Stagecoach

In their recent Trinity exams, Further Stages students in Yarm and Darlington had to make a programme as part of their examination entry. One of the areas they commented upon, in their programme, was why they were at Stagecoach.  It was a very varied response and I thought that visitors to the web site might like to see what our eldest students had to say

YARM

Emma Ainley-Walker

I originally joined Stagecoach almost ten years ago as something fun to do and a way to make new friends. I came to really enjoy the performing side of it - especially the acting. I have stuck with it for so long because it is something that, although I may not continue with it as a career path in the future, I really love to do, and I would like to always have in my life. Stagecoach has helped to improve my confidence and taught me many skills that will be useful in later life.

Tiffany Armstrong

I started Stagecoach when I was 13 and haven’t looked back since. I would love to pursue a career in the performing arts and being at Stagecoach has helped me gain confidence in myself and has also allowed me to advance my skills in singing, acting and dancing. My favourite part of Stagecoach is singing, as I feel like it is my forte. However the dance classes have given me a chance to improve my dancing, as I feel this is my weakest point. Overall, I believe Stagecoach and the brilliant teachers have given me more skills and confidence, in a fun and enjoyable way.

Pippa Bedford

I have been attending Stagecoach for several years now but I am quite new to Yarm Further Stages. I enjoy coming every week to learn new singing, drama and dancing skills, both in the classes, and from other talented pupils in the school. I was accepted into SLP College in Leeds for next year’s Performing Arts course but I decided that I wasn’t ready for it and chose to learn even more from Yarm Further Stages before I hope to gain a placement at a Performing Arts school in the future.

Alexandra Bellamy

I originally joined Stagecoach so that I could explore my dancing abilities (I was already taking jazz and tap dance classes) and to improve and build my confidence in singing (I would never sing in front of any one). Lastly, I wanted to be a part of a drama class and become a better and more confident actor. I had already been a part of a comedy duo with my friend Jon. My reasons for being at Stagecoach have changed slightly since being here for 2 years. Now I’m up for a challenge, and love working with the different people here. Overall, I’m here because I can work and play at the same time - it’s fantastic!

Chris Churchman

I started Stagecoach four years ago, and joined the Further Stages group this term.  I enjoy the singing, acting and dancing and my skills have improved with the work and exercises we undertake. I have been involved in local youth productions outside of Stagecoach and I am also in a band with people from my school, and have used my experience from Stagecoach to help me.  I would like to pursue a career in the performing arts, after I leave school.  However, my backup plan is to do something else where I can make lots of money!!!!!!

Alice Crabbe

I started Stagecoach two and half years ago because I have always been passionate about acting and singing. I knew that if I seriously wanted to pursue acting as a career, I needed to do something about it. Stagecoach helps build my confidence and prepares me for the path that lies ahead of me.

Matthew Lewis

I Started Stagecoach six years ago, and it has really been an experience that has made me who I am today! Every week, it gives me a chance to express myself creatively in a productive and fun way. It has given me confidence, a sense of humour, and fuelled my passion for the performing arts, as well as being a great support. 

Eileen Pegg

I have attended Stagecoach since I was 9 years old, after attending previous dance classes, and realising that I wanted to expand my skills in acting and singing. Throughout the years, I have enjoyed making new friends outside of school. I am now in Further Stages and a member of the STARE dance troupe, which gives me a chance to perform to the public. I think this will give me good experience for the future and has also been very enjoyable. I hope to have a career in the Performing Arts industry or in Media in the years to come, and I think that Stagecoach has given me a good insight into that world from an early age.

Vicki Pugh

I joined Stagecoach because throughout my life, musical theatre has been my passion and interest. Singing was a weakness for me but Stagecoach gave me the opportunity to grow in my ability to sing and gave me confidence to sing in front of an audience. This has opened up more opportunities for me and my possibilities for the future. I hope to explore the world of dance, be it through studying anthropology of dance at university, or pursuing dance exclusively

Alex Robinson

I began Stagecoach when I was 4 and performing arts has been a huge passion of mine ever since. When I am 18, I hope to go to a London Theatre School and pursue my dream of working in the performing arts professionally. 

Vicki Bilton

Having been to Dance classes from a young age, I decided I wanted to try my hand at the singing and acting side of things. I went to a Stagecoach summer workshop and joined promptly afterwards!  I found that, although dancing is my base subject, Singing and Drama are just as much a part of me as dancing. Stagecoach has built up my confidence in so many ways - not just as a performer, but as a person.

This September, after 5 years of Stagecoach, I am going to The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London, and in all honesty, if it wasn’t for Stagecoach I don’t think I would have won a place or even had the confidence to go for it.

Nick Brown

Although I don’t intend to go into an acting career, Stagecoach has given me many other valuable skills. It has taught me to work as part of a team. I have also had chances to be a team leader. Similarly I have learnt presentational skills and the ability to think on the spot. Above all, Stagecoach has given me confidence in myself and I have made some strong friendships as a result of this. The singing lessons I have had over the past 8 years have helped me to develop and I am now the lead singer in a blues band.

Kate Hammonds

When I first started Stagecoach, I was not confident at all. I wouldn’t sing and wouldn’t speak out loud. Stagecoach has helped me a lot by giving me the confidence and making me go for what I want. Stagecoach has taught me a lot of different techniques of dancing, singing and acting. I will never forget these techniques, as I will use them in further life, after Stagecoach. I have been at Stagecoach for 3 years now and I have really enjoyed myself, as it has made me a better performer.
If it wasn’t for Stagecoach, I wouldn’t be where I am now. Stagecoach made me want to aspire more as a performer, so I applied for Stockton Riverside College, to do a performing arts course. In the future, I would love to go to stage school to do musical theatre.

Rob Hancock

I have been at Stagecoach for about 3 years now and I really enjoy it. It helps me with the Drama studies that I am taking at college and I have also made friends through it. It has also helped my confidence enough for me to get up and sing or “dance” in front of others. I will probably leave Stagecoach when I go to university, where I will be pursuing Drama and I feel that Stagecoach has played an integral part in this choice.

Lucy Lavelle

I have been a member of Stagecoach for the past 7 years and I can honestly say I have enjoyed every last second of it! Stagecoach has given me a greater insight into the world of Performing Arts and has helped me with skills that I can use in every-day life. I hope to achieve a career in the Performing Arts industry in the future, and Stagecoach has given me many opportunities to perform at public events and venues. This has helped me to gain confidence and experience in front of an audience.

Charlotte Pybus

I’ve been at Stagecoach for a total of 9 years, so it goes without saying that it’s been a huge part of my life. I’ve loved 100% of my time here and I honestly believe that, without Stagecoach, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I’m certainly not ready to leave yet!  I’ve made some fantastic friends who definitely help to liven up my Sundays! And as for life after Stagecoach, I hope to pursue performance further, preferably through Drama. Ultimately, I know that the skills I’ve attained here will help me to reach whatever goals I have in life.

Tom Wells

Long ago, in 1996, Trudy was my Year 2 primary school teacher. As the story goes, one day I went up to her and told her, “I have a dream”. When she asked me what my dream was, I replied, “to have drama lessons”. The rest is history…

Stagecoach is one of the biggest opportunities I have ever been given and has made a major contribution in my life, allowing me to build up my confidence, in not only my performance skills, but as a person as well. I have made so many friends over the years and enjoy spending time with them every week. “Blood Brothers” is my final performance with Stagecoach as I am leaving this term, after nine amazing years, for which I have Trudy to thank. Although I am sad to leave, I am glad that this show is what I am leaving on, as it has been so much fun!

DARLINGTON

Josh Brennan

I joined Stagecoach because I enjoy acting, and being on stage. Stagecoach is also a fun environment to be in, where you can learn new things about both stage-work, as a job, and Stage-work as a hobby in general. Exams such as this are another reason to come to Stagecoach, as they give opportunities to add extras to your CV and show the world what you can do - provided they want to know. The final advantage is the friends I have made at Stagecoach and the environment created through professional acting with friends and friendly teachers.

Stacey Goodrum

I have always had a passion to be on the stage from when I was a little. I would be making shows up to perform to my parents in the living room. My aunty informed my mother that both my cousins went to Stagecoach and that she felt that I had a natural talent that would thrive at Stagecoach. I have loved being here ever since. I started 7 years ago and have not once thought about leaving. My ideal future would be to get accepted into a performing arts school in London, to continue my training, once I become 18. Afterwards I would ideally like to become a professional dancer, working in the West End, and then looking to open my own dance school, later on in life.

Georgina Hill

I attend Stagecoach because I enjoy learning new things and meeting new people. Stagecoach taught me that, however good something may be, by just listening to the advice of others and putting your heart and soul into it, you can make something even better. I think Stagecoach has made my personality stronger and I am sure I would not be the person I am today without it. Stagecoach, for me, is somewhere where I can go, meet new friends, while also feeling a sense of achievement from the feedback from our projects. It has taught me the importance of team work.

Brittany Knowles

I have been at Stagecoach for God knows how long - let’s just say I’ve have my bronze brooch. It has been a part of my life for a long time now and I appreciate everything that being here has taught me. I’ve gained lots of confidence and through the years have eventually learned that my place is on a stage, behind a microphone, or in front of a set. A big part of my childhood has been spent here - Kind of like school. I’ve grown up here. At Stagecoach you would think that you would get to the point where you’ve learned everything there is to learn but I think you always have something else to learn and practice. That’s what I’m still doing here - learning.

Hayley Moohan

I have returned to Stagecoach, term after term and year after year, for the past nine years, purely because the nicest people I know attend Stagecoach. I also learn great skills there. My time at Stagecoach has consisted of many shows, filming, participating in “The Oscars”, dancing in the long line of the locomotion and many more experiences. Each term is something new and exciting. The staff at Stagecoach make the whole experience worthwhile and I will never get bored of being a Stagecoach student!

Kim Oxley

I have been at Stagecoach now for 9 years, and have enjoyed it thoroughly.  I have made many good friends here, and believe that Stagecoach has given me confidence and skills not just on stage, but in life as well. Also, I have had many opportunities that I would not have had otherwise, and I have progressed immensely. After leaving Stagecoach, I am hoping to pursue a career in stage acting, or singing.

Matthew Thompson

I have been at Stagecoach for nearly 8 years. My main aim was to gain confidence, increase my acting skills and make friends. I think I have managed this very well and hopefully I have another few years left to further meet my goals. In the future, my dream is to become an actor, which is why Stagecoach is a great help. We all know however, that this career path is a tricky one, so if that fails, I hope to be a musical journalist, as music means a lot to me

Lucy Abernethy

I decided to start Stagecoach because I really enjoy acting, singing and dancing. Therefore Stagecoach was ideal for me and it has given me a lot more confidence in myself.  Now I am also doing  LAMDA exams because I have more confidence to perform in front of people and to be examined. I do A-Level drama and hopefully, after next year, I will apply to go to drama school, to carry on with my acting.

Adam Allinson

Being at Stagecoach is like having another family. Everyone is friends and at ease with each other. The group bonds together and works together very well, whilst at the same time having fun and working towards an achievement. The main reason I am at Stagecoach is to get better and improve upon the skills of Drama, Singing and Dance that I have, with the intention of progressing into the “theatre world” later in life. By coming to Stagecoach, all this has been made possible, as I have learnt to work in many different situations, with many different people, whilst at the same time getting the work done but also having a good time doing it. Surely there can’t be many places that allow you to do that.

Georgina Cornelius

Stagecoach has given me chances to not only improve on my performance skills, but also has increased my confidence when performing. I like going every week to be around people who have similar interests as myself and to been encouraged to do well in things like Trinity exams. It’s a really nice environment to be in and is a lot of fun too. I love singing and acting and feel that in the past few years I have improved dramatically on my dancing skills. I think I have made some life-long friends at Stagecoach and would never change the time that I’ve spent there, as I have gained some of my best memories and think my time spent there has been nothing but worthwhile.  

James Emmerson

Drama has always been something that interests me and I’ve jumped at any opportunity to be in a show, or school production. Then I found Stagecoach. The drama sounded fantastic and I’ve always liked to sing, so that was an added bonus - but dancing!, I wasn’t sure that it was really me. However Kate and Janie have been fantastic and have really boosted my confidence. I think my ability has improved as well, but you will have to ask Kate and Janie for confirmation of that! The other thing that I really love about Stagecoach is the atmosphere. It really is like one big family and I know that anyone from anywhere will be immediately accepted, like I was. I know when I’m there, and talking to the staff and the students, that whatever I do in life they will be behind me 110%.

Kerry Jane Healey

I am at Stagecoach, and have been for the past 9 years, because I feel it gives a good chance to develop your skills in different areas of the performing arts and offers a friendly and sociable environment in which to do this. After Stagecoach, although I enjoy performing arts, I am focusing on my academic A - levels of Politics, Law, Modern History and Psychology, with the hope to go to University and study Law. I hope to keep in touch, through drama groups and musical theatre groups, with the Performing Arts, as a hobby.

Heather Hind

I’ve been coming to Stagecoach for just over 5 years now, and I keep coming back each term as I really value it; for the opportunities it provides for young people like myself, with ambitions for a career in the arts. I appreciate the quality of the coaching and most of all for the lovely friends I’ve made. I originally joined Stagecoach just for my love of singing but, as I’ve progressed and grown in confidence, I’ve also developed a penchant for drama and dance. Stagecoach has not just prepared me for the stage but also given me transferable skills for my future.

Hayley McKay

I attend Stagecoach because I enjoy it in all aspects - i.e. learning, performing and it’s a great a way to make friends. Stagecoach provides opportunities to learn and to perform. It also improves confidence. My plans for the future are to go to a performing arts university, and study the areas of drama and music. I would like to carry on song-writing and playing the guitar and hopefully be successful!

Eleanor Moore

I am at Stagecoach because I enjoy working with a group of people who have the same interests and are motivated to work hard. It is a completely different experience working in a large Stagecoach group and it provides us with lots of opportunities to put on performances. After Stagecoach, I am hoping to carry on with performing arts, especially Singing because it is something that I love. It gives me such a thrill to perform on a stage.

Lauren Power

I don’t think I can quite remember a term, or Saturday, without Stagecoach. It seems to have developed into a part of my life, providing me with three hours tuition in what I love most, week in, week out. I’m extremely thankful for the many opportunities both inside and outside that Stagecoach and STARE have provided me with. I will never forget the great friends and memories I have gained.

Rhian Sleight

I joined Darlington Stagecoach Further Stages over two years ago.  Having been with other theatre groups before, I had decided that I wanted to focus equally on the three main performance aspects: singing, dancing and acting. I find it rewarding to work as part of a group and have found that there is a high level of team spirit at Darlington Further Stages.  

Thanks Further Stages. These comments might help some people to see that it is a positive thing to come to Stagecoach and to progress to these higher groups in time.

The full YARM show of Blood Brother’s Trinity Exam is now on youtube. Click the link below to see all the scenes and songs seperately.CLICK to see Further’s BLOOD BROTHERS Show

It is with great delight and pride, that I am able to announce that all four groups within the two Further Stages classes in Yarm and Darlington achieved MERIT grades in their Trinity College London exams in “Musical Theatre in Production”, after their performances of extracts from “Blood Brothers”, on Sunday evening. The standard was fantastic, even at the higher grade levels of 6 and 7  that they were sitting and I think that they were unlucky not to get distinctions - but then I`m a bit  biased!! Well done all of you. You made me very proud.  

Thank you to the Stage Three visitors and Kate Ruddick who came to support Further Stages.  A special mention must also go to Catherine Whitehall, the previous Singing teacher of the Further Stages groups who drove up for 2.5 hours from Southport to support the students and then at 10.00pm after the shows had finished, was driving alone for 2.5 hours back home again - and that after she has so recently had such a terrible crash in her car last January.  I am sure that all Further Stages really appreciated Catherine`s support and it was really lovely to see her looking so well.

Thanks also to both the audiences for being  supportive and receptive. It certainly helped the students. You also raised £130 for the Hands of Love Orphanage by your collections. A big thank you from the charity`s organisers. I sent the cheque today. 

Trinity exams are accredited in these higher levels which mean that they are worth UCAS points for university entrance. At Grade 6 for our “white” groups, their merit has earned them 35 UCAS points and the equivalent of a `D` grade at AS Level. The red groups with their Merit at Grade 7 have earned 50 UCAS points and the equivalent of a `B` grade at AS Level or an `E` Grade at A Level.  Well worth working for - I`m sure you`ll agree.

Unlike after the main school Trinities when I couldn’t be certain of the verification of the grades until the certificates arrived, this exam is a different format and has been verified by the examiner to me so I can therefore quote the final comment box for each group.

DARLINGTON

Well done all of you - you told the story with care and evident concern and pride in what you did. Many performances were touching and inventive and the group dynamics were very good. The actual staging didn’t help you, in as much as you were distanced from the audience, and the episodic short scene structure caused moments of predictability and allowed the flow to be interrupted. None the less this was very enjoyable with some of the group choreography stimulating and vivacious. There was much integrity evident in your collective work.

YARM

Whilst some of the staging hindered the narrators and affected the timing of scenes, this was in the main very well performed with excellent concentration and awareness of individual responsibility within a collaborative venture. Confident, secure work throughout with lively choreography, touching performances, with mainly tuneful singing, humour and pathos identified and mostly realised.

 

Britanny Knowles of Darlington Further Stages, is a very talented singer and will be performing in the Metro Centre (outside House of Fraser) on Tuesday 8th April at 12.30pm.

She will be appearing also at the Journal Tyne Theatre on 27th April as part of the “Live and Unsigned” project.

Britanny is also singing as part of the Music Means Life project at the Rainton Meadows Arena on 17th April. This is a charity supporting teenage cancer sufferers and they are trying to build a specialised unit for these patients.  Also performing at this event are Zoe Birkett and Journey South. You can see a photo of Britanny as she won through to the semi-finals and download an mp3 of her winning song on this web page link :-  http://www.musicmeanslife.com/bands.php 

THERE ARE STILL TICKETS LEFT FOR ALL EVENTS

PLEASE CALL Ticket Hotline on 0191 584 8630 (9am - 5pm)

or CHARLOTTE on 07850839598 (5pm - 9pm)

Brittany Knowles of Darlington Further Stages,  applied to the charity Talent Competition that we featured in “Auditions” recently and got through to the semi-finals. Details below. Good Luck Brittany

As part of a 2 term project both Yarm and Darlington Further Stages have been set the task of independantly creating a murder msytery performance for the general public. The show drmatises scenes backstage in a cabaret club where Fifi Lamar seems to be hated by all. The second half of the show is the cabaret itself and there are plenty of song and dance numbers to entertain the audience. However murder is in the air! The Yarm profits are going to The Butterwick hospice. The dates are fast approaching and below you will see posters advertising both events as these events are open to the general public Stagecoach families can buy tickets please ring Trudy on 01325 337667 to reserve yours.

Click the photo to find out more about Brittany.