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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Drama/ Theatre Classes, need GENUINE reviews please!

31 replies

BartlebyTheScrivener · 09/01/2024 15:54

Looking for a drama/dance/music club for DS, 8. Have looked at several of the big names online, including on here, and many of the reviews seem to be fake or at least less than impartial!

The prices seem very high but I'm willing to pay if the quality is good. I've seen good things about Stagecoach and Perform but they seem very much on the hard sell.

Is there a drama club provider you would recommend? Honest reviews please!

OP posts:
Original poster
BartlebyTheScrivener · 10/01/2024 10:05

ReineMarieGamache, would you mind telling me how much it works out per hour at Stagecoach?

OP posts:
CwmYoy · 10/01/2024 09:14

The big names are all franchises designed to make money for the owners, so it very much depends on who bought the franchise. Some are good, some not so good.

The very best ones are not-for-profit ones attached to theatres or arts centres.

gubbinsy · 10/01/2024 08:57

Check out your local theatre - they may have a youth theatre and you'll then also be supporting a local arts charity. (Prob cheaper as well)

ReineMarieGamache · 10/01/2024 08:34

I'm in the Midlands. DD2 goes to Stagecoach and is very happy there. The teachers are great and very good at making sure all children get a chance to shine, not just the talented/popular ones. Sessions are usually singing, acting and dancing with the aim of putting on a little show at the end of term but sometimes they have particular skills workshops - stage combat, TV recording, acrobatic skills, stage make up etc. It is expensive but she's there for 3 hours so when you actually break it down into an hourly rate I think it's reasonable.

DD2 has made a good bunch of friends there from different schools and looks forward to going every week. Her confidence has come on hugely since she joined which has had a knock on effect in school which is great.

All of the 'big name' theatre group things are franchises though so it does depend on the person in charge. Most will give you a free trial session so you could go and suss it out.

Original poster
BartlebyTheScrivener · 10/01/2024 07:53

We are in the south east.

OP posts:
sunflowerdaisyrose · 10/01/2024 00:02

Where are you based? Mine go to a lovely one, and know of other local ones I'd recommend, but they're not the national/franchised ones.