Going solo: Theatretrain

My love for performance was ignited when I joined the Clwyd Youth Theatre in the early 1980s and, for three consecutive summers, I attended the residential course for a fortnight's immersion into dancing, acting and singing. The sheer joy of being surrounded by like-minded teenagers, all with a united goal – to create the most fantastic musical production at Theatr Clwyd in Mold – has without doubt shaped my life.

Fast forward a few years to successful careers in retail, vocational training, and then further education, coupled with performing in and directing and producing many amateur (and a couple of professional) productions. This all added to the toolkit that has helped to make a success of managing my own business.

Rapid expansion

I took over the Chester Theatretrain franchise in 2005 and by 2009 I had opened new centres in Wrexham and Mold, as well as a second centre in Chester. The support from Theatretrain head off ce and the wider family of franchisees around the country is one of the strengths of the company.

This is highlighted by our countless performances in the West End, at Manchester's Palace Theatre, and the Royal Albert Hall, and also the company's 20th birthday celebration performance at the O2. The quality of the support from Theatretrain in preparation for these shows is exceptional, and it all leads to the most important aspect of the projects: providing experiences in the theatre that children will remember for the rest of their lives.

Having led seven different groups of children into The Royal Albert Hall over the years, I still get a thrill as I walk into the arena. Nothing can beat seeing the excitement on the children's faces as they enter the space for their first time and stare, open-mouthed in wonder at their stage.

Light-bulb moment

It's not just the big productions that get the blood pumping. The flexible nature of Theatretrain means that we also stage our own local productions in professional theatres in our hometowns. These range from compilation shows to plays and full-scale musicals that allow every child to have their own moment in the spotlight. The teams of teachers in each of my centres are all performers in their own right. This is something that helps to instil our professional values in our young performers while ensuring that they're loving every second of being in the theatre, both backstage in their dressing rooms, in the wings and facing the audience.

My proudest Theatretrain experiences are watching that light-bulb moment when the dance steps finally ‘click’, or when lines are eventually committed to memory; seeing the excitement of sharing pre-show nerves; watching them bask in the glow of audience applause; knowing that these are memories that they will cherish.

Long-term life skills

Owning a Theatretrain franchise is an excellent way to share the passion of the theatre – to see four- and five-year-olds developing confidence and taking their first steps onto the stage in a local production; seeing the once-shy nine-year-old transform into a soloist at The Royal Albert Hall; providing opportunities for teachers to see their work brought to life. These are all huge wins for job satisfaction.

In the past 16 years I have seen many children come through the Theatretrain doors. Lots stay in touch when they reach eighteen and move on. I have visited the National Theatre, West End and regional theatres to support ex-pupils in performances. Some have even returned as teachers.

The ex-pupils who do not venture into the world of the performing arts as a profession still carry their memories and experiences with them and I am confident that the additional life-skills that they learned at Theatretrain will help to shape their futures.

‘Getting their mojo back’

A global pandemic can certainly make you see the world very differently. But these last 12 months have shown the resilience and adaptability of Theatretrain's teachers and children alike. While online classes would not be our first choice for professional training in the performing arts, as a team both locally and nationally, Theatretrain has created hours of high quality, fun and innovative sessions. Whether to a camera on a smart phone or in an online production via Zoom, Theatretrain is still the company that loves to perform.

As we all emerge into our new normality, Theatretrain's future will be ‘full steam ahead’ as children will need support in getting their mojo back. Children and teachers alike are desperate to get back to their friends and theatre-making at Theatretrain once again.

To enquire about opening your own Theatretrain franchise, visit www.theatretrain.co.uk/open-your-own-centre