Welcome to
Footlights Rochdale
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
Wardle Academy
Wardle
Rochdale
Lancashire OL12 9RD
Your child is welcome for a free trial at anytime, for more information email rochdale@footlightstheatre.co.uk or call Aaron on 07493 622494.
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 Rochdale?
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 Rochdale is the right place for them!
What to expect?
During your child’s time at Footlights Rochdale, 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 Rochdale 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
Our Staff
Aaron Doherty
Director
Read Bio
Footlights Rochdale is owned and ran by Aaron Doherty. Aaron has been a huge part this school during it’s ten year history and he comes with a wealth of experience! His sister and brother attended the school from 2014 and now are part of the network of stage schools. Aaron also runs Footlights Rossendale and Burnley and his mother Footlights Huddersfield so it truly is a Footlights Family!
A true Footlights family business!
Julie
Acting Teacher
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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.
During classes your child will learn how to listen, discuss, question, analyse, trust; through these, their confidence will build as well as their social skills. Their performance skills will also improve and, through being part of a regular group with like-minded children and young people, their friendship groups will widen.
Leah Fisher
Singing Teacher
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In our singing classes, your child will learn how to warm up their vocal chords, how to use their bodies to create the best sound, they will learn breath control, how to support their voice and how to sustain it. We’ll train them to sing in harmonies, a group as well, or in a duet. They will learn about composers from Musical Theatre, as well as sing pop songs. In class, we also encourage them to sight read and recognise terminology. All this is done in a safe environment where they will learn to relax so the voice can sing – we can’t wait to hear them!
Melissa
Dance Teacher
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Our dance teacher’s choreography is exciting and jam packed full of edgy moves, she teaches all styles including commercial, ballet, contemporary and musical theatre! Across Footlights we teach ballet, tap, contemporary and commercial dance and in a very supportive environment, we aim to get the very best out of your child and teenager. We work on technique, timing, style, precision and routines. We give our Footlights students the confidence to open up and progress in their performing ability!
Tiny's Tutor
3yrs -6yrs (Tiny’s)
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All our tutors have extensive in experience both in the performing arts sector and education. 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.
Our daughter who is 9 started at Footlights when it first opened, Within a couple of weeks she transformed into a confident girl whose personality has blossomed! Anna and her team are the absolute best in finding strengths in the children and encouraging them non stop. I’m constantly kept up to date and I can always text with any issues. The end of term show was AMAZING, my mum was in tears at the transformation of Maisie and couldn’t believe how well organised and brilliant the children were! Thank you!
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