Hello and welcome to our first Footlights Blog. As part of our 20^th anniversary celebrations, we have launched our new website blog to share our news, thoughts and ideas with you.

In 2005, founder Jo Fisher decided to open her own stage school and so the wonderful story of Footlights began. Footlights now proudly boasts 18 franchises, we have expanded into territories down South and our 3rd London Franchise opens its doors in Dagenham on Saturday 26 April.

Twenty years on and we continue to pursue our mission to nurture creativity and inspire young imaginations in a safe and welcoming environment, equipping them with transferrable life skills. Jo’s drive and passion to ensure performing arts remains accessible and affordable for all children is central to the success of Footlights. The Footlights Group, under the direction of Jo and her business partner Sue Hibbert continues to go from strength-to-strength, despite the challenges of the Covid pandemic and the following cost of living crisis.

It is more important than ever to provide children with an outlet to express themselves as the pandemic had a significant impact on mental health. Footlights is a place where young people can develop their singing, dancing and acting skills in an encouraging environment which has a positive effect in terms of reducing stress and anxiety. Our trained teachers know how to engage the children during sessions, boosting their confidence and increasing resilience so they are also developing important life skills as they learn.

Footlights offer affordable acting, singing and dancing tuition for three to 18-year-olds. Footlights aim to ensure that every child has the chance to fulfil their potential by providing high quality specialist teaching in safe, fun environments. The classes are held on Saturdays, but did you know that Footlights also offers school workshops, birthday parties and holiday schools? And we run a casting agency which has seen some of our students securing roles on TV shows. Some of our many student success stories include roles in Matilda the Musical, Les Misérables CBBC’s KATY, and HBO’s Game of Thrones; as well as adverts for Aldi, McDonalds and the Co-operative Bank.

From our Head Office at Media City, just around the corner from the main hub of the BBC and ITV Studios, Jo Fisher continues to take a passionate and hands-on approach to Footlights guiding and supporting our franchisees and you will find the same passion and enthusiasm at each of our Footlights schools around the country when you step through the door on a Saturday morning.

As testament to the wonderfully welcoming family feel at Footlights, some of the children who attended the performing arts classes at the start of the journey in 2005 have now returned with their children. This delights us as we want to inspire generations to realise their potential and let their star shine.

Many things have changed over the last twenty years, but Footlights’ primary aim remains the same – to give children from all backgrounds the opportunity to express themselves creatively, celebrate their individuality and build confidence through the performing arts.

We are delighted to have reached our 20^th birthday and are excited to discover what the future has in store at Footlights.

If you have any ideas of ways in which we can celebrate our 20^th anniversary, please get in touch via email: anna@thefootlightsgroup.co.uk