If your child or teen has expressed interest in starting theatre training classes or joining a theatre company, you were probably thrilled that they wanted to engage in an extracurricular activity.
And then you discovered the cost.
It might have been more than you imagined – and since most theatre training coaches aren’t living in mansions and driving Maserati supercars, you can assume it’s not funding a luxury lifestyle. So why do theatre training classes cost as much as they do?
Here’s the truth behind theatre training costs…
It’s A Specialist Skill
Theatre training isn’t something just anyone can do. You couldn’t pull someone out of their normal job and get them to teach the performing arts to a group of young people, just as you couldn’t expect anyone off the street to teach civil engineering.
It’s a specialist subject like many other skills.
And like other subjects, it must be taught by a well-rounded expert. Both theoretical understanding and practical experience gives practitioners the ability to nurture and grow skill in young performers. These coaches and teachers will have worked as part of a theatre company, studied the performing arts as part of their formal education or performed on stage or television themselves.
The Quality Factor
Thinking back to supercars – they’re desirable for a reason. If your only requirement is to get from A to B, any car will do – heck, even a bike. But if you want a driving experience – then a luxury car will be something unforgettable.
Quality theatre training will cost a little more for the same reason. You could get your child to watch YouTube videos on acting or do your best yourself, and save some money. But will they have the same experience as those children who attend classes and sessions taught by professionals? Will they get to share a common passion with a group of peers?
By providing lessons that are structured thoughtfully by theatre experts, exercises that offer real-world experience and teachers who are highly skilled, theatre training becomes a crucial piece in a child’s overall development.
If you were to choose low-quality clubs that put little thought into your child’s experience, you may reduce costs, but your child won’t see the same benefits.
Equally, a quality theatre training school invests in the best of everything. Including the location of their performances. At Theatretrain, our students come together to perform at incredible venues like the Royal Albert Hall and stages in London’s West End.
The Real Benefits Of Theatre Training
You might think that the draw of theatre training is that your child learns performance craft – but there’s SO much more that can be gained for the cost of joining a theatre company.
Confidence
What better gift can you give your child than a welcoming space to develop a deep sense of confidence in themselves and their abilities?
Empathy
Acting, singing and dancing encourage your young performer to relate to the story and emotion of their performance.
Physical ability
Keeping fit doesn’t need to mean running around all day. Our young performers are guided through physical movements that aid flexibility and fitness long term.
A close-knit group
Your child can make friends with a diverse collection of people of their age range, coming together for a common goal of performing
Improved memory
Performing arts quickly teaches your child to rely on their memory for choreography, storytelling and other skills.
Increased focus
Standing on the stage amid a group of peers is the best way to engage your young person and teach them to master their own focus.
Communication
Performers must connect with their audience and stage mates, giving them the perfect opportunity to practise communication skills they’ll take into their everyday lives.
The Value In A Little Extra Cost
Theatre training classes aren’t the cheapest pursuit, but the value they bring is vast.
You can watch as your child becomes filled with self-assured confidence, and as they get to know themselves in a deep and meaningful way. Many parents are surprised to find that theatre classes aren’t just for the confident kids. In fact, they offer a safe and accepting space for all personalities to shine and grow, playing a fundamental part in their growing self-confidence.
The bonds that are made through a shared performance experience last a lifetime. Your child will never forget the moments shared laughing with friends quietly behind the stage curtains or the time they performed in a large show on a historic stage.
By spending a little more money, your child can be part of something pretty magnificent and reap the rewards of friendship and confidence for the rest of their lives.
Conclusion
There’s no denying that theatre training does cost more than some kids’ clubs, but that cost isn’t ‘lost’ money. You really will see the value in the investment for your young performer when you notice the lasting friendships, the quality of teaching, the life skills, and the passion bloom in them.
Discover what it’s like to be part of a real theatre company. Find a Theatretrain class near you.
