Ravenscourt Theatre School
The spirit of Corona rose again like a 'Phoenix from the ashes' in the guise of the Ravenscourt Theatre School. The distinctive green and yellow uniform was still the same; only the badge was different: it now showed RTS instead of CA. Sir Robin Phillips took over as principal and together with Jayne Knight (Rona Knight's niece), Joan Tandy and Rev. Bob Blakeley (Corona Head teacher), put the Ravenscourt Theatre School together, opening in September 1989. Several of the academic and vocational staff from Corona - notably, Mrs Lynch, Paul Lockwood and Judi Swinny - joined the new school, Martin Beaumont taking on the Head of Vocational Training position. On its first day, over seventy-five pupils turned up, all but six coming from Corona. The West End Baptist Church had now become the main school building, instead of just an annexe; other buildings, including the Polish Centre, then became annexes for some classes. The school thrived for many years, finally taking on larger premises in Hammersmith with large studio spaces, which finally had the entire school and agency office under the same roof for the first time. Sir Robin Phillips has now retired, living most of his time in India and enjoying his retirement.
Ravenscourt Theatre School subsequently relocated to smaller premises in Brentford; as fewer families were able to afford the private school fees falling numbers made the large premises in Hammersmith untenable. RTS subsequently went into liquidation and closed, and the new Corona Theatre School opened on the same site. (There is not a member of the Knight family left at the school, Jayne Knight having left when RTS closed in February 2010.)
Read more about this topic: Corona Stage Academy
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