Starlight Theatre Academy is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its 10-year anniversary. This decade has been defined by creativity, confidence-building, and joyful chaos for hundreds of young performers across Newark and the surrounding regions.
From Humble Beginnings to Community Pillar
Founded at the end of January 2016 with just six students and a grand vision, Starlight Theatre Academy has blossomed into a cherished part of the local creative landscape. Over the past ten years, more than 380 children and young people have passed through its doors. For countless participants, the academy has offered far more than instruction in songs or scripts; it has been a vital space for discovering confidence, forging lasting friendships, and receiving support to express their true selves.
A Foundational Ethos of Inclusion
From its inception, the founders have held a core belief: theatre must give every child a voice. This principle is woven into the fabric of all their activities and is clearly demonstrated across their 18 productions to date. Each show has been specially written or adapted to guarantee that every child receives a speaking role, ensuring no one ever feels relegated to the background of the stage.
The recent production, Death Set Sail, perfectly encapsulated this ethos. A musical murder mystery double feature written by the students themselves, it showcased creativity, teamwork, and abundant laughter. This project stood as a proud testament to how the academy empowers young people to take ownership of their creative ideas and guide them from concept to final performance.
Navigating Challenges and Expanding Reach
The academy, like many small arts organisations, confronted significant hurdles during the pandemic lockdowns. It successfully transitioned classes online and even created an original online musical, all while striving to maintain community connections. Remarkably, through a flexible, pay-what-you-can pricing model, it maintained 100 per cent attendance throughout that difficult period. For many families, these weekly sessions became a crucial source of stability and social connection during times of great uncertainty.
Growth Beyond the Classroom
Over the last decade, Starlight's influence has extended well beyond its core classes. The academy has delivered creative workshops and musical theatre after-school clubs in 10 local schools, with its longest-running partnership now entering its fifth year. Its popular holiday clubs, with 12 delivered so far, provide fun, creativity, and structure during school breaks.
Starlight's bespoke birthday parties have also become a local favourite, appearing in diverse settings from woodland clearings and back gardens to village halls, each event tailored around the celebrant. Furthermore, the academy has conducted workshops for local Brownie, Guide, and Scout groups, introducing even more young people to the joys of performance in a relaxed and playful environment.
Recent Developments and Future Horizons
The academy has consistently participated in Fun Palace Newark on Trent from 2022 to 2024, championing the belief that arts and culture should be accessible to all. Regular classes for children aged four to seven and seven to 15 have run in Newark since 2016, with expansion to North Hykeham in 2023, where the new class has already established its own holiday clubs and a strong community spirit.
More recently, Starlight introduced private LAMDA tuition, with students now preparing for Acting and Musical Theatre examinations. This year also sees the first cohort of students entering LAMDA exams, opening new avenues for those wishing to advance their theatrical training.
A Full Circle Success Story
One of the most poignant stories is that of Katie James. As one of the very first students in 2016, Katie has now come full circle to become the academy's Musical Theatre Lead. Trained in choreography and currently working with the esteemed performing arts school Addict, her journey embodies the founders' original vision of training, nurturing, and genuinely caring for their own talent.
Celebrating a Decade and Looking Forward
As Starlight Theatre Academy celebrates this 10-year landmark, it is also eagerly looking ahead to an exciting future. Plans for the coming year include a summer show, a Christmas production, an exciting pantomime, and a grand 10th birthday party open to the public. The anniversary showcase, Spectacular, was held on January 25, with the new term commencing shortly after. Free taster sessions ran on January 31 and February 1, while the Starlets classes for four to seven-year-olds return on February 28 and March 1, offering musical theatre and confidence-building sessions for Key Stage 1 children.
The academy's focus remains steadfast: to create welcoming, inclusive spaces where children can build confidence, experiment with new skills, form friendships, and discover their own remarkable capabilities.
