Tarinn Callender, champions GEMS WSO, Centre of Excellence for Performing Arts

Dubai, UAE: Tarinn Callender, leading British singer and actor and well known for his portrayal of Hercules Mulligan and James Madison in the original London cast of hit stage musical Hamilton, will visit GEMS Wellington Academy – Silicon Oasis (WSO) for a week-long session of theatre masterclasses for the lucky students.

His visit this week (w/c 8 November) further enriches the reputation and offering of the school’s Centre of Excellence for Performance and Theatre Technologies.

Tarinn will lead the classes for GEMS Education students in vocal technique, character development and share his experiences of being part of Hamilton.

The star will be mentoring and closely working with both primary and secondary children, including BTEC, IB and GCSE students and pupils from the Performing Arts elite teams. Year 5 students from WSO, who won a rap competition, will also get a chance to perform in front of Tarinn.

The visit is in partnership with ArtsEd International, the leading drama school in the UK which delivers world-class performing arts training in Dubai and across the UAE. During the lockdown period, ArtsEd hosted a musical theatre quiz for international partners, which was won by Jodie Quirke, WSO’s Acting and Production Arts Programme Manager, and the grand prize was a week’s lessons on stage craft from a West End star – Tarinn Callender.

Jodie Quirke said: “I was extremely thrilled when we won the chance to host Tarinn at our school. The Centre of Excellence for Performance and Theatre Technologies at WSO is distinctively different as we aim to bring the industry’s expertise into our school and give students a ‘real world’ experience. Tarinn’s visit is a testament to that goal as we continue to invest in students from a very young age and develop their talents.”

Tarinn Callender said: “I feel extremely lucky to be part of this project with GEMS Education and ArtsEd. The youngsters are the future of the arts. It’s important for me to be able to stand in front of them and allow them to see that not everyone looks the same in our industry, and everyone of all shapes and sizes, colours and creeds can do exactly what I do, and hopefully, I can inspire them to reach for their dreams.”

More accustomed to audiences of thousands in packed theatres, Tarinn will perform to socially distanced students in sports halls and drama studios.

Tarinn has also engaged with students from GEMS Wellington Primary School and GEMS Wellington Academy – Al Khail, where students enjoyed a performance by the star, a talk about his career and journey from school to stage with Q&As. The sessions were also live-streamed to students who are remote learning.

GEMS Education’s Centres of Excellence programme is a platform that provides leadership, research, development pathways, partnerships, support and training in a focused discipline.

At WSO, students from FS2 to Post 16 receive Performing Arts lessons each week with a team of specialised performing arts teachers, led by a Director of Performing Arts.