Step On Stage Academy of Performing Arts - Musical Theatre, Drama, Music, Playwriting, Youth Theatre, Easter Workshops, Summer Schools, Masterclasses, LAMDA, ABRSM, TRINITY Twickenham, Hampton Hill & Sunbury
Step On Stage Performing Arts - Musical Theatre, Acting, Dance, Singing, Youth Theatre
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Meet The Team
    • Blog
    • Testimonials
    • Child Protection
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Classes
    • Autumn Timetable 2024
    • Drama
    • Piano & Singing
    • Musical Theatre
    • Show Choir
    • Playwriting workshops
    • LAMDA
    • Press
  • Youth Theatre - Step On Stage Productions
    • CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
    • WIZARD OF OZ
    • PETER PAN 2023
    • THE LION, THE WITCH, THE WARDROBE
    • A Christmas Carol >
      • An interview with our Director
    • Goodnight Mr Tom >
      • Goodnight Mr Tom
      • Life as an Evacuee
      • Interview - Director
      • Life in World War Two
    • Musicals
    • Plays and New Writing
    • Auditions
  • Summer Schools 2025
  • Easter Workshops 2025
  • Contact
  • Parents Page

Step On Stage Productions - Being in the youth theatre

4/17/2020

0 Comments

 

Youth Theatre - A Christmas Carol 2019-2020
​By Jessica Jenner

​Being in a Christmas Carol was exciting, fun and just a great experience. This was my second production with Step on stage and every year they get better and better.  

We started rehearsals back in September when we found out our parts and received the script. I got the part of Mrs Cratchit and a narrator and I was so excited to start. 

During October, November and December, we were rehearsing and learning our lines. I loved rehearsals because we would start with a warmup game to get our energy up. After, we would sing around the piano and then start blocking and going over and over scenes! It was very tiring and a lot of hard work but by the end of December the difference from October when we started was amazing. By December, I was getting more and more excited and all I wanted to do was get up onto the stage and perform! During the Christmas break, all I could think about was the shows. I was ecstatic!
Picture
It was now show week in January and the shows were in about a week. This was my 2nd production with Step On Stage so I had experienced show week before and, believe me, it’s amazing. The whole experience of, not just performing, but also behind the scenes and looking after the younger kids in the cast and building the set - everything is just incredible. We had full days of rehearsals and I loved it!

The first couple of days of show week, we weren’t allowed in the actual theatre because the parents and teachers were building the set. Mine and my friends parents were helping build the set which meant that after rehearsals we went and helped. It was a lot of hard work but the set looked brilliant once it was finished. I think that was the point that we all realised that the shows were about to happen! ​

The next days were the technical rehearsals and dress rehearsals. By this point we were so excited but we knew that we had to concentrate because the tech was very important as it was all the sound and lights. The costumes were also amazing! My mum and my friends mum were helping to do the costumes and they turned out really good! There were LOTS of costumes and costume changes during the show for some people as they were playing many parts and they were getting quite worried and stressed but it was fine in the end. It was quite stressful for our teachers as they had lots of work to do but, in the end, it was worth all the stress. The first time we did a run through of the whole show with lights,  sounds and costumes it was amazing because we could really see the difference between December and now. The whole cast and teachers were just so happy with the outcome and were so excited to start the shows!
Picture
The shows were amazing. The first show was on Thursday and during the school day all I could think about was finishing school and going to the theatre for the shows. As soon as I arrived at the theatre it was kicking in that the shows were starting. When everyone arrived, we played a few warmup games and then went and put on our costumes and did our hair and makeup. We were all really nervous but excited at the same time. We still couldn’t believe we were about to do the show. We had a smaller audience on the Thursday so we were slightly less nervous but still really excited! We could hear the audience coming in and we just wanted to start the show. 
Picture
After we finished the first show we were so happy and just couldn’t wait for the next shows! 

The Friday and Saturday shows were even better! We had a sold out show on Friday and two shows on Saturday. 
​

We were all just like a big family and working together to put on the best shows we could. I’m just so happy that I have had the opportunity to do things like this with my best friends and I am so excited for the next years because this is what I love doing and it makes it even better when you have the best teachers and friends doing it with you. I made the best memories that will stay with me forever and I am excited for the future!
Picture
0 Comments

Goodnight Mr Tom - Youth Theatre

10/4/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
After an 18 month break from big productions, Step On Stage Productions is back with Michelle Magorian’s classic, Goodnight Mr Tom.  Set against the backdrop of world war two, the play tells the story of Mr Tom, a slightly grumpy old man who finds himself taking in a young evacuee called William Beech.  Mr Tom, has led a quiet life, keeping himself to himself since his wife Rachel died, over 40 years ago.  He begrudgingly takes in William, but soon grows very fond of the boy and realises that he’s had a tough life back in London.  Mr Tom goes about trying to help him read and write and make friends.  But when William is called back to London by his mother, things take a rather more sinister turn.

We have a very enthusiastic and talented cast of young actors who were auditioned for the production earlier this term.  We also have a super keen group of young actors who have set up a marketing company to learn new skills marketing the show and getting involved with radio, adverts, flyers, blogs and social media. 
The production is being directed by experienced theatre practitioner, writer, director and examiner Emma Louise Tinniswood.  She studied at Royal Holloway and The Central School of Speech and Drama.  Co director is actor and producer, Maria Austen who studied at Royal Holloway and the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York.   They are assisted by an experienced team of industry professionals, many of whom have worked with the company for a number of years.  Past students have also returned to help with the production.  Past students Millie Beazley is Assistant director and she is currently in her first year at Arts Educational studying Acting.  Meanwhile Maddie Taylor is taking on the role of Assistant Stage Manager while she studies at Kingston College for Theatre Production. 

​Emma founded Step On Stage back in 2005 and the theatre company in 2008 with a view to creating a youth theatre where young people could work with industry professionals and explore a wide range of plays, classics, new writing, musicals and Shakespeare in local and professional venues.  The philosophy for the company is not just to put on plays, but to teach young people about the theatre and the industry and to provide them with a wide range of skills, experiences and memories. A professional company for professional young performers.  

Picture
Many students have continued onto Drama school including the Arts Educational School, Italia Conti, The Brit School, Central School of Speech and Drama and have also gained scholarships to local schools including St Catherine’s, LEH, Surbiton High School and Priorsfield.  Many students have also worked in theatre, Film, TV, Commercials and Dance performances with students performing at Sadlers Wells, Richmond Theatre and the Royal opera House.  A number of cast members were also involved in the recent film 'Patrick'. 
Picture
As well as rehearsing the play the cast member are exploring about life in world war two, looking at themes that are portrayed in the play such as friendship, loss, death, fear, bravery and love.  The cast members are also learning new skills such as puppetry, marketing, blog writing and research.   Some of our older students are also using these skills as part of their GCSE Drama and Media studies work. 

25 young actors aged 10 to 17 are busy rehearsing this wonderful play, being performed at the Hampton Hill Theatre from 10th-12th January 2019. 

Tickets are on sale now from
 www.ticketsource.co.uk.steponstageproductions

January 10th - 12th evening performances at 7.30pm.

January 12th Matinee at 2.30pm.

Specials Schools discounts available for block bookings so please email is for further information [email protected] 
Picture
0 Comments

    Author

    Emma is a freelance theatre practitioner, director, actor, writer and facilitator. Founder and Artistic Director of Step On Stage.  

    Archives

    February 2022
    September 2020
    April 2020
    November 2019
    March 2019
    October 2018
    March 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    April 2017
    March 2016
    July 2015
    April 2015

    Categories

    All
    Acting
    Charles Dickens
    Christmas
    Christmas Carol
    Drama
    Drama Classes
    Goodnight Mr Tom
    Hampton Hill
    Kite Runner
    Music
    Musicals
    Musical Theatre
    National Theatre
    New Writing
    Performing
    Performing Arts
    Plays
    Reviews
    Richmond
    Richmond Theatre
    Stage School
    Step On Stage
    Step On Stage Productions
    Theatre
    Theatre Review
    Theatrre
    The Lion
    The Witch And The Wardrobe
    Twickenham
    Victorian
    West End
    World War Two
    Youth Theatre
    Youth Theatre Plays

    RSS Feed

Read About Our Company

About Us
Meet The Team
The School
The Youth Theatre
Contact Us
Child Protection

Our performing arts classes

Drama classes
Music classes
Musical Theatre 
Playwriting workshops
Holiday workshops
Summer Schools

Read About Our School

News
Testimonials
Gallery
Press
Blog - All The Worlds A Stage
Picture
Step On Stage Academy of Performing Arts
07973 900196 / [email protected]