ABOUT OPEN STAGE
Northampton's professional performing arts school & community arts hub
For over 25 years, Open Stage has been a force to be reckoned with in Northampton's performing arts landscape.
Founded in 2000 and still led by its original founder, we are a professional performing arts school first and foremost, renowned for excellence, rigorous training, and launching generations of performers toward professional careers and prestigious training programmes.
But we're more than that. We've grown, adapted, and transformed organically over a quarter-century, taking on a life of its own.
Today, we stand as both Northampton's leading professional training institution and a thriving community arts hub that proves excellence and inclusion aren't opposite, they're partners.
Our home: Queens Building
In 2024, we relocated to Queens Building—a magnificent 5-storey historic landmark originally opened by Queen Victoria's daughter Princess Helena as a midwifery college. We've transformed this prestigious building into a state-of-the-art performing arts complex, and we are the sole occupants of the entire building.
Every floor. Every studio. Every space. All Open Stage.
Our exclusive use of Queens Building means we've created a purpose-designed performing arts environment featuring:
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A bespoke theatre for performances and productions
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Multiple dance studios with professional Harlequin flooring
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Specialist ballet studio with barres
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Rehearsal rooms for drama and musical theatre
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Singing lesson rooms for vocal training
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Offices, reception, and welcoming waiting areas
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A café where families connect and community gathers
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Secure gardens for outdoor breaks and social moments
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Costume hire facilities supporting productions across the region
When we relocated, something extraordinary happened: our families moved with us. They didn't just stay loyal, they followed us to our new home, many traveling further than before, because Open Stage isn't just where they train. It's where they belong. That unprecedented loyalty defines who we are and proves the strength of the community we've built over 25 years.
Our professional theatre school: the heartbeat of everything we do
Let's be crystal clear: Open Stage is a professional performing arts school. Our Professional Theatre School is the heart, the foundation, and the driving force behind everything else we offer.
We deliver industry-standard training in dance, drama, and musical theatre through:
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ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing) examinations across multiple dance genres
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Acrobatic Arts certification for safe, progressive acrobatic training
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Structured syllabi designed to build technique, artistry, and discipline
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Annual productions at the Royal & Derngate Theatre, years of tradition on one of the region's most prestigious stages
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Professional pathways preparing students for auditions, top training programmes, and performance careers
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Highly qualified staff with professional performance and teaching experience
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Expert mentorship from teachers who've worked in the industry and understand what it takes
Our professional theatre school students don't just learn to dance, sing, and act; they develop the work ethic, resilience, confidence, and skills required to pursue performing arts at the highest level. Many of our alumni have gone on to professional theatre, television, film, and prestigious training institutions. This is where serious performers are built.
Our community arts hub: excellence inspiring joy
The professional foundation of our school inspires everything else we offer. Our community arts hub exists because our expertise is so strong—it's an extension of our professional standards, not a dilution of them.
We welcome everyone who wants to experience the joy of performing arts without the pressure of exams or professional pathways:
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Sensory classes for babies (from 3 months) with parents
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Early years movement and creativity for toddlers and pre-schoolers
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Recreational dance and drama classes for children and teens
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Adult beginners discovering dance for the first time (our oldest member started learning to dance in her 80s and has been with us for over a decade—she's now 93!)
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Tap classes for all ages, including pensioners
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No-audition choirs where everyone is welcome to sing
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Wellbeing through movement for mental and physical health
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Classes for students with additional needs, adapted to support every learner
Our community arts programmes are taught by the same highly qualified, professional staff who deliver our exam-track training. Whether you're 3 months old or 93 years young, there's a place for you here.
Professional training for those who want it. Creative joy for everyone who needs it. Both pathways. One home.
Three generations under one roof
Open Stage is the only performing arts organisation in Northampton actively serving ages 3 months to 93 years. This isn't a marketing claim, it's our daily reality.
Grandparents, parents, and grandchildren literally attend classes on the same Saturday morning. We've watched parents who trained with us in the 2000s bring their own children through our doors. We've celebrated families spanning three generations, all finding their creative home at Open Stage.
At Open Stage you just keep growing with us.
Our values: excellence, belonging & growth
Excellence
We maintain the highest professional standards in everything we do. From our ISTD-accredited training to our Derngate productions, from our qualified staff to our state-of-the-art facilities, we refuse to compromise on quality. Excellence isn't about being perfect; it's about being professional, consistent, and committed to doing our best work every single day.
Belonging
We've created a safe space where respect isn't just expected but lived, where kindness is our foundation, and where positivity fuels our community. Every person who walks through our doors, whether student, parent, staff member, or visitor, should feel welcomed, valued, and part of the Open Stage family.
Growth
We nurture continuous development for students and staff alike. For some, growth means nailing a professional audition. For others, it's walking into their first class without fear. We measure success differently for different people, and we celebrate it all. Growth requires support, challenge, reflection, and belief , and we provide all of it.
Our impact beyond our walls
Open Stage isn't just for our students. We serve the entire Northampton community as a creative hub through:
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Venue hire for local schools, community theatre groups, private events, and celebrations
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Costume hire supporting productions across the region
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Community performances at care homes, festivals, and local events
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Accessible creative space for organisations who need it
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Partnerships with schools, charities, councils, and arts organisations
We don't compete with Northampton's creative community—we support it. Our success is measured not just by our students' achievements, but by the joy, confidence, and connection we create throughout the town.
Our mission
Open Stage nurtures excellence through inclusion. We deliver professional-level performing arts training and community programmes that welcome all ages and abilities.
We've created a safe space where respect isn't just expected but lived, where kindness is our foundation, and where positivity fuels our community.
We believe that high standards and compassionate support go hand in hand, developing not just skilled performers, but confident, resilient people who contribute to a kinder, more creative world.
25 years and just getting started
From our founding in 2000 to our move into Queens Building in 2024, Open Stage has weathered challenges, seized opportunities, and emerged stronger with each chapter. We've grown, adapted, and transformed organically, always responding to our community's needs while staying true to our professional roots.
We're not just surviving. We're thriving.
Our professional theatre school remains the heart of everything we do. Our Community Arts Hub extends our reach to everyone who needs creative joy. Queens Building, all five floors of it, gives us room to grow for the next 25 years. Our loyal families prove that what we've built is worth following.
This is Open Stage. Welcome home.
Ready to be part of our story?
Whether you're seeking professional training for a future on stage, or simply want to try something new in a welcoming environment—there's a place for you here.
Get in touch to find out more about the opportunities available at Open Stage.