How do you condense 20 years of memories, performances, friendships and extraordinary young people into just a few hundred words?
Theatretrain Bromsgrove first opened its doors at the Artrix in September 2006, and I have been lucky enough to be part of its story from the very beginning. I originally joined as Acting Director before, six or seven years later, having the enormous privilege of taking over as Company Director.
And what a journey it has been.
Over the past two decades, our young people have performed on some truly extraordinary stages. We have appeared at the Royal Albert Hall four times, performed at the London Palladium and taken part in Special Measures in Nottingham.
One of my personal highlights was 20@TheO2, when Theatretrain companies from across the country came together for one incredible large-scale performance. Seeing so many young performers sharing that enormous stage was something I will never forget.
But some of our proudest moments have happened much closer to home.
Over the years, Theatretrain Bromsgrove has created countless productions, including Hard as Rock, Aladdin, Thrilled, Time After Time, Welcome to the Sixties and, most recently, It’s Good, It’s Bad and It’s Ugly.
We have always been proud to do things a little differently. Rather than simply choosing productions for our students to perform, we often write and create original work specifically around the young people we have in front of us. Their personalities, strengths and ideas become part of what we create.
More Than Performing
As wonderful as the big stages and spectacular productions are, the greatest moments at Theatretrain aren’t necessarily the ones that happen underneath the brightest lights.
Sometimes, they begin with a child walking through our doors for the very first time.
They might be shy or nervous. They may never have performed before. Perhaps they struggle to make eye contact or feel unable to stand in front of a group and simply say their name.
Then, little by little, something changes.
They begin to join in. They laugh. They make friends. They discover where they belong.
Over the weeks, months and sometimes years that follow, you watch them find their voice, take risks, step onto a stage, lead others and, most importantly, begin to believe in themselves.
That transformation is the real work of Theatretrain, and it remains the greatest privilege of what we do.
Our students have also played an important role within their local community, performing at events, raising money for charities and visiting residential homes to share songs, stories and plenty of laughter.
Where Theatretrain Can Take You
For some students, Theatretrain has become the beginning of a professional career.
Former Theatretrain Bromsgrove students have gone on to work professionally on cruise ships, with Disney, at Haven holiday parks and in London’s West End.
For many others, performing hasn’t become their profession — but the confidence, friendships, teamwork and life skills they developed during their time with us have travelled with them into entirely different careers and adventures.
And that matters just as much.
None of the past 20 years would have been possible without the remarkable people who have been part of Theatretrain Bromsgrove along the way: our creatives and team members, volunteers, parents, carers and families who have supported our young people and believed in what we do.
At our recent 20th anniversary celebration, former students returned to perform alongside us, while others sent messages from different parts of the world.
Seeing them again — grown up, following their own paths and remembering their Theatretrain days — brought everything wonderfully full circle.
Twenty years.
Thousands of memories.
