What Happens During a STAMP Class?

What happens in a typical STAMP session?

There isn't one fixed format for every STAMP session.

What members do changes from week to week depending on their group, what they are currently learning and which productions or performances they are preparing for.

Across our weekly groups, sessions combine singing, dancing, acting, performance skills and working together as a company.

Some weeks may concentrate more heavily on one area. At other times, particularly as a production approaches, members will bring singing, acting and choreography together while rehearsing scenes and full company numbers.

Whatever we're working on, our aim is to help members develop their skills, build confidence and become increasingly comfortable performing on stage.

Arriving at STAMP

Weekly sessions take place at STAMP Studios, 5 Frederick Street in South Shields.

When members arrive, they join their group and get ready for the session.

Parents do not stay in the studio or wait with their child during normal sessions. This forms part of our security and safeguarding arrangements and also helps members settle into the group, concentrate on the session and become comfortable participating independently.

For a first session, children should wear comfortable clothing and suitable shoes and bring a snack and drink for the break.

Read Preparing for Your First Class if your child is joining us for the first time.

Singing

Singing and vocal work feature across Minis, Blue Group and Green Group.

What members work on depends on their age and the material they are currently preparing.

Sessions can include learning songs, ensemble singing, vocal technique, harmonies, diction, phrasing and learning how to communicate character and story through a song.

When we're working towards a production, members may rehearse songs from the show before eventually combining them with acting, choreography and staging.

Our regular weekly groups are musical theatre sessions rather than individual one-to-one singing lessons, so learning to sing and perform as part of a company is an important part of the experience.

Read more about Singing Classes for Children.

Dancing and movement

Dance and movement are another important part of STAMP sessions.

Members can learn choreography, practise sections of dances and work on performing movement together as an ensemble.

As rehearsals progress, choreography may then be combined with singing, acting, characters, props and staging.

The complexity naturally changes with the age and experience of the group.

Minis introduces movement in an age-appropriate way, while Blue and Green members can work on more developed musical theatre choreography as part of their classes and production rehearsals.

STAMP's regular groups focus on musical theatre and performance rather than graded dance examinations.

Read more about Dance Classes for Children.

Acting and drama

Acting is included across all three STAMP groups.

Members can work with scenes, characters, scripts and performance exercises, depending on their age and what the group is currently preparing.

For younger Minis members, acting can be introduced through creative play, characters and storytelling.

Blue and Green members can work more directly with scripts and scenes, developing characters and preparing acting material for productions.

As rehearsals develop, acting becomes part of the wider performance rather than something taught in isolation. Members learn how their character, dialogue, movement and songs all contribute to telling the story.

Read more about Drama Classes for Children.

What happens in Minis?

Minis is our group for children aged 3–6.

The broad principles are the same as our older groups, but sessions are lighter and adapted for younger children.

Minis can include singing, movement, acting, creative play, performance activities and arts and crafts.

We want younger members to enjoy being creative, become comfortable participating with the group and gradually build confidence.

When Minis are preparing for a performance, members can also begin learning songs, movement and simple performance material.

We encourage younger children to try small speaking or singing parts where appropriate, but this is approached in a relaxed and age-appropriate way.

What happens in Blue Group?

Blue Group is for children aged 7–12.

Sessions combine singing and vocal work, dance and movement, acting and drama, performance skills and preparation for upcoming productions.

The balance changes throughout the year.

At the beginning of a production process, members might be learning new songs, choreography or scenes separately. As rehearsals progress, those different elements begin to come together.

Members may eventually rehearse complete scenes and musical numbers, learning where they need to be, when they enter, what they need to sing or say and how they work with the rest of the company.

For most Blue Group productions, auditions are also held for individual roles.

What happens in Green Group?

Green Group is for young people aged 13+.

Sessions are performance-focused and combine singing, acting, dancing, ensemble work and preparation for productions.

Older members can work on more challenging musical, acting and choreographic material and are encouraged to develop their individual performance skills while also learning how to work effectively as part of a company.

For most Green Group productions, members have opportunities to audition for individual roles.

Auditions are part of the learning experience and encourage members to research the show, prepare material and experience the process of putting themselves forward for a role.

Preparing for a production

Productions are a major part of the STAMP experience, so what happens during weekly sessions naturally changes as a show gets closer.

Early rehearsals might concentrate on learning individual songs, dances or scenes.

As members become more familiar with the material, those elements start to come together.

A song might gain choreography. A scene might be blocked on stage. Separate sections may be joined together. Members learn entrances, exits and where they need to be.

Eventually, the work developed during individual sessions becomes part of a complete production.

STAMP stages fully staged shows for paying public audiences, so members get the experience of taking something from its early rehearsals through to performance.

Read about Student Performance Opportunities or see our current productions.

Working together as a company

Musical theatre is a team activity.

Not every member will be singing a solo, delivering a line or standing at the front at the same time.

Being part of a production also means listening to other performers, learning choreography together, remembering entrances and exits, supporting scenes and contributing to ensemble numbers.

We want members to understand that being part of the company matters, regardless of the size of an individual role.

Those skills also help members develop confidence, concentration, teamwork and the ability to work with other people.

Building confidence during sessions

Not every child arrives at STAMP feeling confident.

Some members are immediately happy to sing, dance or perform in front of other people. Others need time to settle into the group.

We encourage members to challenge themselves and take opportunities where possible, while respecting what they are comfortable with.

There can be as much or as little opportunity as someone feels ready to take.

For one member, progress might mean joining in confidently with a group number. For another, it could mean volunteering for a line, singing independently, auditioning for a role or eventually taking on a principal part.

Confidence doesn't need to develop at the same speed for everyone.

Read more about Building Confidence Through Performing Arts or our guide to Classes for Shy Children.

Breaks during the session

Members should bring a snack and a drink to have during their break.

The length and structure of a session varies between our groups, so we don't publish a fixed minute-by-minute timetable of what happens during every class.

Any particular information members need for a rehearsal, such as clothing, scripts or other items, will be communicated through the appropriate STAMP channels.

Do children need previous experience?

No.

Our regular weekly groups welcome beginners and children and young people with different levels of previous experience.

A new member isn't expected to already understand how a rehearsal works or immediately know how to learn choreography, follow musical direction or perform a scene.

These are all things they can develop through taking part.

Regular weekly membership is not audition-only. Auditions for particular roles in productions are separate.

Read Musical Theatre for Beginners for more information.

What happens after the session?

At the end of the session, members are collected and any information needed for upcoming rehearsals or performances will be communicated through the appropriate STAMP channels.

As we get closer to productions, members may need to remember material between rehearsals or bring particular items with them.

Parents and members should use current STAMP communications for rehearsal-specific information rather than relying on an old timetable, social media post or previous production information.

Where do STAMP classes take place?

Our regular weekly classes take place at:

STAMP Studios
5 Frederick Street
South Shields
Tyne and Wear
NE33 5DY

Our studios are on the first floor and do not currently have step-free access.

STAMP runs three regular groups:

• Minis: ages 3–6
• Blue Group: ages 7–12
• Green Group: ages 13+

Current days, session times, fees and availability are available on our Classes page.

Ready to try STAMP?

You don't need to know whether your child is a singer, dancer or actor before they join.

STAMP is about bringing those skills together, developing confidence and giving children and young people opportunities to experience performing as part of a company.

Some members arrive knowing exactly what they love doing. Others discover it after they join.

Explore Minis, Blue Group and Green Group to find the right group for your child and check current joining or trial availability.