An incredible group of 22 Stagecoach Shirley students took to the stage at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London’s West End, with a performance that took the audience to new heights.
Last weekend, students from Stagecoach Shirley, aged between 9 and 15, performed their high-energy musical theatre extravaganza “Ready for Take Off!”.
These talented students took their audience on a journey inspired by the glamorous 1960’s air travel, on a jet-set adventure from “Come Fly with Me” to “Levitating”.
Shooting for the stars, these incredible young performers combined musical theatre, commercial dance and pop. Every student had their chance to shine bright, whether it was singing a solo or having a dance feature, every member of the troupe was able to showcase their individuality whilst retaining their incredible teamwork in the ensemble.
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Above: Stagecoach Shirley on stage at The Shaftesbury Theatre
With their elegant cabin crew outfits, glitzy props, and bespoke video animations, every detailed aspect of their performance elevated the troupe’s dream experience of performing on a West End stage.
Principal of Stagecoach Shirley, Sophie Goldrick, described the performance as “Genuinely emotional. They rose to the occasion with such professionalism, energy and joy.”
“Ready for Take Off!” marked Principal Sophie’s first West End performance since taking over as Principal of Stagecoach Shirley, a milestone for not only the talented students, but also their mentor.
This performance truly cemented what Stagecoach is all about with Sophie Goldrick expressing “Performances like this give young people extraordinary opportunities while building confidence, resilience, creativity and friendships that last far beyond the performance itself”.
The show stopping performance was a soaring success not just because of the student’s dedication but also the incredible team behind the scenes. Teachers Ellie and Paige blended their expertise and enthusiasm and made the show a joy to create and perform. Alongside challenging the students to reach their greatest potential, they made the rehearsals a space for creativity and fun, resulting in the final piece being a true reflection of their collaborative approach, rehearsing together every Sunday for several months.
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Above: Stagecoach Shirley on stage at The Shaftesbury Theatre
In the same collaborative spirit, Jeff from Stagecoach Welwyn Garden City, created custom animations to accompany the piece transporting the audience to the 1960s.
This West End performance was the result of months of teamwork and commitment, giving the students memories for a lifetime and high-quality experience from a young age.
“Seeing our students step onto a West End stage and absolutely embrace the moment made all of that hard work worthwhile” – Sophie Goldrick.
Stagecoach Performing Arts has a proud history of helping children and young people build confidence and life skills. Over the past 36 years, more than one million students worldwide have benefited from its creative programmes. With a network of 60,000 students and 3,000 schools globally, Stagecoach empowers children with “Creative Courage for Life,” inspiring countless students to pursue their dreams in the performing arts.
