Stagecoach Maidenhead students land roles in major TV shows and films

The principal of a performing arts school in Maidenhead has expressed her pride after seeing students land roles in hit TV shows and films.

Stagecoach Maidenhead runs weekly performing arts classes in singing, dancing and acting at Manor Green School.

Having run classes on Fridays and Saturdays, at the beginning of January the school expanded by opening a new Thursday school ‘due to popular demand’.

Principal Fay Austin explained that the school which welcomes students between the ages of two and 19, runs holiday workshops and puts on large-scale productions.

With about 400 students on the books, the school is ‘one of the largest in Maidenhead’, Fay said.

She added that many students have performed in the West End and Disney.

“A lot of our students are with agencies and have been in lots of TV, film and theatre.

“We’re very proud, the kids are fantastic,” Fay said.

At its first Thursday school session earlier this month, about 45 youngsters attended to enjoy some singing, dancing and drama.

“All of our other schools, they’re pretty full so it was a lovely turnout actually for a brand new school,” Fay added.

Many students from Stagecoach Maidenhead have landed roles working alongside well-known actors in major TV shows and films.

Fay explained that the school has had ‘quite a lot of success recently’, with students appearing in hit shows including BBC’s Call the Midwife, Netflix’s The Crown, and films including Belfast, starring Judi Dench, Captain Marvel and Wicked, starring Ariana Grande, which will be released this year.

Students have also modelled for Burberry, worked with actor and director Sir Anthony Hopkins and worked on Gypsy, a musical at the Old Mill in Sonning.

Fay said: “It’s just so amazing because these are children that come to you to build confidence and to really find themselves within a community of people who are deeply passionate and curious about the performing arts.

“It’s a huge credit to their wonderful natural talents, but it’s nice to think that maybe we’ve played a small role in building them up and making them believe that they can.

“We’re all about getting them excited and passionate and interested in the performing arts, in theatre, in film and that’s what we do so well, I believe.”

For more information about Stagecoach Maidenhead, visit: https://www.stagecoach.co.uk/maidenhead