About Us

As an organisation we are passionate about the future of the arts and culture sector, and how we can engage with young people to provide opportunities and a platform within our industry.

Launched in June 2021, Hope Mill Theatre School provides young people aged 2-18 with access to affordable Drama training in Singing, Dancing and Acting in the heart of the North West.

With a strong emphasis on fun, the training will not only develop your child’s performance ability but improve key life skill areas such as self-confidence and teamwork. Working with top industry professionals in all areas of the arts, the students will gain a superior education and training. From weekly classes to performance opportunities, Hope Mill Theatre School aims to encourage and elevate musical theatre talent whilst focusing on enjoyment and participation.

Each child’s journey of musical theatre training will be personal and unique:

We aim to provide a level of training which will enable those who are interested to pursue further formal training and careers both on and off the stage. There will be goals to achieve each term, performances and yearly reports, which will play a key part in each student’s individual journey and progression.

For those who simply enjoy taking part, Hope Mill Theatre School is a non-elitist, pressure free environment where young people can experience a multitude of benefits from their training.

Vision and Mission

Hope Mill Theatre School’s mission is to educate, inspire and encourage young talent, confidence and artistic passion.

Our vision is to create a safe nurturing creative space for young people to develop and train. An environment which is inclusive and where everyone feels valued and supported.

Hope Mill Theatre School is an extension of the vision and mission of Factory of Creativity CIO

All our staff are highly trained industry professionals. All staff are DBS checked.

Free places at the Hope Mill Theatre School are proudly funded by the ‘Evan Sacks Scholarship’ 

Tiny Cogs 1.15 -2pm – suitable for 2 – 3 year olds

Our Early Cogs classes are suitable for 2 – 3 year olds and their grown up. Our young performers will develop their confidence, expression and focus through dance, song and games. Classes aim to prepare our youngest students to progress to Mini Cogs.

Mini Cogs – 9am – 10am – suitable for 4 – 6 year olds

Our Mini Cogs classes are designed to be a fun introduction to the arts. Children will study singing, dance and acting skills through games, stories and song.

Our young performers will learn coordination and physical expression in dance, develop their ear and musicality in singing and their voice and self confidence in acting.

As well as learning new skills, children will take part in mini musicals throughout the year and the main school show in the summer term. Parents and carers will also receive written yearly reports.

With the emphasise firmly on confidence building, Mini Cogs is the perfect starting point for your budding actor!

Main School – 10.30am – 1.30pm – suitable 7 – 18 year olds

The benefits of drama training are numerous, and whilst introducing children to the idea of professional development in the Arts, our training aims to build confidence, creativity and communication skills, as well as being a great way to contribute towards a physically and mentally healthy lifestyle.

In our main school the students rotate around classes in age appropriate groups studying singing, dancing and acting, as well as working as a whole school on ensemble material.

Students will work with our regular faculty as well as guest tutors to develop their performance skills and confidence.

Acting class will include characterisation, text work, devising, improvisation and presentation skills. In singing, they will learn harmonies and how to work as a team. In Dance we are keen to promote fitness, coordination and physical expression. All of these opportunities provide foundations for careers in the Arts as well as instilling confidence, bravery, ambition and leadership skills, to name but a few, for all students.

All main school students will work toward the main school musical which will be performed at Hope Mill Theatre each Summer.

Afternoon Advanced Dance classes 2-4pm £120 per term

Singing and Lamda lessons also available 

Hope Mill Youth Theatre runs for three 12 week terms a year and follows the Manchester School holiday year. There is a half term break in every term.

2021 – 2022 Dates

Winter Term – 18th Sept 2021 – 11th Dec 2021 (no session 30th October)
Spring Term – 8th Jan 2022 – 2nd April 2022 (no session 25th Feb)
Summer Term – 23rd April 2022 – 16th July 2022 (no session 4th June)

All young people will be provided with a week’s free trial in their first term.

12 Week Term fees

•  Early Cogs – £72

Payment options  – £65 if paid in full or 2 x payments of £36

• Mini Cogs – £90

Payment options  – £85 if paid in full or 2 x payments of £45

• Main School £216

Payment options – £199 if paid in full or 2 x payments of £108

There is a 50% discount for siblings if both students are in our main school

Funded Places

It has long been an ambition for us to establish a Theatre School for local children allowing them access to free/low fee theatre training. 50% of Hope Mill Youth Theatre’s places will be completely free of charge. Part-funded places are also available. Parents and caregivers can request a short questionnaire to declare income and affordability. This is to ensure that those who need it most are able to benefit from this financial support. Financial support is provided for an academic year, following which parents and carers are invited to apply again. Throughout the summer holidays, a week’s free training will be provided at our summer schools for those with funded places.

When you are sent your application pack you will be asked if you require a funding questionnaire.

FAO

Does my child have to audition?

No, for the main school and Mini Cogs there is no audition. However, all students must complete a taster session where both the staff and the student can assess whether the school is for them.

Where do classes take place?

Classes take place at our Community Hub and our main theatre space when available.

What performance opportunities are available?

The winter term ends with a sharing of work for parents and carers

The spring term is about skill building and preparing for our summer show

The summer term ends with a full school musical on our main stage

The school runs summer schools every year.

What do I wear?

All students are required to wear the school t-shirt, black bottoms and trainers or dance shoes. Long hair should be tied back and jewellery taken off. For those with funded places help can be provided with uniform.

Safegaurding and Covid

The launch of the Youth Theatre will be in accordance with Covid restrictions. With our venue having already invested extensively in risk assessments, PPE, social distancing measures etc, we are able to do this safely and securely. For general updates please see our Covid Updates page.

The Theatre School Covid Risk Assessment and Policy are available upon request from theatreschool@hopemilltheatre.co.uk where you can also request the Venue Child Protection Policy and the Theatre School Safeguarding Policy.

Privacy and GDPR Statement

Hope Mill Theatre School operates under the Factory of Creativity/Hope Mill Theatre Privacy Policy
https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/privacy-policy.

In addition to this statement, HMTS will use information about individual children and families in certain documents such as, a weekly register, medication information, SEN support documents and examination documentation. These documents include data such as children’s names, date of birth and emergency contact numbers. These records are shredded after the relevant retention period.

HMTS stores personal data held visually in photographs or video clips or as sound recordings. No names are stored with images in photo albums, displays, on the website or on social media sites without express permission.

Access to the HMTS email account and HMTS students Personal Data, is password protected and is not available to members of the public or other members of the School. When a member of staff leaves the School ensures these passwords are changed in line with this policy. Any portable data storage used to store personal data, e.g. the HMTS Ipad are password protected and stored in a locked cupboard.

You have the right to request the deletion of your data where there is no compelling reason for its continued use. However, HMTS has a legal duty to keep student and parents details for the timescales outlined below:
• Registers should be kept for three years
• Accident/incident and any child protection incident documentation should be kept until the
date of the child’s 26th birthday
• All other information will be removed once the child leaves the school.

In matters of safeguarding and child protection cases HMTS has a duty to share information with the relevant authorities.