Talented students from three Stagecoach Salford, Stagecoach Altrincham and Stagecoach Bolton will take to the stage to perform in the historic Blackpool Grand Theatre, for Stagecoach’s Showcase on Sunday 28th November.

After being postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic, many of the talented students missed out on performing on the historic famous stage in the Grade II listed building, but now they will get their chance. For some, this will be their first time in two years on a stage, if not, ever, with students from Stagecoach schools in Wilmslow, Chester, Huddersfield and Holmfirth, Chorley and Preston and Leeds Morley also taking part. For many of the further stage students, this will be the last Stagecoach performance before they graduate to pursue a career in the performing arts and are going on to further education to study theatre and drama next year.

Earlier in 2021, Stagecoach students were the first to perform at the legendary Shaftesbury theatre venue after 14 months. 160 students from 10 schools took part in the test event which hailed the return of live theatre to stages across the UK.

Kimberley Riley-Shipperbottom, Principal at Stagecoach Bolton said:

“We are going to be performing a La La Land medley. We chose this as it has great songs to dance and sing to. It also shows off our strong harmony singing. All the students have worked really hard and that the teachers have created a fantastic piece and I as the Principal are really proud of them all.”

Briony Tanner, Senior Marketing Executive at Stagecoach, said

“After having to postpone the event because of lockdown, we are delighted to see the students back on the Blackpool Grand Theatre stage, performing pieces which they have worked so hard on. We are so proud of the students, parents and teachers and all of the schools involved, all of whom have been rehearsing relentlessly to put on a fabulous show. It is such a pleasure to welcome everyone back through the doors to celebrate their hard work at the end of what has been a busy, and sometimes tough year.”

Stagecoach Performing Arts recently reported a surge in new student enrolments (50%) as it reopens its schools across the UK and welcomes students back for the Summer term. Stagecoach prides itself on building Creative Courage For Life® among students, which is more important than ever as children’s mental health, confidence and development have been impacted by the lockdown. Performing arts’ powerful impact on improving children’s mental health, along with the need for social interaction, a creative outlet and a happy and positive environment where children can be themselves and make friends, have been key contributors to this spike in enquiries and enrolments.

Stagecoach is the UK’s largest network of performing arts schools, with more than 2,000 extra-curricular performing arts schools worldwide. Stagecoach aims to make a difference in its students’ lives by teaching Creative Courage for Life®, with many students going on to be professionals and world-renowned actors, singers and dancers. Early Stages classes are available for children aged four to six and Main Stages classes take place for six to 18-year-olds every weekend.