Welcome to
Footlights Saddleworth
Contact: saddleworth@footlightstheatre.co.uk
JOIN THE NORTHWEST’S LEADING STAGE SCHOOL!
Does your child want to learn how to act, sing and dance?
Register now for a FREE TRIAL
Where we are:
We’re based at
Saddleworth High School,
Huddersfield Road,
Saddleworth, OL3 5NU
Your child is welcome for a free trial at anytime, for more information email saddleworth@footlightstheatre.co.uk.
About Us
The Footlights Head Office is based at Media City in Manchester, just around the corner from the main hub of the BBC & ITV studios. We were established in 2005 by our founder Jo Fisher, a trained actor and teacher, and who continues to have a hands-on role across our stage schools. Read more about Footlights and our history here.
We have robust processes to keep your child safe; all of our staff have DBS status and a trained first aider is always on site at each of our venues. You can read and download our safeguarding policy here.
What are you waiting for?
Book a no-obligation free trial today.
Do you live in or around Saddleworth?
If so, does your child…
Love performing & dream of being on the West End stage, on TV or in film?
Want to learn how to act, sing and dance?
Want to meet & make friends with children who share their interests?
Does this sound like your child?
Then Footlights Saddleworth is the right place for them!
What to expect?
During your child’s time at Footlights Saddleworth, our tutors will mentor them to help them realise their dreams of becoming a performer, by sharing their professional experiences, as well as facilitating and teaching performance techniques.
Footlights delivers quality performing arts training and our aim is to ensure that each child gets the most out of their experience by building their essential life skills and instilling confidence, whilst having lots of fun and meeting new friends. In addition to core performing arts skills, they will:
- Have confidence when socialising and in nursery or school
- Be encouraged to talk expressively in a structured, yet exciting forum
- Be inspired when taking part in discussions
- Be listened to when building skills in decision making
- Always be working as part of a team
Their learning will give them the basics and arguably the most important components of the performing arts.
The younger the child is when they take up an activity or interest the better, as in the right environment and with the right teacher they underpin the foundation to their learning and will already have a head-start on their peers.
You will find the Footlights approach friendly and energetic. We pride ourselves on inclusivity and being an encouraging company for your child to thrive in acting, singing and dance. We have superb progression rates from our schools, with the majority of our young students going onto performing arts colleges and drama schools.
We know you want to find the right balance between ensuring your child gets a good performing arts education, has fun and at the same time keeps up with their important mainstream education. We understand this, so this is why our method to developing your child’s Acting, Singing and Dancing will complement their academic studies. Plus, at Footlights, your child will benefit from the opportunity to take internationally recognised examinations through LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts).
There is also the option for students to audition for professional work in film, theatre and modelling via our agency, Footlights Personal Management (our recent successes include Game of Thrones and the CBBC series ‘KATY’).
Book a free trial today at Footlights Saddleworth and see for yourself.
Want to know more? Why not take a look at our FAQ’s
Shows
Each summer, all of our children take part in a performance. It’s a full-scale show where parents/carers, family and friends can come and watch their progress.
The Autumn/Winter and Spring term schedules focus much more on skills and technique with a shorter informal presentation at Christmas.
The teaching teams provide written feedback each Easter, so you can track your child’s progress. We also practice an open door policy for anytime that you wish to discuss your child’s progress. You can use this form to contact us, or speak to us directly.
We hope you enjoyed reading all about us and look forward to greeting you and your child at our school – just sign up here or message us.
Exams
We offer both Arts Award and LAMDA exams – find out more via your school
Class Timetable
Saturdays
9.30am – 11am – 3yrs – 4yrs
11.30am – 1pm – 5yrs – 6yrs
9.45am -1pm – 7yrs -18yrs
Our Staff
Alex Barber
Director
Read Bio
Footlights Saddleworth is owned by franchisee and Director Alex Barber a trained dancer with an enviable CV.
Alex, born in Halifax but grew up in Portugal where she first started doing ballet classes at the age of 7. At 15 she moved back to the UK to follow her dreams of one day being a professional dancer. After many auditions she was offered a spot at Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds. Four very intensive training years later Alex graduated youngest in her class gaining a BPA degree and a major in choreography. She then took to the stage performing around the world fulfilling her dream. In between contracts Alex gained a passion for teaching children and loved passing on what she’d learnt to the future generation. She taught for Footlights Wigan which after a few years inspired her to open up her own franchise with Footlights. Alex has always wanted to run her own dance school but opening up Footlights is more than she could have ever asked for! She now gets to run a dancing, singing and acting school at Saddleworth!! She is very excited! ‘I just want somewhere where kids can feel safe to shine their true colours, have fun learning new skills and pursue their dreams. We are all about diversity!’.
Fun fact about Alex: She once played foosball with Tinchy Stryder.
Alex has also worked as a teacher at Footlgihts for many years and shares a similar love of dance with that of acting, singing and dancing. She still teaches dance at an esteemed studio in Manchester, Alex has moved close to the Sadddlewoeth area after falling in love with the penines and moors.. She believes children and young people should be encouraged to express themselves and follow their dreams and aspirations.
Acting Tutor
Acting
Read Bio
In acting students are taught improvisation, scriptwork and acting through song to help them become confident performers as well as thinking actors.
During classes your child will learn how to listen, discuss, question, analyse, trust; through these, their confidence will build as well as their social skills. Their performance skills will also improve and, through being part of a regular group with like-minded children and young people, their friendship groups will widen.
Singing Tutor
Singing
Read Bio
In Singing your child will discover ‘their’ voice, be able to demostrate their vocal technique and shine to their full potential in Musical Theatre and singing her at Footlights Middleton. We thrive on children & young people gaining confidence in singing and most of all enjoying it!
Your child will discover their voice, build on existing skills and gain confidence in singing and most of all have fun!
Dance Tutor
Dance
Read Bio
Our choreography is exciting and jam packed full of edgy moves, we teach all styles including commercial, ballet, contemporary and musical theatre! Across Footlights we teach ballet, tap, contemporary and commercial dance and in a very supportive environment, we aim to get the very best out of your child and teenager. We work on technique, timing, style, precision and routines. We give our Footlights Middleton students the confidence to open up and progress in their performing ability!
3yrs - 6yrs (Tiny's) & Monday
Acting Teacher
Read Bio
In Tiny’s your child is taught acting, singing and dance in bite-size chunks, so that they can grasp the techniques easier, have fun and develop a love for the arts from a young age.
The Tiny’s concept is to prepare your child for main school. By the time that they leave the Tiny’s group, your child will be ahead of most 7 year old’s who are new to performing arts. Our passion to teach will bring your child’s confidence to life.
Our daughter who is 9 started at Footlights when it first opened, Within a couple of weeks she transformed into a confident girl whose personality has blossomed!
Anna and her team are the absolute best in finding strengths in the children and encouraging them non stop. I’m constantly kept up to date and I can always text with any issues.
The end of term show was AMAZING, my mum was in tears at the transformation of Maisie and couldn’t believe how well organised and brilliant the children were! Thank you!
