Our Story
When they’re part of Theatretrain, all young performers are part of something big.
So what makes the Theatretrain Way special?
We take a professional approach to training the performing arts to children. All our teachers are highly experienced and teach dancing, acting and singing skills in the important wider context of professional theatre – covering storytelling, sound, movement and stage attitude. Our classes are divided for pupils aged 6-9, 9-12 and 13-18.
We make that training accessible to all. Energy, enthusiasm and commitment are our only entry requirements. Our unique, step-by-step curriculum enables all young people to build a thorough understanding of the performing arts; developing technique, confidence, imagination, teamwork and individual expression along the way.
We create outstanding opportunities for all our pupils to perform.
We’re the only national performing arts school to involve all our pupils in large-scale West End performances, every year. Our regular pupils perform in more West End theatres than many professional performers!
We create international opportunities as our pupils progress.Our Theatretrain Academy is designed to bring experienced pupils, aged 15-18, from different centres together on a regular basis to collaborate and progress their individual skills. Each year a new piece of work is created and performed overseas in the October half-term.
Our founders
Theatretrain was founded in 1992 by Kevin Dowsett – an international figure of youth performance and pioneer in educational theatre. Kevin’s unique approach draws upon an impressive career of teaching young performers, writing for youth theatre and directing large-scale performances at venues including London’s O2 arena. Kevin’s former pupils include Catherine Tate, Martine McCutcheon, Louise Redknapp, Hans Matherson, Kelly Brook and Daniel Mays.
Emma and her late husband, who was already a Theatretrain teacher, joined Kevin to open the first franchise in 1995. They became great friends and opened a second franchise later that year, 3 more followed in ’99. Emma then gave up lecturing to become Kevin’s full time business partner in 2000 to expand the company nationally. Tragically, her husband died in 2004 but Kevin and Emma continue to drive the business forward and Emma continues to run her 4 centres.
We have centres nationwide, and are growing monthly!
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