Ursula Embleton from Stage One Youth Theatre wrote to say

"The day you came to do the Les Miserables workshop with our cast of 30 was the day you transformed my cast from a group of youngsters who did not really understand what it was all about to a team of young actors all pulling together and wanting the same thing. You were inspirational, fun your immense energy left us all wanting more. It has really helped all the group to grow into their characters and it has certainly helped me as the director to see the full potential in all of my cast."

July 2010

Some of the students wrote about the experience.

"I thought the work that Peter did with us was truly inspirational and really helped us all to understand the workings of the show and most importantly, the characters and the plot. His passion and attention to detail certainly helped me, particularly whilst doing 'I Dreamed A Dream': his techniques and ways of exploring the character were fascinating and enabled me to immerse myself in the world and thoughts of Fantine, and for the first time, I felt that I really understood the mindset and the overall character of Fantine, and for that, I am truly grateful. His technique of 'Don't act, think' was a fantastic way to help me to establish the character and to not go overboard with it, and I will use that technique from now on!"

"I just wanted to let you know how much I truly enjoyed the workshop with Peter no Sunday. It made me realise that there is just so much more you can give to your performance. I thought it was a really action packed day and I was shattered by the time I got home, but it was worth it."

"Peter helped me to find the true emotion in my character of Marius. Although I did get upset while singing “The Café Song” Peter helped me to understand that was OK as long as you can pull it back and not lose it totally in the middle of the song. Peter was hard working but fun. What stuck out in my mind was the words “don’t act think” this really helped to understand what I needed to do. I think I speak for all the cast when I say the workshop day was such a great day and we all really enjoyed working with Peter, so thank you!"

With two of the incredibly dedicated and prodigious production team. Esme Lewis and Geoff Hinde, who was made an MBE for his services to teaching.

"I found Peter's workshop for Sweeny Todd extremely enjoyable. I play Mrs Lovett, and had been having some trouble with getting the story across with the fast songs, but Peter really helped me to work with the audience and make the most of my character and her lines. He is one of the most inspiring people I have met, and he has really lifted our overall performance."

Caitlin Hare (Wirral Grammar Girls)

"I just feel compelled to extend my personal thanks and no doubt thanks on behalf of the entire cast. The workshop you held with us at Wirral Grammar this Monday for Sweeny Todd was phenomenal. Having been in four of your workshops (all the way back to the schools production of Oliver 5 years ago) you have always astounded me with how you empower principals with confidence, make the chorus realise how important they are and raise the overall performance standard. Since your workshop on Monday everyone in the cast has been integrating with everyone else and everyone’s social circles have overlapped into one. It was incredible how afterwards people were talking to me who I’d never spoken to and vice versa! The whole cast feels so friendly and now nobody is afraid or too shy to ‘risk it’ in scenes." Philip Arathoon (Wirral Grammar School For Girls)

February 2010

With Mike Lake, Jo Moon, and Kate O'Connor.

Two of their leaders wrote to say...

Thank you so much for a very enjoyable and uplifting workshop last Sunday, I know everyone appreciated your invaluable advice,guidance and support. Many of the children have not stopped talking about you and have given some, the impetus to follow acting further.

On a personal note I found the whole exercise inspirational and learnt a great deal from it.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for dedicating time out of your busy schedule to assist us.

Wishing you all the best for A Christmas Carol and - break a leg!

Steph Gillet

November 2009

Thanks so much for such a brilliant workshop today. It was wonderful to see you working with our group, and great to see the techniques you used to excite and inspire them to dig so much deeper, and to really get to the bottom of their characters. By the end of the afternoon I could see such a shift in their perception of the real feelings that this show provokes.
I am sure that with Jo's direction and the rest of the leaders support, we can build on what you have started and really lift this show to the next level and do this fantastic musical the justice it deserves.
I am so glad that I am an internet geek, as I found your workshop on the web, and suggested to the rest of the leaders that Mike contacted you - that was definitely a good evening's browsing all those months ago!

Mandy Cox

All the leaders at Bodicote - Mike, Pat Williams, Steph Gillett, (Jo behind her) Kate, Mandy Cox and Laura Cox.

I got a lovely letter from Tim Pender, (below left) Head of Drama, about the workshop I gave at his fabulous school. The cast were an extremely talented and highly motivated group. I have rarely seen a school cast so willing to commit themselves to a production.

With Tim Pender (Director), Beth Robinson (Assistant Musical Director) and Keith Brown (Musical Director)

Tim Pender Head of Drama -

"While his focus was on the importance of the company and individual responsibility to the collective goal, he also spent time pushing the principal performers, really challenging them over what they were saying and why. There is security in ensemble work, but this attention was direct, leaving individuals challenged in a very personal and exposing way. If not everyone felt comfortable with the in-your –face eye-contact and intense questioning, it was done at the perfect time to encourage reflection and re-evaluation of what could be achieved."

You can download the full text of his article here.

February 2009

Stuart Mottershead, the Marketing & Communications Manager at Yarm School sent me this recently.

I recently became patron of this small group down in Devizes. Carole Berry, the artistic director and her staff were hugely welcoming as I began a series of workshops. Over the last few months I have become more and more involved with the life of the school and its program in order to bring out the students best work. Carole and I have been working in tandem to produce the gala on Saturday 27th June.

I really enjoy working with this group and as it grows in experience and confidence we will be able to take on work which will really stretch and challenge them.

Carole Berry (pictured) wrote to say

"We might be selected to perform at the West Wilts Show at the end of July on a huge stage before an audience of 80,000 people! We also have this marvelous song written especially for us for the London 2012 Olympics - which we would love to perform with you, or at least with your guidance. The Cultural Olympiad for the South West Region have asked for us to submit a recording."

June 2009

Pictured with the entire cast of Les Miserables

James Baker playing Javert wrote to say, "I just wanted to thank you for what was a fantastic experience for me personally, and I believe I can say for the company as a whole. I believe the day you had with us had a massive impact on our production and it was overall even better because of everything we did with you that day."

Pictured with Jason Curtis and choreographer Nina Bradley.

Pictured is Peter (centre, 7th from left) with the Tread the Boards Company, production team and NODA region 2 representative Roger Buist (far right).

Pictured are Agnes Boardman (choreographer), Brian Boardman (director), Peter Polycarpou (workshop teacher) and Ian Strachan (musical director).

“Peter is a great motivator and is so passionate and committed to his craft. It is an absolute joy to watch him working and teaching. His musical theatre workshop was a ‘Masterclass’ on stagecraft. I'm sure our youngsters will be much better prepared, emotionally ‘in character’, and better all-round performers as a result of this intensive two-day workshop. His teaching methods certainly proved very popular with our young performers and I know he'll have added to his growing fan base in Tayside. A presentation showcase ‘at the end of the day’ was extremely well received by an enthusiastic audience of parents, relatives, friends and invited guests. We can’t wait to have him back again next year!”

Tread the Boards’ director Brian Boardman says “Peter teaches performers to look at a script or a song from an actor’s perspective, analysing it in strict detail and finding the inner emotion required for a particular character in any given scene or song. He emphasises the need to prepare and research every role you play and song you sing to make your character more believable, encouraging you to think how your character reacts and interacts with other characters. It’s a tough business, so he works the students hard, urging them to perform at the top of their game at all times, often exuding levels of performance they didn't’t think was possible themselves. His ‘in-your-face’ method challenges the students while focusing on the three central tenets of theatre: creativity, confidence and collaboration.

June 2008

Emma Tarrant (Head Of Drama) wrote to say "The cast and myself are so grateful for everything that you have done for us. It has lifted the show to an incredible level and given it the magic touch it needed. It was great for all of them to experience such a fantastic opportunity of working so thoroughly on a school show with yourself - something that we don't have the luxury of time to do often enough and it was equally great for me to see them working and producing the standard of performance they did."

Feb 2008

Nov 2007

Johanna Egar head of Theatre Studies wrote to say, " Thank you again for your fantastic support. I am in absolutely no doubt that the way in which you inspired the cast and demanded such standards of them on the day made the show what it was; a huge success!"

Jeannie Woods Artistic Director (left)

Oct 2007

"Thank you so much for the workshop on Sunday, it was so helpful to both me and the children, and I know they all enjoyed it immensely, as did the adults attending too. I hope I can now do this wonderful production justice, as I am only an amateur and have not directed that many musicals, but I promise I will give it my best, and I have the video footage to help...for me this was a wonderful experience, and I cannot thank you enough. You made me want to improve on my performance in the shows that I appear in too!
Lots of luck with all your future productions, please keep in touch."

Gary Sullivan left - Director StageAbility and his wife Ann

Jan 2007

A day in the company of Peter Polycarpou took our cast of seventy young performers on an emotional journey that made our production of Les Miserables take on a whole new dimension and I am sure, contributed to eight full-house standing ovations!

"Thanks so much for coming to Solihull last week to run the workshop. We were all impressed with your enthusiasm and the way you were able to inspire the kids to dig deep into their emotions." Lucilla Lang Joint Artistic Director

Jan 2007