Footlights Theatre School opening branch in Dagenham

Footlights Theatre School was founded by Joe Fisher in Manchester in 2005 and is now set to open its first branch in London.

Footlights’ Dagenham branch will be based at Jo Richardson Community School in Gale Street.

Aderonke Beyioku will be the director and took on the challenge after agreeing with the ethos of Footlights.

She said: “During my search for franchises, I felt like I connected more with the Footlights family and my vision for setting up a performing arts school in Dagenham aligned with what they do.

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“Their focus is on nurturing and encouraging students and building up developmental skills for performing arts but also in general life.

“I connected with Joe as well as the other franchisees and that’s what has encouraged me to join forces with Footlights.”

Aderonke said that Joe founded the company 20 years ago in an attempt to provide affordable and accessible training for children wanting to pursue performing arts.

Twenty years later, Footlights has expanded to have more than 25 branches nationwide and will be opening Dagenham as its first in London.

The company describes itself as “multi-award winning” on its website and lists credits such as winning at the Salford Business Awards in 2023 and winning twice at the British Franchise Association in 2020.

Members of Footlights, which has more than 25 groups nationwide (Image: Footlights Theatre School) Aderonke’s professional background is in quality assurance but she explained that she has “always had a passion for performing arts”.

“I always sang in my church choir and I’ve been in a few plays but I never had the confidence to pursue performing arts and that’s the reason I want to start this stage school.

“I have seen the confidence in my own daughter grow since she started at a stage school, and it’s been really eye-opening.

“Because of the lack of confidence that I had, I don’t want to see anyone else dim their light and my desire is to help young people in Dagenham to build confidence and allow them to pursue performing arts if they wish to.”

Footlights will offer sessions on Saturday mornings initially but may offer after school clubs in the future, according to Aderonke.

Classes will be on offer for children from three to 18 years-old.

“I’m buzzing,” said Aderonke.

“I can’t wait to get things going and to give opportunities to the young people of Dagenham.

“I want to give them an environment to thrive in and let their lights shine.”

The branch is hosting an open evening on April 26.