Stagecoach

Also prepared for our information packs

It is always of interest to know what other people think of something which is a new concept to yourself.  Our parents and students have kindly sent comments to us across many years about what Stagecoach has meant to them.  You can see these on our website http://www.darlingtonandyarm.co.uk/ in the CATEGORIES box under `testimonials`. But here are a few recent ones for now:-

Parents have asked me about Stagecoach and I said that Stagecoach is the best thing we have ever done and it has given M….. the confidence she has today. (Mrs Pa… Darlington)

All in all, Stagecoach has played a vital role in helping A…. achieve her dream of training at a top London drama school, in the hope of one day realising her dream of performing in the West End.  Mrs R (Yarm)

It is impossible to put into words how much my years at Stagecoach have shaped me and changed me for the better.  I have never had a dull moment …and I have had some of the best moments in my life   Matthew L (Yarm)

Stagecoach has been my life. Forget school. I wanted to go to Stagecoach! I have made friends for life. The manners and confidence made me the person I am today.  Hayley M (Yarm and Darlington)

I can`t really remember anything that I`ve enjoyed and looked forward to so much, for so long. Nick B (Yarm)

Stagecoach is a safe, nurturing environment and I can`t think of a child who wouldn`t benefit from this. Mrs B (Darlington)

A…. has come on so much since starting Stagecoach, he’s a different boy! I think Stagecoach is the best thing that I have ever done for both of my children. Mrs J (Yarm)

C…… is so loving his time at Stagecoach and thinks all your teachers are excellent. We continue to be really impressed with the whole set-up. Mrs W (Yarm)

Stagecoach  is a very happy place which is the most  important thing, but all the children are very committed, something you have  instilled in them.  Mrs Pe.. (Darlington)

Children really do benefit enormously from attending Stagecoach & they have so much fun. Mrs Br… (Darlington)

M…. has made some good friends at Stagecoach and can’t wait to get there each week. She goes in with a grin and comes out with an even bigger one! Mrs D (Darlington)

The pirate party show was fantastic and Madison really enjoyed it all.

Parents have asked me about Stagecoach and I said that Stagecoach is the best thing we have ever done and it has given Madison the
confidence she has today.

Mrs P (Darlington)

I was delighted to learn from Alex Robinson`s mum that Alex had won not only a place at Mountview Drama School in London but had also won a scholarship. When my mum died in 2004, I set p a scholarship in her name and Alex was the first student to receive that scholarship. How lovely that it should have come to such a happy conclusion.

I look forward to coming to see you in the West End now Alex!!

Hi Trudy and staff,
We just wanted to let you know that Alex has been offered a scholarship to study for a degree in musical theatre at Mountview Academy  in London from September.

We are absolutely delighted and would like to thank you all for the training, help and advice she has had from you over the ten happy years she was at Stagecoach. Without this preparation she would never have got through the first audition, as the standard was so high and competition for places is fierce.

Not only did she benefit from the excellent training that she received from you, but she was also able to improve her CV due to the various related exams that she took during her time at Stagecoach.

All in all, Stagecoach has played a vital role in helping Alex achieve her dream of training at a top London drama school, in the hope of one day realising her dream of performing in the West End.

Thank you all,
Regards,
Karen Robinson.

Received as part of an e mail from Mrs Manvell some words of praise for the community feeling amongst the students. I am most definitely proud Mrs Manvell 

Just wanted to say, what a lovely bunch of girls they are at Stagecoach. On Sunday, they were all really supportive and loving and caring with each other over the Lamda Exams, its so sweet to see. They all hugged and genuinely seemed to care for each other, they are always a pleasure to see ( I know I can only speak for Ellie’s group most of the time, but even at events like Billy/Joseph/Liverpool they all seem to be the same), you should be very proud.

thanks,

Julie Manvell

Thank you so much for this letter Mrs Barrass

Received this week from the parent of children enrolled into Yarm Stagecoach 

………I also wanted to say what a great performance the early stages put on, you do wonders with them. Alex has come on so
much since starting Stagecoach, he’s a different boy! I think Stagecoach is the best thing that I have ever done for both of my children.

Thanks again

Katherine Jamieson

Thank you Mrs Jamieson. I did think that all the Early Stages groups did well in their shows right across the weekend. Having been an infant teacher, I know that in mainstream schools, when Christmas shows are prepared with infants, it involves rehearsals every afternoon in the run up to the show. AND there is no dancing involved then! 

I think that what Sue, Janie, Claire, Jane, Cat, Kate and Phil - plus the great helpers - Hayley, James and Theo have done with them in only 1.5 hours a week is excellent. AND well done to mums and dads too for rehearsing their children at home to help out. It all paid off.

I received this e mail from the mum of  one of our Early Stages children today. It was lovely to receive because I remember how much Madison lacked confidence when she started with us. Comments like these from parents are priceless because particularly in rough weeks, it makes it all worthwhile to myself and all the teachers to know that we are making a difference that will last a lifetime.

We had parents evening at school last week and Madison’s teacher said she makes songs up in the playground, comes into school, stands at the front and sings them to the whole class. She said she is very confident.  This is because of Stagecoach and we are so pleased with what Stagecoach has given Madison. Her teacher didn’t know she went to Stagecoach but she does now.

Helen Parkinson (Madison`s mum)

I received an e mail from the mum of one of my students this evening which is very pleasing because it shows how much a child`s personality and prospects can blossom when their confidence improves.

Trudy, I would  just like to say to you a big THANK YOU to the Stagecoach team for how much Caitlyn has come on since joining in 2009. I originally put her into Stagecoach to build her confidence up as she was not putting her hands up in lessons. Of course now, shen wants to be famous and has something to really focus on. At the end of primary school this year, her primary school put on a show and Caitlyn won a principal part.  I really do wish you could have seen her perform. She really made the character her own and I couldn’t have been any more proud of her - even the teachers were amazed at how good she was. So thank you very much for all that Stagecoach has done. 

Mrs M  (Stockton)

You are entirely welcome. It makes it all worthwhile to hear that we have helped to make a difference. 

Although I was so tired at the end of our run of 7 internal “Billy Elliot” shows, that I literally crawled upstairs to bed on Sunday Night, it was with a great deal of satisfaction that all the shows had been successful in stretching our students` skills and pleasing their audiences.

All the versions were different in their strengths and it was one of the joys to see differing parts of the show “shining” at different times. Some moments were truly remarkable and I never remember parents crying before at emotional scenes in our shows.  It shows a depth of performance that is a credit to the understanding of the students and the skills of their teachers.

Great credit must go to our smallest school - Darlington Wednesday night school, who had half a dozen eager students volunteer to cover, at the last minute, for several withdrawals of key main characters in their show. They pulled together in a magnificent way and their spirit brought results.

Other schools had similar difficulties but on a smaller scale and I must thank the children who there stepped into the shoes of missing people so willingly and so well.

I think that these shows have given me a boost  about how good I think we can make the public performances of “Billy” in July. I Hope we will see you all there on one of the nights.

Well done to you all again. You were a credit to your teachers and your families.

I have received some e mails already from parents and staff about the shows. I have added them as comments below. Please leave us your reactions about your own show, if you are a student, or that of the show that your child was in, if you are a parent.

Cameron Wright`s mum from Yarm PM school sent me this note at the start of term that she kindly said that I could add to the web site.