All singing all dancing Stagecoach students put on charity show (From The Westmorland Gazette)

All singing all dancing Stagecoach students put on charity show

5:50pm Monday 5th December 2011 in Stage By Adrian Mullen, Arts correspondent

ANN-Marie White has been a drama coach since 1997.

A year later, she took over the Lancaster branch of Stagecoach Theatre School and within 12 months opened a new branch of Stagecoach in Kendal alongside her existing dance and drama group.

She explained: “Once I graduated, I was doing professional acting and dance jobs up and down the country. I also started a teaching job in Blackpool for one hour a week. It soon became very clear that I looked forward to that one hour of teaching more than any other job. It felt like I was doing something really worthwhile. I soon discovered the joy of teaching others and working as part of a team. It became infectious to share my skills and passion for the performing arts.”

These days the mother-of-two has more than 250 students on her books and a 12 strong team of teachers, mentors and specialist providers, including several well-known Lakeland names from theatre and dance - Kate Walford, Hannah Fleming, Karen Murphy, Jo Hope, Sarah Hicks, Jennifer Simm and Kerry Bland.

On Saturday (December 10, 4.30pm) at Kendal Town Hall, the Stagecoach main school students are putting together a demonstration of dance and drama to raise money for INTERACT, which helps disadvantaged and disabled children and young people.

Ann-Marie said that to many students the theatre school has become an extended family and for some acts as a constant in an ever-changing world.

Explained Ann-Marie: “Every child matters to us and we strive to meet the needs of every individual who comes through our doors. With every show, exam, demonstration and outreach project we employ we try to raise the standard and give our students something new and exciting to aim for.”

Many former students orbit in the professional world of stage and screen, including Lancaster’s Ben Slater, Laura Haynes, from Windermere School, and drama coach Brogan Anderson; all are filming with the BBC for the next series of Waterloo Road.

Recently, 15 of Ann-Marie’s students were invited to perform on stage with Ellen Kent Opera International Company at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre. The students appeared as Geisha girls in Madame Butterfly and waltzing courtiers in La Traviata.

In the Stagecoach pipeline for 2012/13 are street dance examinations, group musical theatre awards and a trip to perform at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London.

Kendal born Ann-Marie first got the drama bug while attending Kirkbie Kendal School and under the watchful eye of Hirelle Mccleoud and appeared in many musicals, including Calamity Jane.

She then graduated with a first class BA (hons ) degree in Performing Arts. She then returned to complete her teaching PGCE while lecturing on the Performing Arts Course at Kendal College with Matt Burke.

For further information telephone 01539-730849 or visit www.stagecoach.co.uk.