HUSBAND and wife actors Imelda Staunton and Jim Carter have led a masterclass at the DPTA theatre school - set up by Bradford musical theatre star Damien Poole.

The acting class and Q&A, which took place at Harrogate Grammar School, covered everything from what it was like to work with Daniel Radcliffe (Imelda played Professor Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter movies), Jim’s character in Transformers on the big screen, and his most recent film, about male synchronised swimming.

“They spent well over an hour answering questions and having pictures taken with students and parents and signing autographs,” says Damien, principal of DPTA.

Damien was Imelda’s dance captain in acclaimed West End show Gypsy, for which Imelda won a Best Actress Olivier award. Imelda and Harrogate-born Jim, familiar to millions of viewers as butler Carson in Downton Abbey, are patrons of DPTA - Damien Poole Theatre Arts.

“I was so honoured that Imelda and Jim asked to come and visit everyone at DPTA,” says Damien. “I myself was incredibly inspired by Imelda, her stage presence, her ability to immerse herself into such a complicated role, while singing and dancing too. We had so much fun in rehearsal.

“Both she and Jim are extremely kind, thoughtful and generous.”

Damien, from Clayton Heights, trained at the DM Academy in Shipley and did a BTEC at Shipley College. His first professional role was in panto at the Alhambra.

He went on to spend a decade working in West End shows such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Grease, Shrek the Musical and Groundhog Day. He was also in Chess in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall with American singer Idina Menzel, who sang Let it Go in Frozen.

Based in Harrogate, DPTA has guest tutors, all working in the business as actors, musical directors, choreographers and directors, leading classes, workshops and masterclasses.

"I’m very lucky to have worked consistently, from one show to another, in the West End for 10 years,” said Damien, a former Queensbury School pupil. “I wanted to bring some of the West End to Bradford, and give other children chance to shine."

* Visit dpta.co.uk