Stagecoach Success: From boundless energy in Buckingham to centre stage as Bombalurina

Some people dream of performing under the spotlight. Others find themselves there by accident, by persistence, and sometimes, by the quiet encouragement of a parent looking for an outlet for their child’s boundless energy.

For Olivia Barnett-Legh, it started with exactly that. “I was five, full of energy, always performing at home,” she laughs. “My mum’s friend said, ‘You need to send her to Stagecoach Performing Arts classes.’ And the rest is history.”

Olivia is now all grown up and touring Europe as Bombalurina in Cats, with stops in Germany, Austria, Greece, and even Monaco for Christmas. But despite the glamorous venues, it’s the two-week Summer Showcase with Stagecoach that she calls “the best training I’ve ever had.”

Creating confidence

Stagecoach wasn’t just weekend classes – it was the foundation of Olivia’s confidence, resilience, and success. Starting in the tiniest class at the age of five, she stayed until she was 18, and performed in every Summer Showcase from the age of 10.

“Calamity Jane was my first real audition,” she recalls. “Getting up in front of people, knowing I might be told no – that was huge.”

But Olivia stayed hooked. She returned year after year, progressing through auditions, performances, and eventually landing leading roles like Maria in The Sound of Music, a part she still calls her favourite, both professionally and personally.

Invaluable network

Looking back, Olivia realises Stagecoach was offering far more than performance technique training. There was a hidden, almost secret, network. “Without even knowing it, I was networking from the age of 10,” she says. “The creatives, the musical directors, even the stage management team, they became my teachers at drama school. They show up in auditions now, sometimes behind the piano or even on the panel.”

When she walks into a professional audition room, there’s often a familiar face from Summer Showcase. “It’s the biggest confidence boost,” Olivia smiles. “The industry’s tough, but seeing someone who believes in you? That makes a huge difference.”

It’s not just Olivia. Many of her childhood Showcase friends are now working professionally, from West End shows like Mean Girls to international tours. “The ones who aren’t in theatre? They’re thriving in life, with the confidence that Stagecoach gave them,” she adds.

Tough love leads to real results

The true magic of Stagecoach is that it mirrors the real world, the professional world, where it’s hard work and rejection is used to build resilience. “The creatives talk to you like professionals,” Olivia explains. “You’re up early, in rehearsals all day, and expected to show up prepared.”

But there’s support too – space to make mistakes, learn, and grow. “Dan, the choreographer, once pulled me aside and said, ‘You talk too much in rehearsal – in the real world, they won’t like that.’ It sounds tough, but it set me up for drama school and professional jobs.”

From teaching to touring

Even with a demanding performance schedule, Olivia teaches at her hometown Stagecoach in Buckingham. “They can’t get rid of me,” she jokes. But it’s more than loyalty – it’s gratitude. “Stagecoach gave me everything. It’s where I realised I could do this professionally, but also where I learned skills that help in life.”

When she’s not on stage, Olivia works as a nanny or behind a bar. “Those jobs? They’re performances too,” she says. “Stagecoach gave me the confidence to talk to anyone, to walk into a room like I belong.”

For anyone wondering: Say yes

Olivia’s advice to young performers or anyone considering Stagecoach is clear: “It’ll be the best decision you ever make. Even if you don’t go pro, it’s the most fun, the best training, and a chance to be around people who get you.”

And for those dreaming of the stage? Olivia’s proof that Summer Showcase isn’t just a stepping stone, it’s the foundation.

“Without Stagecoach, I wouldn’t be in Cats. I wouldn’t be working with people I met as a kid. It gave me everything – skills, friends, a career. I’ll always be an advocate for what they do.”