Should I Consider Theatre School for My Child?
So, your child wants to be on stage? They’re so passionate about it that it’s all they want to do – it’s all they talk about and not only that but they’re obviously talented.
Do any of these statements ring true for you? Does your child binge watch West End Musicals or recite the lines of their favourite films on loop? Do they sing and dance around the house and tell everyone they want to be an actor, a singer or a dancer?
If this sounds like your child then yes, you should consider theatre school for your them.
Credit: Unsplash.
Will their education suffer?
No! Quite the opposite. Many theatre schools have very strong curriculums and students achieve high grades. The discipline required to study performance and academic subjects is extreme – there’s no shirking on maths just because you want to do some extra dance!
The hours which children work whilst at theatre school are often longer than those in an ordinary school. This is so that everything can be scheduled properly. Your child will receive high quality, professional training in addition to their normal studies – not instead of.
Dance, acting, singing, voice, stage fighting, makeup and related subjects will all be intensely studied alongside everything else needed to achieve good GCSE or A Level results.
The reality for many trained performers is that they will need to have a day job. A way to earn a living once they’ve left school because only a very few performers are able to earn a full-time living from acting, singing or dancing. This is why studying other subjects is so important.
Credit: Unsplash.
Will my child have professional opportunities?
The best theatre schools, like this drama school in London do have professional agencies attached to them. This means that pupils regularly get the opportunity to audition for professional work including West End shows and film and television productions.
Auditioning for professional productions at an early age is a great way for children to make a mark on the industry and to become known to casting directors and agents.
The best way for you to ascertain if theatre school is the best route for your child is to visit some schools on their open days. This will give you and your child a feel for the different organisations and how they are run.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.