It’s been a booming few months for Stagecoach Performing Arts who have welcomed eight new franchisees to their network. Those joining this autumn have set up businesses in the English towns of Havant, Malvern, Marlborough, Stockport and Winchester; as well as Bridgend and Cowbridge in Wales.
The other new Stagecoach location is in the London borough of Hackney, where experienced performer Natalie Wright is franchisee. Natalie has enjoyed an impressive acting career on stage and screen, and among her credits are those for The Elephant Man and Mr Selfridge.
She also has broad teaching experience across all age groups, ranging from babies to adults. And she is now eager to bring her wealth of knowledge to students who attend her Stagecoach sessions in Stoke Newington.
Natalie said: “I began my journey with Stagecoach as a student aged 10 – immediately after participating in my very first school play. I quickly discovered a passion for performing. Stagecoach became my safe haven, and I absorbed a wealth of knowledge during my time there.
“When I turned 16, my Principal promoted me to an early stages’ assistant and two years later I went to university to study Dance and Performing Arts at degree level. Upon graduating, I swiftly relocated to London, where I immediately delved into performing, as well as teaching drama classes.
“After several years as a teacher and performer, I was encouraged by a good friend of mine – who herself had recently acquired a Stagecoach franchise territory – to purchase my own.
“This was a significant and somewhat daunting step. But Stagecoach assisted me throughout the entire process, for which I will forever be grateful. I felt reassured that I had chosen wisely, having joined the same supportive family that had nurtured me so well as a child.”
Founded in 1988, and with headquarters in the Surrey town of Woking, Stagecoach offers training in singing, dancing and acting. In addition to their 100-plus schools in the UK, their global reach has taken the brand to Australia, Canada, Germany, Gibraltar, Malta, Spain and Lithuania. In total, they have over 3,000 schools across eight countries.
The franchise has also strengthened its Head Office team, adding members in a number of departments, including marketing, events, education and franchise development.
Among these changes is the appointment of Bernadette Csiszer, who previously served as a franchise administrator but recently assumed the position of Marketing Executive.
In her new role Bernadette is looking forward to enhancing the brand’s marketing strategy, and says: “I am committed to assisting our franchisees with their marketing requirements. When they succeed, we grow as a brand – it’s as simple as that.
“I consider myself very fortunate to have been offered the chance to work in the marketing department, and I deeply appreciate this opportunity. It gives me a chance to apply my existing knowledge and gain further experience in this field.”
The chief executive of Stagecoach, Andy Knights, added: “These new network additions will help us to sustain our growth trajectory nationwide. It will help to guarantee that children from every corner of the UK gain access to high-quality performing arts education.
“But we are not just about singing, dancing and acting. We are here to inspire children and give them the confidence to be themselves in life. It’s wonderful to see such a wealth of experience joining our global franchise and injecting new life into our schools and head office. This is a very exciting time to be joining our network.”
To find out more about franchise opportunities with Stagecoach Performing Arts, please click here.
