Theatretrain Leicester

Today is National Panic Day…
(Not to be confused with Picnic Day, which sounds significantly more relaxing.)

Honestly, quite fitting that it lands right in the middle of show season.

Because if you’ve ever organised a show, you’ll know…
there is always something.
A costume that hasn’t arrived.
A date that suddenly clashes.
A venue issue.
A missing prop.
An email that absolutely could have come sooner.

It’s basically a yearly tradition of minor chaos mixed with spreadsheets.

But today… I am choosing peace.

Or at the very least, the illusion of peace.

So if anyone needs me, I’ll be somewhere quiet, pretending everything is under control.

Just because they’re hiding behind your leg doesn’t mean they don’t want to be there.

Some children desperately want to join in…
They’re just taking it all in first.

New place. New people. New sounds. New everything.

I’ve seen so many children start cautiously… then a few weeks later you’d never know they were the same child.

This review made me smile.

"Incredible! Our daughter loves all the team at Theatretrain and it's the club where she is absolutely at home and can be herself."

The phrase that stood out to me most was "at home and can be herself."

Because for many parents, that's what they're really looking for.

Not just an activity their child enjoys.

A place where they feel comfortable.

A place where they don't have to pretend to be anyone else.

A place where they can relax, make friends and simply be themselves.

I also loved the comment about how buzzing she is when she gets home each week.

Parents often ask me how they'll know if Theatretrain is right for their child.

Quite often, it's the journey home that gives the biggest clue.

Thank you for such a lovely review. ❤️

Have you ever watched a show and found yourself thinking about it long after you've left the theatre?

That's exactly what happened to Theatretrain Artistic Director Kevin Dowsett when he recently saw *Into the Woods*.

In his latest blog, Kevin shares what made the production so memorable, from the storytelling and performances to the clever twists on familiar fairy tales.

If you're a theatre lover, or simply looking for inspiration for your next trip to the West End, it's well worth a read.

Read the full blog here:
https://theatretrain.co.uk/a-story-of-our-lives/

I've lost count of the number of times a parent has quietly taken me to one side before a taster session and said:

"They're excited to come... but they're also really nervous."

To be honest, I expect it.

Starting anything new can feel like a big deal when you're a child.

I know I'm exactly the same in new situations. I like to have a look around, work out where everything is and get a feel for the room before I relax.
Children aren't much different.

That's why we never expect someone to walk through the door and immediately throw themselves into everything.

Sometimes they watch for a bit.
Sometimes they stay close to the person who brought them.
Sometimes they need a little longer to work out what's going on.
And that's absolutely fine.

The thing I've noticed over the years is that the children who are nervous on day one often look completely different a few weeks later.

Once they know the routine, recognise a few faces and feel comfortable in the space, things start to change.

Saturday pickup time is always entertaining.

Some children come flying out of class talking at 100 miles an hour before their parent has even stood up.

Others act like they've spent the last three hours staring at a wall.

"How was it?"

"Fine."

"What did you do?"

"Stuff."

Meanwhile they're halfway through demonstrating a dance routine in reception, introducing their new friend and looking for the water bottle they've misplaced for the third week running.

It's one of those funny things I see most Saturdays.

Parents are trying to work out what happened during the morning.

Children are already busy thinking about what's happening next.

The clues are usually there though.

The child who doesn't want to leave.

The one who's still chatting away as they walk out the door.

The one who's already asking if it's Theatretrain again next week.

Sometimes you learn more from that than any answer to "How was your morning?"

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺… 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝘂𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁.

When your child is already the one:
Putting on shows
Learning dances from TikTok
Singing into hairbrushes
Volunteering to be centre stage

You’re often not looking for “something to do.”

You’re looking for somewhere that gives all that energy direction.

Somewhere fun…
But structured.
Supportive…
But developmental.

That’s exactly why I created our Parent Guide, to help parents work out what actually makes a class the right fit.
www.theatretrain.co.uk/before-you-book

Happy National Ball Point Pen Day!!

Honestly… how is it possible to own approximately 47 pens… and yet the second you actually need one, not a single one works?

They’re either disappeared completely, leaked in a drawer, or scratching vaguely at the paper like they’ve given up on life.

I’m convinced pens live the same secret life as socks.

So today, we celebrate the humble ball point pen…
Usually everywhere.
Rarely useful.
But somehow still essential.

One of my favourite things to watch at Theatretrain is what happens during break time.

You'll often see children who arrived a few weeks earlier not knowing anybody sitting together chatting away like they've been friends forever.

The funny thing is, the friendships usually start in ways you'd barely notice.

Standing next to each other in a warm-up.
Sharing a lyric sheet.
Laughing because they both went the wrong way in a dance routine.

Then one day they're sitting together at break, saving each other a seat and carrying on a conversation they started the week before.

Parents often come to Theatretrain because their child enjoys singing, dancing or drama.

What they're not always expecting is how important the friendships become.

Watching that happen is one of the nicest parts of the job.