Theatretrain Norwich

Name: Theatretrain Norwich
Address: Hellesdon High School, 187 Middletons Ln, Norwich, NR6 5SB, GB
Telephone: 07754 285333
Price range: From £15

NorwichAges 4-18

Courtesy of Theatretrain Norwich

BEST FOR

Ages 4-18

ENTRY

from £15

WHERE

Norwich

What it’s like

Weekly acting, singing and dance classes in Norwich, from a Saturday morning taster for 4 year olds up to full training for teens.

This is a stage school setup rather than a one-off show: kids join a weekly class and work towards local performances, with a shot at the bigger national productions if they stick with it. MINIS is the gentlest entry point, a 90-minute Saturday morning session for 4 to 5 year olds built around singing, dancing and acting basics. Express is aimed at 5 to 11 year olds and runs as a 90-minute after-school class on Wednesdays in Cringleford or Thursdays in Wymondham. Main Company is the flagship version, a three-hour Saturday morning programme for 6 to 18 year olds with proper specialist training and the chance to be picked for large-scale productions every other year.

Nobody has to audition, which is worth knowing if your child is more "loves singing in the car" than "born performer". The site is upfront that shy kids are welcome too and the classes are built to let everyone join in at their own pace rather than pushing confidence from day one.

Cost is where you need to do the sums. Main Company is £83 a month by Direct Debit, MINIS and Express are £50, plus a one-off £20 registration fee. That's charged evenly across the year, so you're still paying through the summer holidays even though there's no class running, which stings a bit if you weren't expecting it. There are also extras for costumes, coach travel to shows, rehearsal materials and professional photos or videos, so the monthly fee isn't the whole picture. If you want to try before committing, there's a 2-for-1 taster covering two consecutive classes, £25 for Main Company or £15 for MINIS and Express.

One faff worth flagging: if your child wants to leave, Theatretrain asks for four weeks' written notice and fees keep running during that period. Fine if you go in expecting a term-by-term commitment, less fine if you're hoping to drop out on a whim after a bad week.

Need to know

Best for: 4 to 18, with separate classes by age band

Costumes, coach travel to shows, rehearsal materials and professional photos or videos are all extra on top of the monthly fee
Express runs on Wednesdays in Cringleford and Thursdays in Wymondham, so location depends on the day
Main Company only gets picked for the big national productions every other year
Monthly Direct Debit payments continue over the summer holidays even though classes stop

Plan your visit

How much does it cost?

Main Company is £83 a month by Direct Debit, MINIS and Express are £50 a month, plus a one-off £20 registration fee. You can also pay termly in full by card or BACS instead of monthly.

Does my child need to audition?

No audition needed, they take children regardless of previous experience or ability.

Can we try a class before committing?

There's a 2-for-1 taster covering two consecutive classes, £25 for Main Company or £15 for MINIS and Express.

Do fees get reduced for holidays or missed sessions?

They don't. Fees are worked out across the full programme and spread evenly, so Direct Debits keep going through school holidays even when there's no class.