Stagecoach Abingdon, Didcot and Wallingford


Stagecoach Abingdon has been providing high-quality singing, dance and drama tuition since 2001. We pride ourselves in helping every child achieve their personal best through safe risk-taking so they can perform at their best on the stage of life. Whether they’re interested in making a career out of the performing arts, just love to sing, dance and act with their friends, or want help building their confidence, this is the place for them!

As well as weekly classes, annual show term and termly demonstrations to parents, we offer further performance opportunities through Stagecoach events such as West End theatre performances and through our Dance Troupe who perform at local events and competitions. We offer LAMDA exams and access to the Stagecoach Talent Agency. We are so proud to be able to say that several of our alumni have gone on to work professionally.

Principal Tara took over in 2018 and is thrilled to continue the brilliant work Stagecoach Abingdon has been doing in helping children reach their potential. She has had a passion for teaching and performing for as long as she can remember and has over 20 years of experience in teaching and performing professionally.

We look forward to welcoming your child to Stagecoach Abingdon. Book our 2-week trial now to begin their journey of a lifetime! 
 


We offer Performing Arts Exams

Principal Tara Melia Hunt

Your child is in safe hands. All of our Team are Enhanced DBS checked.


Noticeboard

Go Grease Lightning!

Abingdon and Botley are getting ready to perform Grease young@part in March 2024! Book now to join in the fun! (Didcot and Wallingford will be performing Grease in March 2025)

Elf the Musical Jr!

Didcot and Wallingford Schools have just performed Elf the Musical Jr! And it was AMAZING! Congratulations to all our students! Abingdon and Botley will be performing Elf Jr in December 2024. We can't wait!

Disney Dance the Dream 24

We're going again! We had such an amazing time at Disneyland Paris last year, we're going again 25-28th July 2024! We can't wait to be singing and dancing in Disneyland! To get a taste of what this amazing event is all about and see how much fun we had in 2022, click the button below!

G4 Christmas Concert

We are so excited to be performing with G4 again this year! We had such a phenomenal time last time, we can't wait to do it again!

West End Vocal Workshop

We're excited to bring back Nathan and Rohan in our specialist 3-day West End Vocal workshop. Make new friends and have a great time learning new vocal skills!

Show in Week Feedback

Awwwww, that's just how we feel Emma and Noah! We can't wait to get stuck in this summer! From Shows in a Week to professional Vocal Workshops, there's something for everyone this summer!

Examinations

London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Our students (aged 8 and above) have the opportunity to take solo acting exams with LAMDA the leading examination board in performance art with private tutors, building confidence, improving communication and gaining a recognised qualification. Grades 6, 7 and 8 carry UCAS points for university entry.

Dreamcoat Stars

Some of our students got to perform with the Dreamcoat Stars! They were such pros and had a terrific experience. The 'Joseph's' were so lovely with all our students.

Alumni

Past students - where are they now? Several have gone on to train in some of the top performing arts colleges and currently working professionally include: Kit Young in 'Shadow and Bone'; Sebastian Croft - 'Game Of Thrones'. Eve Norris - 'Bat Out Of Hell', London & Toronto; Jacob Yolland - just finished a tour of Blood Brothers.

Weekly Classes

Early Stages (for ages 4-6 yrs)

Stagecoach Early Stages
Early Stages classes run alongside the main Stagecoach schools, where young people learn skills in each of the three Musical Theatre disciplines of singing, dancing & drama, so it is an easy step when it is time to transfer to the next stage.

(90 minutes each week)

Main Stages (for ages 6-18 yrs)

Stagecoach Main Stages
Main Stages classes are split in three age appropriate groups, where young people learn new skills in each of the complementary Musical Theatre disciplines of singing, dancing & drama. We nurture the shy and apprehensive, until they find their feet and voice, whilst at the same time developing and channelling those with bundles of talent, confidence and energy. We believe in the potential of every child!

(3 hrs each week)

Further Stages (for ages 15+ yrs)

Stagecoach Further Stages
Our advanced musical theatre sessions give talented students the chance to extend their performance skills.  Through in-depth training and master classes, we help students to hone their skills in singing, dancing and acting.  We also give students the confidence to audition for theatre and vocational drama schools (if that is their goal) and make sure they are well prepared for interviews and auditions. 

Fees in accordance with Main Stages.

Holiday Workshops

Meet The Team

Principal - Tara Melia Hunt

Tara grew up in a theatre. With a mother who was the director of Children’s Theatre and Puppetry at the University of Hawaii and a father who also loved to perform, she started acting and singing at the age of 5, and it wasn’t long before she was filming commercials, working as an extra on TV and performing on stage in plays and operas.

Tara went on to study singing at the University of Hawai’i and received her BMus in Voice Performance with a minor in theatre while receiving critical acclaim and awards for her performances with local theatre companies. In her first lead role as Marsinah in ‘Kismet’, The Honolulu Advertiser said of her performance ‘Hunt’s singing as Marsinah, Haji’s daughter, is better than lovely. Her soprano is articulate, audible and soaring over the orchestra and chorus whenever needed.’

Tara moved to Oxford in 2005, after completing her MMus in Opera Performance at The Boston Conservatory, and began singing with Opera Companies around the UK and became a member of Equity. The Oxford Times said of her performance in Opera Anywhere’s ‘Proms on the Pond’ ‘Hunt’s mezzo has a warm, expressive bloom, but there was steel within the velvet as she warned us ‘prends garde a toi’.’

In 2012 she turned to her other love, working with children, and trained as a primary school teacher. She left full time teaching to start a family and began teaching singing for Stagecoach Faringdon. She continues to teach private singing lessons in Abingdon. Since moving to Abingdon in 2014, she joined Abingdon Operatic Society, where most recently she performed the role of Deloris van Cartier in Sister Act, as well as taking a back seat and enjoying chorus roles in Annie and Singin’ in the Rain.

A versatile singer, she has received critical acclaim for her portrayals of Norma Cassidy in Victor Victoria*, Fiona in Brigadoon* Marsinah in Kismet** and Cinderella in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

On the opera stage she has sung Olga in Eugene Onegin, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, Miss Jessel in The Turn of the Screw, Mercedes and Frasquita in Carmen and Lauretta in Gianni Schicci to name a few.

She has performed with Opera Piccolina, Candlelight Opera, Vision Opera, Opera Anywhere, Hawaii Opera Theatre, Honolulu Symphony and Metrowest Symphony Orchestra, Abingdon Swingtime Band, Dropout and various jazz ensembles. Tara has won numerous vocal competitions and recorded a variety of music including musical theatre, classical and rock. 
*Nomination/ **Winner: Hawaii State Theatre Council Awards

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