WHEN you ask people what they want to be in life, it's always an actor, singer or writer. Either that or an astronaut," says Sarah-Jane Olsen, as the first few students of her singing course trickle in. "But unless you want to pursue a career in them, most people don't get the opportunity to give those things a go."
It was this predicament that prompted ex-music industry businesswoman Sarah-Jane to join forces with her acting friend and QVC presenter Beverley Cressman, and create a solution for the average (if somewhat spotlight-suppressed) adult.
They set up Nextstage Drama in Sarah-Jane's hometown of Marlow in 2004. With the help of only experienced and respected acting professionals, Nextstage offered drama classes at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts in Maidenhead, to anyone and everyone who ever fancied playing a part. Three years on, the classes are still going strong and have spilled into the worlds of everything from singing to stage fighting. They have also spread geographically to neighbouring Hertfordshire, with the recent addition of classes in St Albans.
Nextstage teachers are jobbing actors and singers, you won't find yourself taking instruction from someone who was once in the audience on Question Time. One such professional is vocal coach Russell Scott, who animatedly leads Nextstage's introductory singing courses, when he's not working with top London opera houses and theatre schools including Sylvia Young.
"Everything I do outside of this is high profile, which is why I love it. It takes me back to working with people who are new to singing, and it is a challenge for me," explains Russell, with a genuine smile of satisfaction.
"I don't think life should ever stop for anybody, at any age. If you want to do something like singing or acting, then there is no reason not to get up and do it. I have known major West End stars who have had regular jobs until they were 40, but then decided to do what they really wanted to."
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Nextstage classes aren't designed to be a springboard to the stage, they are about ticking the boxes of that imaginary list of ambitions we all have stored in our subconscious.
"This is about doing something you always wanted to do," says Sarah-Jane.
Russell Scott is a vocal coach for Nextstage
"You try it, learn from it, and then you can tick it off. Whether you come away thinking you can sing or not sing, act or not act, you've tried it, and you've broken a barrier."
They may be breaking barriers, but Nextstage students seem to cleverly masquerade this by simply looking they are having a good time. I sat in on the final class of one of Russell's recent singing courses, bobbing my head and tapping my feet in time to the sounds of a jolly bunch of singers, mixed in age, ability, and gender, but united in a healthy dose of confidence.
These included Sheila from Jersey Farm, just outside of St Albans, who signed up to sing to fill a few evenings after she lost her husband suddenly in April.
"I've really enjoyed this, although I don't think I've got any kind of voice at all," she laughs.
"I had done absolutely no singing before the classes. But the leaflet said it was open to everyone from 16 to 90 years of age, so I thought I'll go with that'. Now I'm thinking I'll try my hand at acting."
For more information on Nextstage Drama, call 01628 898 958 or log on to www.nextstagedrama.com
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