Footlights Theatre is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The stage school franchise model founded by Jo Fisher continues to go from strength to strength and more and more children are benefiting from our unique approach to developing performance skills.
Did you know Footlights don’t just run weekend stage schools, but also offer themed holiday schools? It’s been a busy summer with children enjoying Footlights holiday schools up and down the country. Children don’t have to attend our Saturday stage school classes to sign up for summer school, so these weekly schools are the ideal way to introduce your child to Footlights.
The idea of joining a stage school is exciting, but for some children it can also be daunting. Whether your child dreams of standing in the spotlight or is simply looking for a fun, creative outlet, deciding to join a weekend stage school is a big step.
Footlights Summer School offers an ideal way to trial the world of performing arts. At Footlights Summer School at Media City children spent the week rehearsing for a performance of Moana 2 under the expert guidance of Ada and Sian.
From the outset the children are made to feel relaxed, so they started the week with ice-breaking games and introduced themselves, telling the group the things they enjoy.
10 year old Alexia said, “As soon as I walked into the room, I became friends with lots of people.”
Ada and Sian encouraged the children to pair up with someone they didn’t know to work on a scene. This is how we encourage teamwork and friendships at Footlights, whilst ensuring the children are always happy and comfortable.
A Fun Low-Pressure Environment
Unlike the commitment of weekly classes, our summer stage schools offer a short, immersive burst of creativity. Children spend five days surrounded by peers who share their enthusiasm, learning through play, performance, and collaboration. They get the chance to explore their potential in a safe, supportive environment.
For children who are considering attending one of our Footlights schools, this can be the perfect setting to build confidence and test the waters.
A Backstage Pass to Footlights
Every stage school is different and at Footlights we are proud of our values, standards of teaching and commitment to developing your child’s performing arts talents. A week at Footlights Summer School allows children (and parents) to get a experience our culture, giving your child a sense of whether they’d enjoy the regular weekend sessions.
Think of it as a backstage pass to what’s on offer when your child joins a Footlights Stage School.
Rapid Progress Sparks Motivation
At our Summer Schools, children spend a week rehearsing for a show at the end of the week. The focused nature of the schedule means children often make significant progess in just one week. Whether it’s learning a dance routine, memorising lines, or conquering stage fright, development happens fast which can be incredibly motivating. Experiencing this growth first-hand can be the spark that lights a lasting passion for performing.
Many students come out of summer school feeling proud, accomplished, and often they feel motivated and ready to register at their local Footlights school.
The Pride of the Final Showcase
At a Footlights Summer School, children spend the week preparing and rehearsing for a final showcase performance for family and friends. This moment of celebration provides a structure for the week and gives the children a real sense of purpose. Taking part in this performance shows children what they’re capable of, building their self-belief and giving them a taste of the thrill that comes with performing in front of an audience.
In our experience, the children feel a real sense of pride after their final showcase performance and many leave asking “When can I do this again?”
Don’t just take our word for it – Footlights Feedback
9 year old Megan attended the Wicked Themed Summer School run by Khara Pemberton and her team at Footlights Old Trafford. Her Mum Lisa said, “Wicked Week was just brilliant! Megan is often quite shy when she joins a new club or group, but she settled straight in and loved every day as they have a common purpose in working towards the show at the end of the week.
She enjoyed the mix of colouring, craft, going to the park, dancing and everything else that they managed to fit in. The staff were wonderful and really encouraged Megan to have a speaking line even though she was happy to take a backseat. This was great for her confidence and hopefully will encourage her to take a bigger part next time, we certainly will be back next year! Thank you for looking after her so well.”
It is in this warm, welcoming and encouraging environment, that child thrive, grow in confidence and form friendships. The transformation of many of these children, in the short space of just a week often surprises parents and carers and even the children themselves!
Summer School is the ideal introduction to Footlights, because as Lisa references, all the children work towards the same goal.
Ready to Join Footlights?
Choosing to join a weekend stage school can feel like a big decision but our summer school tasters provide the perfect bridge. A Footlights Summer School is a supportive, structured way for children to explore performing arts, meet new friends, and see if they enjoy the experience before committing to weekly classes.
If your child is showing signs of interest, give them the gift of a week immersed in music, dance, drama, and confidence-building fun. You might just discover the beginning of a lifelong love for the stage and the start of their journey with our Footlights family.
Use our Stage School postcode search on the homepage to find details of your closest Footlights school and send your enquiry direct to them: Home ⋆ Footlights Theatre