Welcome to
Footlights Media City
Contact: enquiries@footlightstheatre.co.uk or call Jo on 07956 423 895.
JOIN THE NORTHWEST’S LEADING STAGE SCHOOL!
Does your child want to learn how to act, sing and dance?
Register now for a FREE TRIAL
Where we are:
We’re based at Footlights House in Media City, M50 2GL
Your child is welcome for a free trial at anytime, for more information email enquiries@footlightstheatre.co.uk or call Jo on 07956 423 895.
About Us
The Footlights Head Office is based at Media City in Manchester, just around the corner from the main hub of the BBC & ITV studios. We were established in 2005 by our founder Jo Fisher, a trained actor and teacher, and who continues to have a hands-on role across our stage schools. Read more about Footlights and our history here.
We have robust processes to keep your child safe; all of our staff have DBS status and a trained first aider is always on site at each of our venues. You can read and download our safeguarding policy here.
What are you waiting for?
Book a no-obligation free trial today.
Do you live in or around MEDIA CITY?
If so, does your child…
Love performing & dream of being on the West End stage, on TV or in film?
Want to learn how to act, sing and dance?
Want to meet & make friends with children who share their interests?
Does this sound like your child?
Then Footlights Media City is the right place for them!
What to expect?
During your child’s time at Footlights Media City, our tutors will mentor them to help them realise their dreams of becoming a performer, by sharing their professional experiences, as well as facilitating and teaching performance techniques.
Footlights delivers quality performing arts training and our aim is to ensure that each child gets the most out of their experience by building their essential life skills and instilling confidence, whilst having lots of fun and meeting new friends. In addition to core performing arts skills, they will:
- Have confidence when socialising and in nursery or school
- Be encouraged to talk expressively in a structured, yet exciting forum
- Be inspired when taking part in discussions
- Be listened to when building skills in decision making
- Always be working as part of a team
Their learning will give them the basics and arguably the most important components of the performing arts.
The younger the child is when they take up an activity or interest the better, as in the right environment and with the right teacher they underpin the foundation to their learning and will already have a head-start on their peers.
You will find the Footlights approach friendly and energetic. We pride ourselves on inclusivity and being an encouraging company for your child to thrive in acting, singing and dance. We have superb progression rates from our schools, with the majority of our young students going onto performing arts colleges and drama schools.
We know you want to find the right balance between ensuring your child gets a good performing arts education, has fun and at the same time keeps up with their important mainstream education. We understand this, so this is why our method to developing your child’s Acting, Singing and Dancing will complement their academic studies. Plus, at Footlights, your child will benefit from the opportunity to take internationally recognised examinations through LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts).
There is also the option for students to audition for professional work in film, theatre and modelling via our agency, Footlights Personal Management (our recent successes include Game of Thrones and the CBBC series ‘KATY’).
Book a free trial today at Footlights Media City and see for yourself.
Want to know more? Why not take a look at our FAQ’s
Shows
Each summer, all of our children take part in a performance. It’s a full-scale show where parents/carers, family and friends can come and watch their progress.
The Autumn/Winter and Spring term schedules focus much more on skills and technique with a shorter informal presentation at Christmas.
The teaching teams provide written feedback each Easter, so you can track your child’s progress. We also practice an open door policy for anytime that you wish to discuss your child’s progress. You can use this form to contact us, or speak to us directly.
We hope you enjoyed reading all about us and look forward to greeting you and your child at our school – just sign up here or message us.
Exams
We offer both Arts Award and LAMDA exams – find out more via your school,
Class Timetable
7yrs -18yrs – 10am – 1.15pm
Sundays (Acting school)
7yrs -18yrs – 1.45pm – 5pm
Our Staff
Jo Fisher
Founder
Read Bio
You will find Jo in her Footlights t-shirt and trackies any Saturday at one of her four company owned units in Media City, Prestwich, Urmston or Wigan. If you arrive between 9.45-10am, be warned; she’ll probably ‘persuade’ you to join in the most energetic warm up of your life! At 50 years of age she is more passionate and livelier than ever.
Jo is always hands on with classes at the schools as well as her franchisees. She thrives off the buzz of Footlights and of course inside theatre she and Sue have built over the last four years at Media City ‘The Empty Space’
Chris Deakin
Acting Tutor
Read Bio
“Christopher trained in Drama Performance and Musical Theatre Performance at the University of Cumbria. He then went on to train screen acting at DNA performance resource. His professional credits include everything from feature films to commercials. Christopher also works professionally as a writer director. His most recent short film “ineffable received a 4* review and has been selected to be screened at the prestigious Crystal Palace International Film Festival.”
During Acting your child will learn improvisation, script reading, character analysis, explore new plays, learn about tv and film acting, all within a safe, fun environment. Acting class creates a place where your child can express themselves freely and we will ensure encourage them to be their best self, drawing on their existing skills and teaching them new ones so they can reach their full potential.
Jen Hulman
Acting Tutor
Read Bio
Our talented and industry specialist Jen is an exceptional acting tutor, her warm friendly nature will ensure your child reaches their full potential.
She has many years of experience in teaching and constantly updates her training, she is also the right hand woman of one of the biggest casting directors in the NorthWest. in Manchester. She is also very experienced in teaching LAMDA grades 1-8.
Jen will help to build your child’s confidence, introduce new skills in acting and build on their existing ones. She teaches LAMDA examinations, improvisation, drama exercises, script work, directing; whilst encourages each child to reach their full potential. She has a real passion for nurturing young talent and brings her professional experiences as an actress to the rehearsal room; understanding the fear that some young actors often have.
Singing Tutor
Singing Tutor
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Harriet is a trained actor and singer after completing her studies at the prestigious ALRA. You may recognise Harriet from the cobbles of Coronation Street where she plays the regular character ‘Summer’. We are honoured that Harriet still wants to teach your children and young people each week adn why wouldn’t she – they are fabulous!
Harriet loves singing, is very encouraging with the children and teaches both musical theatre and popular vocals. She knows how to maximise each learner’s individual potential and does this in a supportive, inclusive and engaging way.
Here’s what Harriet has to say “My aim in Footlights Media City is to lift the confidence of our amazing students and get them to a position of performance with their singing voices. I want our children and young people at Footlights to use the techniques they learn in singing, such as pitch work, projection and harmonisation and utilise these within the shows and performances they are involved in whilst at Footlights Media City!”
Betty Sidebottom
3yrs -6yrs (Tiny’s)
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Anii says ‘I love working with younger children and watching them develop skills is really rewarding for me. I love how fun it is to work with this age group and seeing how open they are to new experiences, ready to dive into anything creative.’
In Tiny’s your child is taught acting, singing and dance in bite-size chunks, so that they can grasp the techniques easier, have fun and develop a love for the arts from a young age.
The Tiny’s concept is to prepare your child for main school. By the time that they leave the Tiny’s group, your child will be ahead of most 7 year olds who are new to performing arts. Our passion to teach will bring your child’s confidence to life.
Took my 3 children aged 6, 5 and 3 to the open day. All the staff were very welcoming, friendly and helpful. They were all great with the kids and are obviously very good at what they do. My kids loved every minute of it and want to go back every week!
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