Zoe helps to find new young stars

WEST End star Zoe Birkett celebrated the first anniversary of new singing, dancing and acting academy at the weekend.

And Zoe, who shot to fame in Pop Idol in 2002, says she’s “happier than ever” now that she’s a mum of four-months-old Aaria.

Zoe has been taking a break from theatre work to have her baby and last appeared in The Bodyguard at Sunderland Empire.

She returns to performing in December when she stars in Snow White at The Hippodrome in her home town of Darlington.

In the meantime, Zoe was at Hummersknott Academy over the weekend for her second summer school.

She launched the academy last year and aims to stage a summer school and winter school annually to fit in with her busy schedule.

“I just want to give something back, here in my home town, and it’s fantastic to see how much talent there is out there,” said Zoe.

She’s supported in her academy by friends from the theatre world, including Savannah Stevenson and Jacqueline Hughes who have been starring in the West End as Glinda and Elphaba in the hit show Wicked.

Lauren Hall, who has been appearing in another West End show, Gypsy, is also assisting and “rising star” Tim Jasper, from Darlington, is the academy’s musical director.

Video messages have been sent by stars including Ant and Dec, Alfie Boe and Michelle Heaton, from Liberty X.

The academy will be staging a winter school, over a weekend in January, but the dates are yet to be confirmed.

As well as aiming to get back to performing, Zoe has also launched a business called ZBA Accommodation, which finds places to stay for performers.

To find out more about the Zoe Birkett Academy, go to www.thezoebirkettacademy.co.uk