About

Hope Aria Academy is a new and exciting part time drama course situated in the city of Manchester. The school was founded by Katy Lipson, Joseph Houston and William Whelton and came from the need for more opportunities for Northern based performers to specialise in Musical Theatre. All 3 founders have backgrounds in Musical Theatre training and are currently full time producers and theatre owners, actively working in the industry.

The course is tailored for individuals who have either already trained professionally and are looking for a fresh approach to training within a smaller more focused atmosphere, individuals who are not yet ready to make the leap to full time drama training and require further tuition and mature students who have experience in musical theatre and want to re-skill to return to the industry.

In 2016, Joseph and William joined forces with Katy Lipson of Aria Entertainment to spearhead the Hope Mill Theatre as a home for new musicals, musical premieres and musical revivals. Hope Aria productions since 2016 include; Parade, Hair, The European Premiere of YANK! Pippin, The European Premiere of Little Women, The World Premiere of new musical Toyboy Diaries, Spring Awakening, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Aspects of Love, new musical The Return of the Soldier and Stephen Sondheim’s Putting It Together. London transfers include Yank at Charing Cross Theatre, Pippin at Southwark Playhouse and Hair at The Vaults. Their production of Hair is about to embark on a UK Tour.