Your Take the Stage FAQs Answered
Everything You Need to Know
Welcome to the central hub for your Take the Stage FAQs. We want your faculty and dancers to feel confident.
Getting Involved & Logistics
Where do your shows take place?
We currently work with schools from across the South East, including Essex, Kent, London, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, Oxford, and Hertfordshire. We produce annual events at the prestigious Cliffs Pavilion in Southend and Wycombe Swan in High Wycombe.
When is your next show?
How do we get involved?
If you would like to discuss things further or wish to go ahead and secure a space for your school in one of our upcoming shows, please do get in touch. We are contactable via the enquiry form, phone or email and we’re also more than happy to arrange a good, old fashioned, face to face meeting! Although bookings have to be made by a school, if you are a young performer or parent looking to get your school involved, why not request an information pack to share with your teacher?
What’s Involved in Take the Stage
The Performance & Creative
How many young performers can we bring?
Depending on your venue of choice the cast size may vary.
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend – each school is required to bring a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 35 students on show day.
Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe – each school is required to bring a minimum of 32 and a maximum of 36 students on show day.
We don’t meet the minimum cast size, can we still perform?
If your cast are bigger or smaller than the parameters outlined above please do still get in touch. We are always happy to chat through options that might work for your school.
How long will we have on stage?
Each school is allocated 10 minutes of performance time during the show, split across two numbers. This is a chance to showcase your school and could include any genre from tap to ballet, jazz, commercial contemporary or musical theatre.
Are we able to do musical theatre routines?
Absolutely! We are more than happy for your group to sing live and we will provide five radio microphones for any soloists, as well as float microphones to pick up ensemble vocals. Any additional microphones can always be organised and will be passed on at cost price. We welcome all genres of dance and musical theatre.
Will we be involved in a finale?
Every Take the Stage event closes with a grand finale, featuring all the schools and young performers from your performance day. Your group will have a session with our finale choreographer prior to the performance date and then again on show day. Our finales are spectacular; you can expect singing, dancing, confetti and the audience on their feet! Learn more here.
Technical & Rehearsals
Will we have a chance to rehearse on the day?
On a Take the Stage show day each school is allocated an individual slot to block through and run their numbers on stage. We understand how much work goes into creating your routines and believe it’s really important for every group to have time familiarising themselves with the performance space.
Are there any rules on props, lighting and staging?
How & when do we submit our music?
All music must be uploaded to the Portal at least 6 weeks before show day. This ensures our sound team can check files and levels ahead of time.
Costs, Tickets & Policies
Do we have to pay to take part?
There is no financial outlay for principals and teachers. Each performer is required to pay a nominal production fee of £27.50, which includes a ‘Take the Stage’ t-shirt to be worn for the finale.
Will we have to arrange ticket sales?
All ticket bookings go directly through the theatre’s box office. The box office has a list of all the schools involved in each production and every customer is asked which school they are associated with when making a booking. Learn more here.
Will our school have a minimum ticket requirement to meet?
Each performer is committed to selling a minimum of 3 tickets for the show. Every school is registered with the box office, so the venues are able to confirm each school meets their minimum ticket quota.
Can parents film or take photos during the show?
To ensure the safety of all performers and to prevent distractions during the show, photography and filming are strictly prohibited inside the auditorium. We provide professional show footage and photos which are available to access completely free of charge after the event.
What are the requirements for backstage chaperones?
Every school is responsible for providing their own licensed chaperones in accordance with local council regulations (usually 1 chaperone per 10-12 students). All chaperones must have a valid DBS and be registered with the TTS team in advance.
