Reflecting on 35 years of success
Stagecoach Performing Arts offers a safe space for children to learn to sing, dance and act, and, most importantly, build their confidence. Now, 35 years since Stagecoach began, CEO Andy Knights has been reflecting on its journey and celebrating the achievements of its franchisees and students. It is this continually-growing Stagecoach community that is a testament to the brand’s enduring success and ever-evolving business model.
Since its inception in Surrey in the UK, Stagecoach has grown into a global franchise network of more than 300 franchisees who operate over 3,000 schools in eight countries. Through a tried, tested and trusted business model, franchisees have enjoyed the benefits of running a profitable business while delivering an exciting and varied framework. Franchisees act as the Principals of their schools and have the rewarding experience of watching their students grow in confidence and build key life skills through the power of the performing arts. It is this combined passion for children’s development across our network that has seen more than one million students reach their full potential since the doors opened on the first Stagecoach school back in 1988.
Whilst the standard Stagecoach offering involves weekly classes in three core performing arts disciplines, as the business has grown, so has the opportunities afforded to our students – both in and out of the classroom. This has involved us building key partnerships and taking part in initiatives that both our students and our franchisees will remember for their whole lives.
One of our core and longest-standing collaborations is with Disney Performing Arts at Disneyland® Paris. Since 2013, students from across the globe have had the chance to perform, including a sung performance in front of the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle. This opportunity is a Stagecoach exclusive and brings together not just a treasured relationship between our brands but also allows our Principals to work with our in-house events team to give students an experience that, for many, becomes the highlight of their year.
As part of our well-established collaboration with Disney Performing Arts, our unique ‘Behind the Magic’ programme has been meticulously crafted to give each student an exciting and educationally valuable glimpse into Disney’s world of professional entertainment. Students attend multiple work sessions with Disney professionals encompassing singing, dancing and acting, audition skills and stage performance. All of which develop a students’ confidence in their ability to work, learn and achieve their full potential.
Another key moment in this relationship, and a big moment in Stagecoach history, was when we teamed up with Disney Theatricals to break a world record for the largest simultaneous performance of one show across multiple locations in 2018. We held 73 performances of Beauty and the Beast across three countries to celebrate the brand’s 30th anniversary.
Our events team also run multiple captivating showcases for our schools both in the UK and abroad each year. In the UK alone, we’ve organised nearly 200 showcase events, 100 of have taken place in London with students performing on West End stages such as Shaftesbury and His Majesty’s theatres. Students from all corners of the country travel miles to showcase their passion and talent and these experiences not only serve as many of our students’ first taste of the West End but also exemplify our unwavering commitment to presenting once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Students perform renditions of world-famous songs from various musicals, films and television as part of these special shows. One of our most recent productions showcased performances from Stranger Things, The Sound of Music and 9 to 5, to mention a few.
Whilst students have the chance to show their skills in class and at events, our franchisees are also celebrated at our annual conferences – the most recent of which was held in Leicester this past June. Some of our longest-serving franchisees have been with us for decades and we are proud to champion such a varied and valued network of franchisees.
Our franchisees, teachers and students have been the face of the business for 35 years, but the business has also evolved behind the scenes through joining the Trafalgar Entertainment Group (TEG) in 2018. TEG seeks to build a fully integrated and well-resourced live entertainment platform operating across property, rights, production, content distribution, live-streaming and venue management. Also in 2018, Stagecoach went through a rebrand which introduced our Creative Courage for Life business ethos, which seamlessly unified our brand internationally and brought our core values to life for our franchisees, students and parents.
Ultimately, Stagecoach’s enduring success is thanks to our franchisees, who reflect our commitment to providing high-quality performing arts education and empowering children to develop their skills and confidence. Not just focused on the wellbeing of our students, our franchise model provides franchisees across the globe a business that delivers effective work-life balance and earning potential.
Our 35th anniversary is a significant milestone, a testament to our entire international network's dedication and hard work. By focusing on the development of its students and franchisees, Stagecoach has built a network of successful performing arts schools that continue to significantly impact the lives of young people and franchisees internationally.
To find out more about international franchise opportunities with Stagecoach Performing Arts, visit https://stagecoachfranchise.com/