Our Goals
We're dedicated to making a change to the future of theatre.
With your help, we can achieve our goals.
Opportunities
Our foundation's aim is to provide theatre and dance training to underprivileged youth.
Funding
As a not-for-profit foundation with no government funding, we rely solely on donations.
Our Accomplishments
We are constantly making big strides in pushing for diversity and inclusion in theatre.
In August of 2023, we partnered with Performers College, creating the Alan Burkitt Scholarship. This scholarship provides budding young talent with the amazing opportunity to study performance and theatre at Performers College.
In February 2024, we held our first DANCE DAYS event, at Dance Attic Studios in London, where people either paid to attend to help fundraise, or were one of the children given a free place. We had teachers Alan Burkitt, Grace Cinque-White, Luke Miller and David Winters teaching the group 4 different routines throughout the day.
Victoria Balls (on behalf of Amelia):
Amelia had an amazing time.
She is 12 years old and has done a few different workshops and she said this was one of her favourites! Loved all the routines and how different they were, all the teachers were amazing and lovely to work with.
Isabella Moore & Luke Spencer:
What a fabulous day in the studio for the first (of hopefully many) Strictly Foundation Dance Days Workshop. We had the best day, dancing up a storm with Grace Cinque-White, Luke Miller, Alan Burkitt and David Winters. It was a great way to decompress from our daily competitive training, dancing in great company, all there just for the pure joy of it.
How it All Began
At The Strictly Theatre Foundation, we’re passionate not only about our award-winning shows, but also about our strive for an inclusive and diverse talented team.
The Strictly Theatre Foundation, Created in 2022, was founded by managing director Paul Irving, who had noted the amount of people auditioning for roles in his shows from a privileged background; this led him to start a non-profit foundation to raise funds to place talented youth in stage schools and arts training courses.
The Strictly Foundation is a trading name of Strictly Support CIC.
Registered company number: 14008198.
Meet Our Team
Paul Irving
Director
Paul was born and raised in the small coastal town of Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk, but always had big dreams for the future! Having produced many amateur productions as a teenager, he went on to train in performing arts, being awarded a LAMDA gold medal in 1999, before moving to Hertfordshire the following year to study for his HND. Paul returned to his home town in 2009, after travelling the world for six months with his future wife Elizabeth.
In 2015, Paul turned his dreams into reality and formed Strictly Theatre Co. going on to produce sell-out tours for some of the biggest names to come out of Strictly Come Dancing - Ian Waite, Camilla Dallerup, Giovanni Pernice, Anton Du Beke, Kevin Clifton, Kristina Rihanoff, Vincent Simone, Robin Windsor, Anya Garnis, and Tristan MacManus, as well as the cast of Burn the Floor - The 25th Anniversary Reunion.
In 2018, Paul and his wife Elizabeth won the coveted ‘Great Business Growth’ award at the Spirit of Enterprise Awards, 10 years after winning ‘Great Entrepreneur’ at the same awards.
Richard Miller
Director
The dance industry has played a massive part of my life to date. After starting Ballroom & Latin American dancing at the age of 10, I was immediately drawn into the wonderful world of dance.
Competing nationally and internationally for many years together with my wife, we opened our dance company in 1991, and is still thriving today. We have since been involved in teaching many students to a very high level. I’ve been involved as an Adjudicator and host and master of ceremonies for many events including hosting ‘An Evening with Shirley Ballas’ and played host to many of past and present Strictly come dancing stars.
I am delighted and proud to be joining the wonderful team at the Strictly Theatre foundation as I strongly believe in the core believes of the foundation , offering invaluable opportunities to up and coming performers. I look forward in seeing and being involved in seeing the foundation grow from strength to strength.
Gary Alce
Director
Gary, born and raised in Paddington, London, has been with Strictly Theatre Co. (along with his wife Kim) since the formation of the company.
In his previous careers, the highlight was working in the USA in the drag motor racing circuit.
In theatre, Gary was previously technical manager at St George’s Theatre in Great Yarmouth (the birthplace of Strictly Theatre Co.). Since then, he has worked with Strictly Come Dancing Royalty including Giovanni (of course), Anton Du Beke, Lauren Oakley, Luba Mushtuk, Vincent Simone, Camilla Dallerup, Ian Waite, Robin Windsor, Kristina Rihanoff and Anya Garnis.
In 2023, Gary ticked off some bucket list venues to take his tours too, including the London palladim, Theatre Royal Drury lane and the Bord Gais in Dublin.
Together, we can change theatre.
Please email gary@strictlytheatreco.com for any inquiries.