KINETIC
Kris Crowley founded The Kinetic School Of Performing Arts in 2013, and has seen it grow to become one of Cardiff’s most industrious and creative theatre companies. Recognising a gap in the arts scene, artistic director and producer Crowley formed Kinetic in 2013 to give youths a chance to develop their skills with fees that were accessible to all.
“We started with modest expectations of producing a show in the first year, but it developed at an incredible rate and two years in we had opened a youth academy [for 6-16-year-olds] and had produced five musicals.” The growth continued and in the past six years the company has staged 35 musicals. But it doesn’t end there for the Kinetic team as Crowley also saw this as a way to give back. As an active part of the LGBT+ and Cardiff community as a whole, Crowley feels Kinetic has an important role in supporting charity. “It feels only right to be able to give something back. ‘if we can, we will’ is our motto.”
But what can a student expect if they walk through the doors at Kinetic? “We have students who perform and students/ex-students who have stepped up and taken on production roles such as lighting design, stage management and set and production design. It’s amazing we can offer that level of experience to our students, whilst working alongside professionals in their field on a technical level.” So even if performing isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, there’s still a role to be had.
The company’s biggest achievement to date was a spectacular sold-out show at Cardiff City Hall last year, to celebrate their fifth anniversary, where the kids performed a collection of favourites from over the years as well as a few surprises. “In the space of 12 hours we had a band call, a set built, tech/dress rehearsals, performed the show, dismantled the set and left. It was a manic day and night but everyone pulled together and it was phenomenal.”
Constantly seeking to develop and hone their standards as well their reputation, and with several productions in the pipeline, it’s onwards and upward for the Kinetic School and their talented youngsters.
Kinetic perform Chicago at Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Tue 23-Fri 26 July. Tickets: £15/£12.50. Info: 029 2039 1391 / www.rwcmd.ac.uk
words Chris Andrews