Valerie Jackson(IV)
- Talent Agent
Valerie Jackson is a qualified teacher who trained at Margaret McMillan
Memorial Training College, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. She qualified at nineteen years of
age and became the youngest teacher in Bradford. She taught in schools
for 30 years, specialising in Drama. She has performed in musicals,
plays and has appeared in films and on television. Valerie founded
Stage 84 in Idle, Bradford, in 1984 and the school has since become one of the most
successful schools of performing arts in the North of England. She was
presented to the Queen, as Principal of Stage 84 in 1997. Valerie and
her late husband, Peter, wrote the musical 'Ellis' for Stage 84 which
was performed in London at the South Bank and the Edinburgh Fringe
Festival. The musical received acclaimed reviews. Valerie was awarded
'Best Director' at the Wharfedale Festival of Theatre awards ceremony
in 2004 for Stage 84's production of Spectacular 2003 at the Alhambra
Theatre, Bradford. In 2008 she was presented with the 'Spirit of
Theatre' award. This is a lifetime achievement award for services to
youth theatre and as founder of Stage 84. In April 2010, her students
performed together with students from Germany and Holland in a new
musical to celebrate the 2010 European Capital of Culture, performing
in Hamm, Germany and in Ilkley, Bradford, West Yorkshire. In December 2009
Valerie was awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Years Honours List, for
services to the arts in the North of England. She received her award
from Princess Anne at Buckingham Palace. Valerie is proud to be
presenting her students in Stage 84 theatrical productions in 2013.