AN Exeter-based performing arts school is launching an after-school musical theatre class for children aged 8-16 years in Tavistock.

Theatretrain Exeter will be holding sessions at the Red & Black Club from 5.30pm to 7pm on Friday evenings and has arranged a Free Open Day on Friday, October 15 for children who might be interested in joining this class.

Centre director and drama teacher Paul Clark said: ‘With the year that we have had, the performing arts is a great way to develop a child’s life skills — teamwork, empathy, resilience, communication etc — as well as being an outlet for having lots of fun and creativity and improving their mental health.

‘We have a team of professional teachers in place and now just need students.’

Theatretrain Exeter is an offshoot of the national Theatretrain company which has been running for over 25 years. It was founded by Kevin Dowsett who created a new approach to training in the performing arts which steers away from traditional performing arts training for young people (which is based on an exam system) and is a more immersive and creative process; closer to a theatre experience than school.

Paul started working for Theatretrain in 2008 as a drama teacher in Northampton before joining the head office team for its large scale shows.

Having moved to the South West, he felt it was time to open a centre in Exeter and Theatretrain Exeter was launched in October 2017.

‘We have gone from strength to strength and in the relatively short time we have been open, we have performed in Annie Jr. (our first local show), appeared on TV (Don’t Tell the Bride), taken part in our first Royal Albert Hall show (Move in 2019), performed on stage at Disneyland Paris with Mickey, Minnie and Goofie (Let’s Sing Christmas) and have been to New York.

‘Not only do we train our students in the performing arts and help to develop their life skills, we also aim to provide enriching experiences for them. Students get to perform every year and this can be locally, in the West End or at the Royal Albert Hall.

‘Shortly after opening our main Exeter Centre, we launched a musical theatre class near Cullompton and we are now looking to replicate this in Tavistock. We have a unique curriculum which gets to the heart of what it is to be a performer and an essential part of the training is working as part of a team. This is where we develop empathy, contacting with feelings and storytelling, as well as working on movement, space, time and sound.

‘Our musical theatre class is a fun and friendly way for children to explore the performing arts whilst making new friends, developing their life skills, building confidence and learning about a variety of different musicals. It is open to children aged 8-16 years and no experience is necessary. Our team of professionally trained teachers are keen to get started and to provide some fantastic experiences for the children of Tavistock and the surrounding area.’

To find out more visit theatretrain.co.uk/exeter.