Lafour Mini Theatre School - Aged 4-6yrs

At this stage children will only continue attending if its fun ! This is achieved through:

  • Drama games
  • Dance/Movement
  • Singing
  • Characterisation
  • Very short memorised 'playlets'/sketch

Lafour 1st Stage - Aged 6-16yrs

Lafour 1st Stage is designed to provide a starting point for the child expressing an interest in the Performing Arts. Pleasure in singing, dancing or acting is often demonstrated initially at home - where confidence is not an issue. Shyness and lack of confidence outside the home should not be a deterrent. Lafour is very sensitive to the needs of the individual and provides a nurturing, supportive, encouraging working environment.
No formal training is required to join 1st Stage just an interest in the subject matter.

Admission to Centre Stage

Admission to Lafour Centre Stage is by audition only. Students from 1st Stage who achieve a mature standard of performance will be invited to audition for Centre Stage. Emotional maturity is a major part of this selection process. There is little point in transferring to CS prematurely and risk losing the confidence which has been so carefully established. Auditionees need to prepare the following:

Audition Requirements - Ages 11yrs and under


  • Drama piece of approx 1 ½ minutes
  • Dance - no longer than 1 minute
  • The verse and chorus of a song - unaccompanied (no music)

Audition Requirements - Ages 11yrs - 16yrs


  • Drama piece of approx 2 minutes
  • Dance - no longer than 1 minute
  • The verse and chorus of a song - unaccompanied

Lafour Centre Stage Ages 7/8yrs - 16yrs

CS students work towards fully costumed performances in a theatre approximately every 15 months.

The first term after a Theatre Production is back to basics - eg audition techniques, small camera work, physical theatre, Shakespeare - it is a term in which new areas of interest are explored or where emphasis is focussed on specific areas which need work (eg harmonies, acapella singing, dance technique).

There are two production formats and CS alternates between the two.

Production 1:

A musical is selected and CS students audition for major character parts.
Past productions include:

  • The Lion the witch and the wardrobe (Bearwood Theatre, Sindlesham)
  • Whistle down the wind (Wilde Theatre, Bracknell)
  • Around the world in 80 days (Wilde Theatre, Bracknell)

Production 2:

Students work within their groups and each produce a performance piece - this encourages team work, a fairer distribution of speaking parts and more opportunity to contribute in terms of ideas, characterisation and self direction.
There are also company Song and Dance numbers where all the groups work together.
Past productions include:

  • The Tingle Factor(Novello Theatre, Sunninghill - 2005)
    (excerpts from The Evacuees, Blood Brothers & Chicargo)

Showcase

One Saturday of the term is devoted to Showcase. This provides an opportunity for students to take responsibility and prepare and rehearse a performance piece of their choosing independent of theatre school. Students work on their own, with a partner or with a group. There is no teacher involvement in the rehearsal process. Students can come earlier to theatre school to rehearse or arrange to work with friends at each others houses.
Everyone is encouraged to participate and will perform to fellow students, friends and teachers. This is a tremendous confidence builder and booster exercise. Reports and certificates are awarded to every performer.
A small trophy is awarded to the winner who keeps it for the duration of the term. A medal is awarded to the runner up.
Winners and runners-up are invited to perform at the end of term for the audience of parents and friends if they wish.
It is a real triumph to see a child who initially was too shy to participate at all to stand up and sing a solo - now that's progress!

Bring a friend for a fiver (BAFFAF)

This event takes place on the same day as Showcase.
As the title suggests all students are invited to bring a friend for a fiver. On this occasion all groups work together in:

  • Dance warm-up
  • Singing warm-up
  • Group Improvisation
In the group Improvisation Three students are elected to be directors for this event. A theme is chosen for an improvisation. Three groups of mixed ages are selected and each director has 30 minutes to produce a improvised performance piece based on the theme with his/her group.
All groups come together to perform their pieces - this is then followed by Showcase which guests are invited to watch.
It's great fun and the improvised performance pieces are usually highly entertaining!

Performing Opportunites

Lafour liaises with several local theatres and many of the students have performed in pantomime and local theatre productions.
Lafour encourages students to audition for external productions.

Lafour Theatre School Fees per 12 week term

Mini Theatre school - £84 per term

Lafour 1st Stage - £192 Lafour Centre Stage - £205 Payments can be made using any of the following methods:

  1. Cheque for the total amount - in advance
  2. Cash payment for the total amount - in advance
  3. 3 cheques (two post dated) - spreading the cost throughout the term
  4. Standing order set up before the start of term instructing your bank to make 3 payments spread throughout the term