Musical theatre - south London?

[NooNooMummy]

My daughter (10) announced that she wants to do musical theatre (I think she thinks that if she just turns up at the theatre, she can be in Matilda if she asks nicely!)

No idea where to start. Any recommendations for somewhere she can learn some skills and have a chance to be in some shows? (She says she wants to be in the group doing dancing and singing, not singing on her own)
Somewhere fun, friendly and inclusive (cos she’s really shy)?

I just googled Richmond theatre summer school for kids. And a few options-came up on that search. My grandkids did this one summer holidays and loved it. Expensive but worth it in my opinion.

Depends where you are in south London but Jacqueline Jidda from Enders runs a school in Bexley

• jossa

Thanks, guys. We’re Wandsworth/Lambeth/ westminster. And, ideally, it wouldn’t be something really expensive.

The Boury Academy is a brilliant school - near Nine Elms tube. They also have an in-house agency and have had many kids in West End shows, TV shows etc.

One of their principals is just finishing a long stint as Mr Wormwood in Matilda himself.

Great inclusive and affordable school who I would highly recommend.

Theater Peckham is amazing and very cheap, if it’s not too far. The kids have a ball and learn a lot. It’s not a serious theater school where they’re expecting kids to do professional auditions or whatever, but it’s a lovely place.

Take a look at Pineapple Performing Arts if Covent Garden on a Sunday would suit you. Her age group would start at 12 or 1 I think. They do their annual show in early July so not a great time to join now but worth a look for a September start? Really inclusive and a mix of kids so some who do work in shows and some who just do one class a week, plus all levels in between. No pressure to do solos but the option there for those who want it. Uniform is super simple - they buy an inexpensive logo T-shirt and wear any black bottoms of their choice and their own trainers. They offer a performing arts track (hour each of sing, dance, act) or dance intensive (hour each of three styles of dance).

They do two week long summer programmes too but those are all dance - either all street or a variety of styles.

Quite different to a school where you have the same instructors every week as it’s based more on the Pineapple model of a drop in studio, so when it’s not show time they may have one choreographer for a week or two then another and that way they get exposed to lots of styles, all choreographers who are working in the industry and basically teach either on their day off or between gigs.

They offer free trial days at the start of each term.