Community directory

Top Hat Stage School

Top Hat is a part time performing arts school for children and young adults aged 4 to 17 years of age. Top Hat Schools are held at weekends, during term time.

We currently have 6 centres:

* Elm Court Community Centre, Mutton Lane, Potters Bar on Fridays from 4.30pm to 7.30pm.

* Monks Walk School, Knightsfield, Welwyn Garden City on Saturdays from 10.00am to 1.00pm.

* John Henry Newman School, Hitchin Road, Stevenage on Saturdays from 2.30pm to 5.30pm

* St Albans Girl School, Sandridgebury Lane, St Albans on Saturdays from 2.30pm to 5.30pm

* Mill Mead School, Port Vale, Hertford on Saturdays from 10.00am to 1.00pm.

Tiny Toppers:
For children aged 4 and 5 years old. They attend a two hour session, with a break in the middle. The children will discover the delights of singing, music, drama and dance (both Tap and Jazz) in an informal but safe and caring environment.

Top Hatters:
Top Hatters attend three hour sessions, one hour of drama, one hour of singing and an hour of dance (both Jazz and Tap). There are 3 age groups: Stage 2's are aged 6 to 8 years old; Stage 3's are aged 9 to 11 years old; Stage 4's are aged 12 to 16 years old. Classes are fun, friendly and the children will build lots of confidence and meet new friends.

Terms are 12 weeks long and cost £175 for Tiny Toppers and £285 for Top Hatters. Please visit the Top Hat website for further information. Or you can just turn up for your first free trial class to see if your child enjoys it.

Adult drama course:
Course runs from Monday 13th October until Monday 22nd December (No class 27th October for half term) at Monks Walk School, Knightsfield, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL8 7NL from 7.30pm to 9.30pm

Whether you want to build on skills you have learnt previously through drama classes, community theatre or maybe you want to explore acting, singing or dancing for the first time as a new hobby. The course is also ideal for professional/ semi professional actors that wish to work on audition technique, gain further insight into the acting process as well as the all important practice.

Course Outline
You will take part in an hour of Drama each week with the second hour changing each week with singing classes, vocal coaching, audition technique etc, as well as having a laugh in the process!

Your weekly drama lesson will include drama games and exercises as well as looking at Movement, Character, Text, Voice and the all important Improvisation. We will also look at a variety of texts and we will look at some suitable audition material for each member of the class that may wish to seek professional work. As our teachers are all experienced professionals in the Industry, they can give insightful advice on how to get an agent.

Singing lessons will be introduced periodically and you will be introduced to a variety of singing exercises and warm ups, learning various songs from Musicals and Films. But don’t worry about what you sound like. Our Teacher’s main focus will be about making it fun. Working on your strengths and will help to build your confidence.

Why Join?
Students attend our “Basic Drama for Adults class” for various reasons. Some come for the fun factor, a new hobby as it were; some come to keep fit and try something different; some even come to improve their skills and practice in the Performing Arts. So why not? Give it a go. If you have any further questions, then please contact Warren Bacci.