet, jazz and lyrical dance as well as musical theatre, which includes dance, drama and singing.”

Rebecca trained at the SLP College of Performing Arts in Leeds which, Rebecca said, was now regarded as an up and coming college.

She left in 2001 to begin a three-year course in musical theatre and teacher training.

Rebecca worked as a professional dancer and singer, performing at theatres in Rotherham, and worked as a singer on cruise liners for P&O.

She also performed in the Cinderella pantomime at the Lyceum, Sheffield, ten years ago as a dancer and an understudy to Cinderella and the fairy godmother, performing alongside Matt Baker and Ryan Moloney, known for his role as Toadfish in Neighbours.

Shortly afterwards, Rebecca decided to launch Triple Threat — whose name refers to a performer accomplished at dance, drama and singing — and worked hard to get her fledgling business off the ground.

“I traipsed the length and breadth of Rotherham, flyering,” she said.

“I went into schools to offer free classes and I tried to get the ball rolling that way.

“It took a while to build up and word of mouth did the advertising.”

Rebecca said many of her students now began with her when they were young children.

“I’ve hopefully inspired a few students to take it further,” she said.

Rebecca has two guest tutors who help teach her classes from time to time, including a drama teacher who takes classes on a Saturday, but she teaches most of the classes herself.

She also has close ties with Greasbrough Operatics Society and helps to choreograph some of their performances.

Triple Threat hold a summer show and a Christmas concert every year and before their permanent base these were held at venues such as Rotherham College, Wickersley School and the Lyric Theatre, Dinnington.

Rebecca said when she started out there were only eight students but this has since grown to 80 to 85 students on a weekly basis and a waiting list for places.

“It was a steady growth at first but since we took on the studio it has been busy since then,” said Rebecca.

The Triple Threat studio is open six days a week and also hosts privates classes including Jodie’s Aerobics, RotherHop and a yoga class run by Kerry Hacking.

“When I’m not teaching it’s nice to know it's still being used and there’s something for all ages,” said Rebecca.

“It’s really exciting and I can definitely see it growing over the next ten years as well.

“There’s a big dance scene in Rotherham. A lot of the youngsters are really into dance and performance and it's nice to support that and put something on for the community.

“My oldest student left last year to go to university to study music.”

Rebecca said she was hoping a few more of her students would be going to college to further their studies in the coming years.

The mum said her daughters, Sofia (5) and Ava (3), already enjoyed attending classes and she hoped one day they might be able to take the business on themselves.

Triple Threat’s tenth anniversary show, which will be held on June 28 and 29 at Rotherham College, will be a celebration of the best bits from shows over the last ten years.

Tickets will beon sale later this year.

Anyone interested in finding out more about Triple Threat should call Rebecca on 07712 357388.