When I was 10 came the big day when I was to be kitted out with all the things needed for secondary school. In those days you visited an old-fashioned gentlemen’s outfitters with drawers full of socks and football shirts and blazers and trousers. It took an age to try everything on from the school list and make sure it fitted. Eventually it was all gathered together in a big parcel of brown wrapping paper and tied up with string. I wanted to carry it home so I picked it up to be ready for my big entrance on a more grown up stage. I backed away from the shopkeeper saying my thank yous and with my hand behind me opened the door. I turned and stepped through.
“As I realised my mistake I tripped over a raised area on the ground and fell headlong into the window”.
Except that it wasn’t the door to the shop it was the door to the window. As I realised my mistake I tripped over a raised area on the ground and fell headlong into the window. I made a grab at the nearest thing to steady myself and found myself making contact with a display dummy which swayed, rocked and then toppled over into another and then another bringing them all down. By now I was spread-eagled on the floor of the window with the entire contents all over me. There I was looking up at passers-by who were laughing and walking past. I was rescued by a kind shop assistant who said I shouldn’t worry – but they must have been holding back hysteria!
Well that was an entrance of sorts you might say but where’s the exit? Well this is the last blog of the term. We have been working non-stop since January and throughout the lockdown so I’m having a rest to recharge the batteries and I’ll be back again in time for the new term. I hope that the new entrance of next term will not be as dramatic as the one I remembered above.
Our nationwide theatre schools have been teaching the skills of acting, singing and dancing to young people since 1992 and despite the lockdown, we have continued to offer classes in the performing arts to young people via pre-recorded classes, live and interactive sessions, masterclasses and the popular Tam Talks to Theatretrain. To find out more about Theatretrain please contact your nearest centre by visiting www.theatretrain.co.uk.
