Darlington Academy of Performing Arts

Darlington Academy of Performing Arts Darlington Academy of Performing Arts (DAPA) is a Performing Arts School for students from age 2- Adult.

🖤💛Darlington Academy of Performing Arts🖤💛
Est. 2018

Theatre school based in Darlington
For age 2 -Adult

An academy for all aspects of Performing Arts including
⭐️Act⭐️Sing⭐️Dance⭐️
⭐️LAMDA Centre⭐️
⭐️Private Tuition⭐️
⭐️Performance Opportunities⭐️ We provide the community with fun, affordable classes in Acting, Singing and Dancing and work towards several productions and showcases a year. Our students gain skills in all aspects of performance, both on stage and backstage. Our aim is to prepare our students for working in the Performing Arts industry, as well as gaining life skills such as confidence, friendship, and teamwork.

⭐️🖤Stars of the week 🖤⭐️
08/10/2026

⭐️🖤Stars of the week 🖤⭐️

⭐ WHAT A NIGHT! ⭐The official photos from the NODA North East Awards have arrived, and we couldn't resist sharing some o...
07/10/2026

⭐ WHAT A NIGHT! ⭐
The official photos from the NODA North East Awards have arrived, and we couldn't resist sharing some of our favourites!

Such a special night celebrating theatre across our region and an evening that made us incredibly proud of everyone at DAPA. 🖤💛

NODA North - Amateur Theatre in your region
One Imagery

I’m trying to find the words, but honestly, my heart is just so full today. ❤️Pride, happiness, emotion… I’m not ashamed...
05/10/2026

I’m trying to find the words, but honestly, my heart is just so full today. ❤️

Pride, happiness, emotion… I’m not ashamed to say I’ve teared up more than a few times watching all of the incredible video auditions sent in by our MainStage students.

We have just spent 5 hours watching 217 videos and can honestly say it has been a treat!

Seeing so many of them put themselves out there, take the time to learn a song, practise it, build up the courage to record themselves and then actually press send… it’s something really special. And every single one of them should be incredibly proud of themselves, regardless of what happens next.

Following on from over 60 auditions from our Juniors last week, and then spending this weekend at the NODA Awards celebrating the incredible talent in our local theatre community... including our own amazing bunch... I’ve been reminded again just how special the world of theatre really is. 🎭

Yes, we put on shows. We sing, dance and act. We rehearse lines, learn routines, make costumes, build sets and eventually step out under those lights.

But it’s about so much more than that.

It’s watching a young person who once wouldn't say a word suddenly stand up and perform.

It’s seeing someone take a chance on an audition when they might not have had the confidence to do it a year ago.

It’s watching friendships form, personalities blossom and young people discover what they’re capable of.

It’s seeing them grow up right in front of you.

Being able to play even a small part in that journey is genuinely one of the best feelings in the world.

Today I’m just feeling incredibly proud of every audition, every performer, every bit of courage and every young person who walks through our doors and gives it a go.

What a very special bunch we have at DAPA. 🖤💛

Now comes the almost impossible job of choosing what goes into the show! 😭😂

🏆✨ WHAT A NIGHT FOR TEAM DAPA! ✨🏆We’re still taking it all in after an incredible evening at the NODA Performance Awards...
04/10/2026

🏆✨ WHAT A NIGHT FOR TEAM DAPA! ✨🏆

We’re still taking it all in after an incredible evening at the NODA Performance Awards 2026!

We headed into the event incredibly proud just to have DAPA productions and performers nominated alongside so much fantastic theatre from across the region… and came home celebrating FOUR individual award winners AND TWO Runner-Up production awards! 🖤💛

Our winners were…

🏆 BEST YOUTH INDIVIDUAL IN A MUSICAL
⭐ Penny Kipling as Matilda — Matilda The Musical JR.

🏆 RISING STAR
⭐ Jude Rees as Bruce Bogtrotter — Matilda The Musical JR.

🏆 VOCAL STAR
⭐ Eva Barass as Jane Seymour — SIX: Teen Edition

🏆 THE RICHARDSON AWARD
⭐ Liam Pattison — DAPA Technical Team

And we couldn’t be prouder of every single one of them! 🖤💛

Liam’s award is a particularly lovely one to celebrate, as the Richardson Award recognises a young person who demonstrates exemplary dedication, passion and support for amateur theatre behind the scenes, someone who gives their time and commitment to others without seeking praise or recognition for themselves.

Liam has become an important member of our DAPA Technical Team, giving his time, skills and support to help make our productions happen from the other side of the curtain, and we’re incredibly proud to see that commitment recognised. 🖤💛

And our productions had a pretty fantastic night too…

MATILDA THE MUSICAL JR.
Runner-Up — Best Youth Musical

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS
Runner-Up — Best Pantomime

Two completely different DAPA productions, one from our Youth performers and one from our Adults, both recognised amongst the very best in their categories. What an achievement for everyone involved!

We’re incredibly proud of Penny, Jude, Eva and Liam. Four very different awards recognising performance, vocals, emerging talent and technical contribution, something that feels like a wonderful reflection of the opportunities and talent we have throughout DAPA, both onstage and behind the scenes.

Awards are never the reason we do what we do. Seeing our students and adults grow in confidence, develop their talents, support one another and create brilliant theatre together will always matter most.

But we’ll admit…

FOUR winners and TWO production Runner-Up awards in one night feels pretty amazing! 😂🏆

A huge congratulations to all of this year’s nominees and winners, and thank you to NODA North for another fantastic evening celebrating theatre across our region.

And to everyone who contributed to Matilda, SIX, Snow White and all of our DAPA productions — performers, creatives, tech team, backstage team, volunteers, chaperones, families and supporters, thank you.

🖤💛 WHAT A NIGHT. WHAT A TEAM. VERY PROUD DAPA. 💛🖤

🏆 THE WAIT IS ALMOST OVER… THE NODA PERFORMANCE AWARDS 2026 ARE TOMORROW! 🏆We are incredibly proud to be heading into th...
02/10/2026

🏆 THE WAIT IS ALMOST OVER… THE NODA PERFORMANCE AWARDS 2026 ARE TOMORROW! 🏆

We are incredibly proud to be heading into the weekend with some amazing nominations for DAPA productions and performers! 🖤💛

🏆 ADULT AWARDS
⭐ Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Best Pantomime

🏆 YOUTH AWARDS
⭐ Matilda The Musical JR.
Best Youth Production

⭐ Penny Kipling
Best Performance in a Musical
Matilda – Matilda The Musical JR.

⭐ Jude Rees
Best Performance in a Musical
Bruce Bogtrotter – Matilda The Musical JR.

⭐ Eva Barass
Best Performance in a Musical
Jane Seymour – SIX: Teen Edition

And a special mention to our NODA award winner from last year, Violet Renwick, who will be at the awards again this year as she is up for another award for her school production! 🌟

We are so proud of every performer, creative, backstage team member and supporter who helped bring these productions to life. These nominations are a wonderful recognition of the talent, hard work and passion that goes into what we do at DAPA.

And a special thank you to John, our NODA Regional Rep, for his continued support of DAPA and our productions.

Whatever happens tomorrow night, we're incredibly proud to be celebrating alongside so many talented people from across the region.

✨ Good luck to everyone nominated… bring on tomorrow night! ✨

🏆🖤💛 TEAM DAPA! 💛🖤🏆

p.s reminder there is no classes on this weekend!

WOW… ALADDIN TICKETS ARE FLYING! We knew you were excited for this one… but the response to ALADDIN has been incredible!...
01/10/2026

WOW… ALADDIN TICKETS ARE FLYING!

We knew you were excited for this one… but the response to ALADDIN has been incredible! 🤩

Tickets have only just gone on general sale and we’re already seeing some performances filling up VERY quickly!

If you’re planning to join us this Christmas…particularly if you need a specific performance…we really wouldn’t leave it too long to book!

📅 17th–20th December 2026
📍 Darlington Community Theatre

🎟️ BOOK NOW: www.ticketsource.com/darlington-academy-of-performing-arts

🧞‍♂️✨ Everything you could wish for in a panto! ✨🧞‍♂️

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our wonderful students from your DAPA family! 🎂 ⭐️Alice⭐️⭐️Ellie⭐️⭐️Elsie⭐️⭐️Katie⭐️⭐️Millie⭐️⭐️Siobha...
01/10/2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our wonderful students from your DAPA family! 🎂
⭐️Alice⭐️
⭐️Ellie⭐️
⭐️Elsie⭐️
⭐️Katie⭐️
⭐️Millie⭐️
⭐️Siobhan⭐️
We hope you have a fab day! 🖤💛

✨ SHOW REVEAL #2… ALADDIN! ✨Time for another answer from our DAPA 2026/27 Season guessing game… 👀If you guessed that Cl...
30/09/2026

✨ SHOW REVEAL #2… ALADDIN! ✨
Time for another answer from our DAPA 2026/27 Season guessing game… 👀
If you guessed that Clue #3 was a magic lamp, then you were absolutely right…

✨ ALADDIN is our spectacular family pantomime for Christmas 2026! ✨

And there's even more exciting news…
TICKETS ARE NOW OFFICIALLY ON SALE TO THE PUBLIC!
We gave our cast and DAPA families priority access and the response has been incredible, OVER 50% OF ALL TICKETS HAVE ALREADY SOLD across our 6 performances!

This Christmas, join Aladdin on a magical adventure packed with huge musical numbers, fantastic dancing, colourful characters, magical moments and plenty of panto madness!

And of course… Joker & Duchess are BACK for another year of completely ridiculous antics!

📅 17th–20th December 2026
📍 Darlington Community Theatre
🎟️ BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW:
www.ticketsource.com/darlington-academy-of-performing-arts

Some performances are already filling up quickly, so if you have a particular date or performance in mind, we'd recommend booking early!

And that's another one revealed…
We now know #1 and #3 from our mystery clues — can you work out the other 7? 👀 🖤💛

🎄✨ SHOW REVEAL #1… NAUGHTY OR NICE! ✨🎄If you've been trying to work out the 9 shows in our DAPA 2026/27 Season, it's ti...
29/09/2026

🎄✨ SHOW REVEAL #1… NAUGHTY OR NICE! ✨🎄

If you've been trying to work out the 9 shows in our DAPA 2026/27 Season, it's time to reveal the first one!

And we're starting with our Junior & Infant Classes and their Christmas production…NAUGHTY OR NICE!

Naughty or Nice is a brand-new Christmas show written especially for our DAPA Juniors & Infants, giving our younger performers the chance to take centre stage in their very own production! ⭐

We have been absolutely blown away by the response to auditions for this show, with OVER 60 VIDEO AUDITIONS submitted!

And these auditions came from our brilliant 6–8 year olds, learning their audition pieces, getting themselves organised to record their videos and roping in mums, dads and family members to read the other parts with them!

The confidence, effort and character they put into their auditions was fantastic, and choosing the cast certainly wasn't easy.

A huge WELL DONE to every single student who auditioned. Whether you've been given a named role or will be joining our Elves & Agents ensemble, every member of the cast has an important part to play in bringing this show to life. ⭐

And now we're very excited to introduce…
🎭 THE CAST OF NAUGHTY OR NICE! 🎭
📅 28th & 29th November 2026
📍 Darlington Community Theatre

Congratulations everyone — we can't wait to get started! 🖤💛
TICKETS ON SALE VERY SOON!

That's show #1 revealed… but can you still work out the other 8? 👀

✨️Fancy giving something new a try?✨️Our Adult tap class is on again tonight at 6.30pm .community.theatre Spaces still a...
29/09/2026

✨️Fancy giving something new a try?✨️

Our Adult tap class is on again tonight at 6.30pm .community.theatre

Spaces still available, message to book your space ✨️

Address

55 Parkgate
Darlington
DL11RR

Telephone

+447733664479

Website

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