More Than a Show: How Theatre Prepares Children for Life

If you’re thinking about Theatretrain for your child, I could give you a very long list of reasons why I think it’s brilliant. I’ve been part of Theatretrain for years, so obviously I’m not completely neutral! But I also don’t think it’s helpful to pretend there are no downsides. Every children’s activity has things that will suit some families brilliantly and things that won’t work for others. So if you’re trying to decide whether Theatretrain is right for your child, here are what I think are the genuine pros and cons.

I’m going to say something that probably sounds a bit odd coming from someone who runs Theatretrain. Theatretrain is not right for every child. And I think it’s really important to be honest about that. Of course, I want children to come along, enjoy it and hopefully stay with us for years. But I’d much rather tell you that Theatretrain might not be the right fit than persuade you to join and have your child miserable a few weeks later.

If your child loves performing, you might find yourself choosing between a performing arts school and a dance school. At first glance, they can look quite similar. There may be music. There may be performances. There will probably be lots of energetic children coming out at the end! But the experience your child gets can be quite different. Neither is necessarily better than the other. The important question is: Which one is the better fit for your child?