in partnership with Wells Cathedral School
About Walker's
Walker’s Performance Workshops is a new chapter in a long-established legacy of elite performing arts training, founded by Gareth Walker and Laura Walker - two working professionals, educators, and parents who have dedicated their entire lives to performance, education, and the careful development of young talent.
Formerly Walker’s Academy of Performing Arts, based at King's College Prep, we have now relocated and are proud to be partnering with Wells Cathedral School, one of the UK’s most respected centres for music and performance excellence. Our mission is to support students of all ages- from those just beginning their arts journey to those preparing for professional training - by offering authentic, industry-led performing arts education grounded in care, confidence, and excellence.
Meet The Team
Educators First. Industry Professionals Always.
What truly sets Walker’s Performance Workshops apart is not just who we have worked with but how deeply we understand education across age and aspiration. Between us, Gareth and Laura have spent decades teaching students from early years through to sixth form and beyond, supporting those who are curious about the arts as well as those committed to pursuing professional careers.
As parents to three boys, we understand the importance of safeguarding, encouragement, and responsibility when guiding young people through creative development. Confidence is nurtured first. Skill follows.
Media
What Sets Us Apart
Walker’s Performance Workshops is not a hobby-led activity, it is industry-facing, future-focused training.
Direct Access to to International artists and Industry leaders
Crucially, our students also benefit from direct access to international artists and industry leaders. Through our long-standing professional relationships, students may receive:
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Personal video messages of encouragement
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Feedback and critique on performances
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Insights into professional rehearsal rooms, auditions, and careers
Our ambassadors include Louis Smith, Aljaž Škorjanec, Janette Manrara, Anastacia, and Lulu- artists who are relevant, respected, and actively working at the highest level.
This is a bespoke opportunity: first-hand knowledge, real encouragement, and authentic insight from people who are shaping the industry today.
Industry Professionals
We are actively working professionals within today’s performing arts industry
Guest Faculty
Our guest faculty comes from the West End and international stage
Our Standards
Teaching reflects current industry standards, not outdated practice
Industry-Led Training Our Students Have Experienced
Over the years, our students have had the privilege of training in workshops led by professionals from some of the most respected productions and institutions in the industry. This includes performers and creatives from Matilda the Musical, Hamilton, Chicago, Wicked and Mary Poppins, alongside acting-for-screen workshops delivered by leading professionals from Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and Guildford School of Acting.
Students have also taken part in contemporary dance workshops with winners from So You Think You Can Dance, breakdancing sessions led by Team GB athletes, specialist beatbox workshops, and professional training with artists from Strictly Come Dancing, including the late and much-loved Robbie Windsor. In addition, students have benefited from script development, storytelling, and presenting workshops—ensuring a broad, relevant, and genuinely industry-facing training experience.
Our Workshops and Camps
In partnership with Wells Cathedral School, we deliver performance camps and workshops for students from Year 4 through to Sixth Form, including:
Dance (Commercial, Contemporary, Breakdance)
Musical Theatre
Acting & Acting for Screen
TV & Presenting
Beatboxing & Movement
Confidence building & performance mindset
Script work, storytelling & character development
Audition technique, etiquette and preparation
+ clear guidance on next steps within the performing arts industry
Why Wells?
Wells Cathedral School is a national leader in music and performance education. Walker’s Performance Workshops is built on the same foundation: excellence, integrity, and lived professional experience.
By embedding ourselves locally in Wells while remaining internationally connected, we create a bridge between world-class industry knowledge and exceptional student development—right here in Somerset.
Coming Soon
Our first Performance camps at Wells Cathedral School launch this Easter, with one programme for Pre-Prep & Prep and one programme for Seniors & Sixth Form.
Walker’s Performance Workshops is where students of all ages are nurtured, challenged, and inspired by educators who are still living and shaping the industry they teach.