Famous TV actress Pauline Quirke is looking for future Teignbridge stars to join her academy of performing arts and audition for free this Thursday, February 21.

The BBC sitcom ’Birds of a Feather’ star is hoping to recruit more talented teenagers like Kingsteignton student Kirkby West to audition for free at The Pauline Quirke Full-time Academy of Performing Arts at the PQA Studios London in King’s Cross, London’s newest full-time drama school.

Pauline is holding full-day auditions at the school in PQA Studios in Islington, London, on February 21. Future auditions are on April 11 and June 27.

Kirkby West, 16, was a former student at Teign School and one of the first cohort of students to start at the Pauline Quirk’s academy in September.

He said: ‘I have learnt so much at the full-time academy and have been given so many wonderful experiences, such as working with some very talented people. I am so grateful and lucky to have been given this opportunity.

‘However, not only have I learnt so much from the full-time academy but I have also learnt so much about myself by living away from home. I have learnt the kind of skills that are needed in adulthood to take care of my own wellbeing.’

Pauline launched the school last September when the first class of students aged between 16 and 19 started studying for a two-year diploma course, the equivalent to three A Levels. Many of the teachers at the school have performed in successful West End shows.

The academy has waived audition fees and has decided to reduce its student fees, using funding provided by the PQA Trust, a charitable trust set up by Pauline.

She said: ‘I’m really excited to be able to offer students the opportunity to train at our full-time academy at a reduced fee - this means that young people, who have the potential and determination but may not have complete funding, will be able to benefit from attending our two-year diploma course at a considerably reduced cost.

‘This comes with all the expertise of our professional teachers, a wide-ranging and very practical curriculum including our unique film and screen work, and access to lots of industry opportunities.’

‘We also wanted to remove the barrier of audition fees. It is already expensive enough for prospective students to travel to London to audition, so we didn’t want to add to that financial burden by charging them as well.

‘We want to provide more affordable training of the highest quality so that our students have the greatest chance of pursuing a career in the industry when they leave us.’?