Starlight Theatre Academy is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year, marking a decade of creativity, confidence building, and joyful chaos for hundreds of young performers across Newark and beyond.

Principal Emily Cook started the independent theatre school with just six students and a big idea.

Ten years on, the academy has grown into an established part of the local creative community, with more than 380 children and young people having come through its doors.

For many of them, Starlight has been about more than learning songs or scripts — it has been about finding confidence, friendship, and a space where they feel supported and encouraged to be themselves.

Emily said: “From the very beginning, we have believed that theatre should give every child a voice. That belief runs through everything we do and is reflected in our 18 productions to date.

“Every show has been written or adapted to ensure that every child has a speaking part, because no one should ever feel hidden at the back of the stage.

“Our most recent production, Death Set Sail, captured that ethos perfectly. Written by the students themselves, it was a musical murder mystery double feature that combined creativity, teamwork, and a lot of laughter.

“It was a proud moment and a brilliant example of how we encourage young people to take ownership of their ideas and see them through from page to stage.”

Like many small arts organisations, the academy faced significant challenges during lockdown. Classes moved online when the young people created an original online musical, while Emily and her team did everything they could to keep its community connected.

Thanks to flexible, pay what you can pricing, the academy retained 100 per cent attendance throughout that period.

For many families, those weekly sessions became an important source of consistency and connection during an uncertain time.

Emily added: “Over the past decade, Starlight Theatre Academy has grown well beyond our own classes.

“We have delivered creative workshops and musical theatre after-school clubs in 10 local schools, with our longest running partnership now in its fifth year.

“Our holiday clubs have become a firm favourite, with 12 delivered so far, offering fun, creativity, and structure during school breaks.

“Our birthday parties have also become something of a local favourite, popping up everywhere from woodland clearings and back gardens to village halls, each one designed around the child at the centre of it.

“We have delivered workshops for local Brownie, Guide and Scout groups, helping even more young people discover the joy of performance in a relaxed and playful way.”

The academy took part in Fun Palace Newark in 2022, 2023, and 2024, supporting the idea that arts and culture should be accessible to everyone.

It has regular classes for children aged four to seven, and seven to 15 — also expanding to classes in North Hykeham.

More recently, the academy has introduced private LAMDA tuition, with students now working towards acting and musical theatre examinations.

Emily highlighted the progress of Katie James, one of its first students back in 2016, who is now musical theatre lead.

She is trained in choreography and currently works with performing arts school Addict.

Emily added: “Her journey reflects something we have always believed in at Starlight — training, nurturing, and genuinely looking after our own.

“As we celebrate 10 years of Starlight Theatre Academy, we are also looking ahead to an exciting year. Plans include a summer show, a Christmas show, an exciting pantomime, and a big 10th birthday party open to the public.

“Our anniversary showcase, Spectacular, takes place on 25th January, with term reopening shortly after and free taster sessions running on 31st January and 1st February 1st. Our Starlets classes for four to seven year-olds return on 28th February and 1st March, offering musical theatre and confidence building sessions for Key Stage 1 children.

“As always, our focus remains firmly on what we do best — creating welcoming spaces where children can grow in confidence, try new things, make friends, and discover just how capable they really are.”

For more information about Starlight Theatre Academy, email [email protected]

PHOTO: Teresa Martin

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