Willy Russell - Stage-ed Patron

Amanda from the Lion King was energetic, enthusiastic, professional, and hugely engaging. What she did with these students in a day was amazing. This has really helped and inspired them in preperation for their Lion King performance. Other staff noted there was a buzz around the hall. We look forward to working with you again”. David Killick, Broughton Fields Primary School.

Fantastic ‘bespoke’ workshop delivered by Michael Southern It engaged my students, challenged them and they thoroughly enjoyed it and loved working with him. This is just the start of our work with this company! Get involved and your students will be thrilled!

Y11 working with Stage-Ed on live literature in the hall. Total mastery of content and creative quality delivery in action. Students hooked and making great progress from their start point this morning.

Stage-ed are brilliant. No hesitation in recommending them at all. We have booked them more than once because of the highly energetic pace and superb levels of engagement that they create with students. They are always professional and really give students a deeper insight into a play. As a teacher, they leave me feeling inspired (and with plenty of ideas that I can pinch for warm ups etc) plus, our students genuinely like them and always ask if we can book them again. So if anyone’s thinking about booking, I’d say their workshops are some of the best I’ve seen and you won’t regret it!

The best masterclass we have had in..” Pauline Quirke Academy, Bradley Stoke.

The workshops were great. Peter and Ffion were very engaging, they included a lovely mix of acting/teaching/activities. They were also brilliant at adapting their materials on the spot depending on time constraints (on the school’s part)/reading the room (with regards to some of our more challenging students). They also stretched our top ability with logos, ethos and pathos, which was wonderful. I’ve heard both staff and students speaking positively about it.

Thank you so much for coming to school today and for being so wonderful with all the girls and our staff. It was such a privilege to have you with us and I have had so many people telling me how much they enjoyed the assembly and the workshop with a cast member from 42nd street.
Michael thank you to you as well for all your help in booking Clare and putting us in touch. I am sure you are not surprised to hear what a star she was!

The workshop was very interesting for all of the students. The warm up put all the students at ease and the manner of the leaders was excellent. The Q&A; was very useful especially to students wishing to take drama further

The workshops were some of the best I’ve ever had in. Both Mike & Lou were passionate about ‘Blood Brothers’.The sessions were well structured, packed full and the girls were engaged, involved and learning all the time in fun ways that are different from their learning anywhere else in their school day. How do I follow that next week in my lessons?!

Having seen the performance in Malvern the week before, it was great to have Mike & Stage-ed to do a workshop with Drama students from Years 9-10. It was brilliant to have our students practically working on such an emotive play, having experienced it the week before. Some of our students are performing excerpts for assessments, some are reviewing and it was an outstanding opportunity. This was all topped off with the inspirational lead of our very own Scouser for the day, Mike Southern. Thank you Mike & Stage-ed from all here @RGSWDrama.

The workshop was perfect for the students and they all felt like they benefited from it.

The workshop on the 29th was above and beyond what I had expected or hoped for. From the outset Mike you were accommodating about the numbers of students fluctuating and what years they were from. Then heading into the main body of the workshop, the group were utterly mesmerized by your delivery of everything expected. You took them on a journey which just wouldn´t have been the same if anyone else had tried. As the workshop progressed it was obvious to see how much more of an understanding of the play they were developing. You treated them as young adults, spoke to them with respect which was very quickly reciprocated. They were focused throughout the 4-5 hours you worked with them and that´s not an easy feat for anyone. The 6 hour practical assessment lessons which have followed, would not have been as successful without the workshop. I could not have asked for anything more and would give 6 stars if I could. There is no doubt in my mind that I will contacting you again you to do more workshops.Simply amazing. Thank you so much. Fran Gower – El Limonar Internation School (Alicante, Spain).

We would like to say a huge thank you Stage-Ed and Mike for a fantastic day working on An Inspector Calls! Mike delivered an engaging and entertaining revision workshop for almost a whole year group throughout the course of just one day. Mike’s enthusiasm and knowledge of the play really encouraged the students to come out of their shells and dig deeper into the plot, characters and context of the play. Some of our most unlikely students were jumping around the hall and creating thoughtful freeze frames (a hand full of students even attempted to partake in the workshop twice). I know that the students thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and it was invaluable to their revision for their WJEC GCSE English exam. We look forward to working with Mike and the team again soon. – Laura Cope, Cardiff high School

I have learnt that it is a great job to have being an actor. It boosted my self esteem by a lot it also gave me more knowldege about the play Blood Brothers’ Thank you” (Bradley English Yr 9) “I found it really fun and different, it really benefitted me and my Drama group, we learnt so much about one particular scene in the show….it was fun” (Edward Clews Yr 9) “I thought the workshop was amazing. It has really helped me with my assessment and I have been able to reflect upon my style of performing and alter areas to suit my characters purpose and intention. I now can do a Liverpool accent.” (Kathryn Anne Barry Yr9) “Mike and Louise were fab! they both had a lovely rapport with the students which was a joy to watch.

The workshop was absolutely brilliant, Alex was engaging and energetic throughout and the pupils went right along with him- even those who can be not so self confident joined in and went for it.

The activities were exciting and got the pupils to think about the text in a different way, so much so that I have actually stolen something they made with Alex to start of a scene they are doing in class! His knowledge of both texts was thorough and he added a personal touch due to his own involvement in the productions. He also answered any questions well and articulated his own path to acting very clearly, giving pupils an idea of how they too could get into a career like his.

The resources were used brilliantly, and every task was laid out clearly and Alex made sure everyone knew what to do before they started and then moved amongst them, helping give ideas or keep them on track.

Overall 2 hours was not enough for all of Alex’s great ideas but he condensed the tasks to fit our tight timescale.

Just wanted to say a huge thank you to Mike @Stage-ed for spending the day with us on Saturday and the super Blood Brothers workshop. The young people were simultaneously hanging on every word and yet given scope to be really creative. They played loads of group games and energisers, got some spot of careers and audition advice, chance to really get to grips with sections of the play as whole groups and pairs. Crucially they were taught so much useful vocab and theatrical terms. Mike delivered this with fantastic energy and maintained the mixed age and gender kids focus throughout. Absolute magic….and looking already at when we can do it again! Eva Pearson, Head of drama, Tavistock College.

I thought the workshop was brilliant and the students where eagerly taking part. It was obvious that they were enjoying themselves and they were proud of what they had achieved by the end (a scene from blood brothers).
Mike, who led, cast the scene very expertly and accurately (I thought) It seemed like he had chosen the perfect people in the roles even though he had only just met the group. There was time at the end for the students to ask him about the industry.

It was fabulous last time and you should know that a group of year 11 students used the work they did with you for one of the scenes in their final moderation. I had 9 students- 7 gained a maximum 45/45 for their performance, one got 44 and another got 42! Not bad, eh? Must have been one of the highest scoring moderations in the country. They were an exceptional bunch and I won’t get another cohort like them but thank you for your contribution as I’m sure it gave them the edge.

Really glad Stage-Ed are coming back in; you had such a positive impact on the GCSE grades last year. Laura Baker, Passmore Academy.

Nearly 50 Y11 students from St. Joseph’s College, Reading travelled up to see one of the final performances of Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End before it closed. The students were thrilled and amazed at the quality of acting; also reduced to tears before the final curtain came down. The following Monday we were very excited to welcome Lou and Mike, members of the cast we had seen to our College to conduct a workshop. The pupils were treated to a professional insight into what it is like to be a performer at the very highest level. The students were very active and completed a range of exercises ranging from theatre games to scripted scenes. To say the students were inspired is an understatement and we would definitely recommend this experience to any Drama Department in the country. The workshop leaders were happy to tailor the experience on the day as a Y11 GCSE Group benefitted from help in developing a devised piece they were working on. The students were buzzing from the visit and it was refreshing for them to ask questions about the profession that were answered fully by working professionals. More than a workshop, more like a real experience of ‘Theatre’ in every sense of the word.

We had a Les Mis workshop which was brilliant. The kids haven’t stopped talking about it and loved every minute. Highly recommended, thank you.

As a Drama teacher, I would thoroughly recommend a workshop led by Mike. We have been lucky enough to have Mike in twice, once to lead a workshop with our Year 9s (who had opted for GCSE Drama) and more recently, to work specifically with our More Able GCSE pupils. Both times, pupils have filled out a questionnaire, with 100% agreeing that it was ‘Excellent’, ‘Thoroughly Enjoyable’ and that they would be able to apply the skills learnt to their practical assessments. Mike has an ability to get the best out of the pupils with his high energy approach whilst also maintaining an inclusive atmosphere, so pupils feel confident working together. It’s also a great way to learn new improvisation techniques which can be built into units of work. A great way to enthuse pupils about the possibilities of Drama.

Just wanted to say thank you again for Friday’s workshop – it was absolutely brilliant and the students are still raving about it.

I must also let you know that Jake, who I said was not doing drama next year, went home and spoke to his mum and has since enquired about enrolling on a drama course at Strodes! I am over the moon! Thank you!

Look forward to booking you again soon

Stage-Ed delivered a fantastic Blood Brothers workshop on stage at the New Wimbledon Theatre for Kids Week. Their in depth knowledge of the show and professional experience of it in production provided an invaluable insight for the young people. The workshop delivery was fast paced, fun and engaging and also provided varied performance skills development appropriate to all levels of experience. Some feedback from participants: “The leaders knew a lot of techniques & exactly how to be each character. I learnt a lot of new ways to perform the pieces and I enjoyed the ensemble scenes the most.” “I learnt so much but also had fun.” “The leaders knew what they were talking about – great advice. I learnt tips for auditions and life!” “I have learnt to be more confident! I enjoyed when we go to direct the different pieces then perform them.”

Gareth was absolutely amazing in the National Theatre Connections workshop. His whole persona was incredible. He was extremely inspiration, approachable, professional and very friendly. He was such a lovely man. He gave the students time at the end to answer any questions, which went down really well. He was superb and I’m so grateful you sent him!

We had Stage-ed in to work with our GCSE English students on An Inspector Calls and they really brought the texts to life. Mike sharing his experience as a performer really helped to give the pupils a clear perspective on the impact of stagecraft. Stage Ed were really accommodating and the pupils learned a lot from the sessions, it was a great experience.

Thank you so much to Lou and Jo for providing such a fantastic workshop yesterday! The students loved every second and the yr11’s feel really excited about their performance exam on Tuesday! I would also like to share my appreciation as the ladies stayed a little longer so the year 11 students could perform some of their scenes from the Blood Brothers exam piece while Lou and Jo provided feedback and advice. This was above and beyond what they came to do and we were all so appreciative of it. I would absolutely love to stay in contact for future sessions. Thank you again for such a fun and purposeful end to the week.

Stage-ed provided a series of excellent workshops which built very successfully on our pupils’ study of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I would not hesitate to recommend them.