ABOUT
One of our most highly in demand classes, learning through play, fun and experience for our littlest performers.
We combine elements of EYFS learning, drama, music, singing, and dance to gently encourage small but significant steps in confidence, communication and coordination development. All students will be given the opportunity to take part in in-house showings for family and friends throughout the year, alongside taking part in one big show with the older students in the theatre in the spring.
TIMES
Saturdays
St Albans Best Beginners Group 1: 0930 - 1100
St Albans Best Beginners Group 2: 1130 - 1300
Ware Best Beginners: 0900 - 1000
LOCATION
Sandringham School, The Ridgeway
St Albans, AL4 9NX
and
Southern Maltings, Kibes Lane, Ware, SG12 7BS
Best Beginners
Ages 3 - 5 years
Learning through creative play
AGE RANGE
Age 3 - 5
Too old? Check out our Best School of Musical Theatre St Albans that starts at 6 years or Best School of Musical Theatre Ware that starts at 5 years.
FEES
St Albans: Termly fee of £180 split into four monthly instalments of £45.
Ware: Termly fee of £120 split into four monthly instalments of £30.
Childcare vouchers accepted, sibling and multi class booking discounts available.
BOOK
Book your place or two week trial here:
Best Beginners
Song
Using fun vocal warm ups, tongue twisters and rhymes, we learn different ways to use our voice as well as beginning to learn the technical parts that make our voices work. We explore sounds, diction, articulation, rhythm and tunes and learn songs for fun as well as performance.
Best Beginners
Movement
Beginning their journey into movement, little ones will learn basic choreography, whilst being given the space to explore their own way of moving through music improvisation and animal studies. We help develop co-ordination, rhythm, and balance and promote the joy found in moving and grooving.
Best Beginners
Drama
Through imaginative play and games Best Beginners explore aspects of drama by creating characters and stories together and build a foundation in acting skills through fun activities looking at feelings, facial expressions and storytelling. They share their work each term and create and learn short scripts and lines.
Meet The Team
Best Beginners St Albans
We hire skilled, committed and family orientated theatre professionals with a real passion for teaching. We value consistency and a progressive, structured approach. We know that it is Best’s responsibility to provide the framework in which the teachers can thrive – loving what they do and being able to pass that enjoyment in bucket loads on to the students.
Rebecca Briley
Rebecca Briley is an Actor and Childrens Entertainer, who trained in BA (hons) in Physical Theatre at East 15 Acting School, during which time she gained a range of skills including mask and mime, Theatre in Education, puppetry and movement but found a particular interest in storytelling and clowning.
Since graduating, Beckie has performed across a variety of platforms including Film and TV as well as devising her own work for stage, and has collaborated with many theatre companies as an assistant choreographer. She has also been lucky enough to work with multiple TIE companies in the UK and in Italy, where she began to fall in love with teaching and facilitating specialised workshops for all ages.
In 2013, Beckie became a member of ‘The Flying Seagull Project’, a UK based Children’s Charity whose aim is to spread joy and laughter to those who need it most across the globe through circus, clown and play. With several years of humanitarian clowning under her belt, she became a core team leader and facilitated activities for displaced children and families on the ground in Calais, Greece and Lebanon.
Head of Early Years
Jenanne Foster
Since graduating from The Bridge Theatre Training Company in 2009, Jenanne has worked in many areas of the industry and has a love of children's theatre and storytelling. Theatre credits include Mummy in the Olivier Award nominated THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA (UK tour, West End, Hong Kong, Singapore, UAE, China, Australia, Bahrain), Sally in SPOT’S BIRTHDAY PARTY (UK tour). Christmas shows include playing the Role Poly Bird in David Wood’s adaptation of THE TWITS and Greenfly in David Wood’s THE PLOTTERS OF CABBAGE PATCH CORNER. Jenanne also sings as part of a close part harmony trio SOME SWELL SISTERS as well as performing in various immersive theatre positions, working as Maze Master Scuba J at THE CRYSTAL MAZE LIVE in London’s Trocadero and all roles at TOMB RAIDER LIVE, London. Jenanne has a Best Beginner and Bestbean herself who love the classes too.
Best Beginners St Albans Early Years Teacher
Meet The Team
Best Beginners Ware
Best School of Musical Theatre(Ware) Dance Teacher, and Best Beginners (Ware Teacher
Lillie-Mae Stewart
Lillie-Mae Stewart is a performer, choreographer and teacher, who at the age of 10, made her professional theatre debut playing Margaret Gormley in the West End's "Billy Elliot The Musical".
Other credits include: Beyoncé’s “RENAISSANCE - The Movement” music video (choreographed by Mecnun Giasar), Idina Menzel and Michael Buble's "Baby It's Cold Outside" music video, ITV's "Fool Britannia" (with actor Dom Joly), and London's West End production of "13 The Musical", playing the lead role of Kendra.
Lillie-Mae is an alumni of Italia Conti Theatre Arts School London (2020) and The Urdang Academy London (2023), where she gained a Level 4 Diploma in Teaching Theatre Arts, and a Level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre. Lillie-Mae is also a qualified first aider and safeguarding officer.
