StageSong

^{By Tierney Seccull}

THE TERRITORY DOES well with its performing arts education, with some fantastic dance schools and studios, theatre groups and school productions for young folks to flex their creativity. Local primary teacher Sian Edeson noticed a gap in one performing arts area, so recently launched StageSong – Darwin’s first dedicated musical theatre school.

It was her more than 20 years of teaching experience combined with parenting a creative child that inspired the idea.

“Our daughter wanted to be a performer, and there are many amazing dance academies around Darwin, but there’s nothing dedicated to musical theatre … I think it was missing for our daughter,” she says.

“In my teaching world, I got a scholarship to go to the Junior Theatre Festival in Newcastle … I went for a weekend and was completely blown away, and I realised it was what I wanted to do.”

Weekly 90-minute workshops are designed for children aged between eight and 18 years, and run over three 10-week terms that each work towards a performance. StageSong terms don’t run in conjunction with the school term in an effort to avoid clashes.

“I’m trying to avoid the big moments … all of the schools have their big events towards the end of terms and semesters. The idea is to learn repertoire in a fun environment with a performance at the end … that’s what kids love, and it’s good for the parents to see as well.”

Children learn lines and practice the songs at home, and have the opportunity to nut out the more challenging aspects in the weekly workshops, such as stage craft. There’s also the option to create a musical in a week during the middle-year school holiday break.

“It’s just a nice, easy and quiet environment,” Edeson says.

“Grab a friend and come together … it’s safe and supportive, and you won’t know [if you love it] until you try. It’s just about giving kids access to these things.”

WHEN TERM 2 ENROLMENTS OPEN (COMMENCING TUE 7 MAY)
AT COCONUT GROVE COMMUNITY HALL
COST $220
INFO stagesongdarwin.com.au