A little bit of everything.

[enigma]

My eight year old daughter is desperate to be on the stage and is always entertaining the family with her singing , dancing and acting - she writes her own little songs , writes stories and little plays. I think it's in her blood because my family are all musical - my mum and dad met through playing in a band in their late teens and my brother can play just about every instrument known to man - even the bodhran ! Sadly I didn't inherit that gift but I have a love of writing and always wrote plays for my school and went to drama classes. I loved every minute of being up on the stage and the buzz I got from it and I am thrilled that my daughter has been bitten by the same bug but the trouble is , I can't seem to find any local drama schools for her to go to as there are no drama schools in my area at all and there doesn't seem to be a lot on offer for her. How can I get my daughter into a class where she can sing , dance and act ? How else do you think I should channel her interest in the above ? Any help is much appreciated x

[Dizzieblonde]

I think there are drama schools for youngsters which do a bit of everything, but they're few and far between so you might have look outside your local area. The famous drama schools like RADA etc. tend to do singing, dancing and acting (a bit like 'Fame'!), but unless you're loaded and confident she could make it, I'm not sure it's worth remortgaging your house for!

When she goes to high school, she might be able to take Drama or Dance as a GCSE depending if the school runs them, and then maybe get involved in school productions etc. Do you have an Am-Dram group locally she could join for now maybe? I'm sure they must do productions with child actors too?

[joko]

why not start a local group up yourself?

find a local person with the teaching skills, you offer the venue (spare room, garage?) charge the kids a few quid and split the fees between you.

[horsestache1]

Try your local library, or one in the biggest town near you, they will have lots of info.

[enigma]

I have really searched for local drama groups but sadly there doesn't seem to be anything locally. - or at least , not for kids. There are plenty of dance classes but none for drama. Don't get me wrong , i'm not planning to do a Sally Webster pushy mother routine on her. It's just purely for fun and how far she takes it is entirely up to her. I'll support her - as always - in everything she does. She just seems to have a natural flair (although obviously I am quite biased) and is quite artistic so it seems a shame to waste it.

That's actually quite a good idea , setting up my own group. To be honest , that never occurred to me but I wonder how much interest it would generate. It's hard enough to tear some of my daughter's friends away from their x-box . What is wrong with the kids of today ! Thanks for all of the suggestions x

[Kate77]

have you searched for stage schools? I think there is one near me that runs on a Saturday so it isnt their life just a weekend thing!