'Thriving' youth theatre moves to new home and announces exciting programme for 2025
Stage2, Birmingham’s longest-running youth theatre, is delighted to announce that booking is open for their spring term, and there has never been a better time to join!
After just about surviving the Covid pandemic in an online format, the company is now absolutely thriving! They are well established in their new home at Queensbridge School in Kings Heath, and have come back with a vengeance, with multiple award-winning productions at the Crescent Theatre already under their belt.
Stage2 is coming off the back of an extremely positive autumn term and is hoping to grow even bigger in the spring. Membership rose to the highest it has been in nearly 10 years, which means that they are able to significantly expand their offerings. Stage2 will now return to its original tradition of putting on a full-scale production every term, for the first time since 2018, starting this spring with Tales from Ovid. The Tales are a retelling of stories from one of the greatest books of Roman Literature – Ovid’s Metamorphoses – focusing on the theme of change and transformation, with people, nymphs, and gods transforming into animals, rocks and even plants! Stage2 is proud of it’s inclusive approach to youth theatre, and so any member who wants to can be in the show without even auditioning!
Outside of the Production, Stage2 also offers workshops, which are fun, self-contained sessions focussed on building drama skills, confidence, and making friends. There are exciting developments here too, as they are launching a brand new Pic ’n’ Mix Workshop that will run in the morning. An experienced practitioner is being brought in to train and coach their oldest and most experienced members to prepare and deliver their strongest and favourite topics - expect sessions on Musical Theatre, Direction, Physical Theatre, and even Bollywood.
This will be offered alongside the pre-existing workshop options. Stage1 also runs in the morning for younger members aged 7-10. This term they will go through all the different aspects of putting on a show – from lighting and sound to writing and directing, building up to a big performance at the end of term, with plenty of games and fun along the way! General Drama will continue to run in the afternoon, this term focussing on team work. Members will take part in a wide range of fun games, exercises and improvisations as they look at how to work together, relying on and supporting each other as they learn to be active and positive members of a group. Between these three options, this means members who want to can now attend workshops for the entire day, and for no extra cost.
Stage2 runs on Sundays, and the Spring Term will run from January 12 to April 6 at Queensbridge School, with February 16 off for half term. Membership fees for a term are £190 for a first child, and then £150 for any subsequent siblings (there are discounts available for booking early). Stage2 is proud to be the only Youth Theatre in the West Midlands that provides all members who require it with a financial subsidy for fees or any other aspect of Stage2 costing money, believing that no one should ever be left out for any reason.
As if all that wasn’t enough, there is still more to mention! Whether it is world-class acting exam (LAMDA) tuition, work experience and technical training opportunities, or even a big quiz night organised and run by their Young Leaders, there is so much going on at Stage2! If this sounds like the kind of thing you might be interested in, then Stage2 looks forward to welcoming you - there are no auditions to join and no waiting list.
Anyone interested in further information should check out the Stage2 website: stage2.org.
Alternatively they can contact Stage2 staff with any questions at info@stage2.org, or by calling 07951 122932.
