LOFT YOUTH THEATRE ENSEMBLE
FOR 8-15 YEAR OLDS
STARTING SEPTEMBER 2025
WE ARE READY… COME AND JOIN US!
Welcome to the brand new Loft Youth Theatre Ensemble page – the place for the next generation of theatre lovers.
With over 50 years experience of hosting youth theatre, we are launching – for the first time – our own brand new Loft youth ensemble for young creatives to explore theatre making and performance in all its forms, so here is the place where you can sign up and be part of it.
THE TEAM
Two professional Masters graduates, Laura Hayward-Smith and Dan Walsh, will be leading a growing team of professional practitioners, skilled in many dimensions of theatre and the performing arts. Their profiles are on this page.
THE PROGRAMME
Weekly workshops will serve as a valuable way for young people to express themselves through learning an impressive range of skills as an ensemble.
What is an ensemble?
An ensemble refers to a group of creatives who emphasise the combined efforts of everyone to develop great theatre.
Members will be supported by workshop facilitators and assistants to explore their strengths within a kind and caring collective. They will be encouraged to discover personal talent and build on a range of invaluable life skills to use on or off the stage.
PERFORMANCE
Live theatre generates excitement, enthusiasm and anticipation for all involved. The Loft Youth Theatre Ensemble will have the chance to perform live for the community of parents, children and members of the public to enjoy a showcase of their talent and work.
GROUP SIZE
The groups will be small but the experience large, with just 15 places per workshop session. The ensemble will be guided through a range of activities that will offer them a chance to pursue the creation of theatre in all its forms through empathy, fun, friendship, team-work and play.
THE PLACE
Workshops will be held every Saturday morning during term time at The Loft Theatre, Victoria Colonnade, Leamington Spa CV31 3AA in The Studio.
The first workshop will run from 10am until 12pm for ages 8-11
The second workshop will run from 12.30pm until 2.30pm for ages 12 – 15
THE TASTER SESSIONS
Want to try it out?
Free Taster Sessions are available on the following times and dates. Laura and Dan will be leading two hour taster sessions for participants to join in, have fun and experience exciting theatre practice in action!
Saturday 7th June
Ages 8 -11yrs from 10.00am until 12pm
Ages 12 -15yrs from 12.30pm until 2.30pm
| SUMMER HOLIDAY CAMP
Want some theatre fun in the holidays? There will be a youth ensemble summer holiday camp on Tuesday 12th, Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th August 10am until 2pm. More information will be released soon. |
SIGN UP
There are no auditions. The group size will be small so we expect a high demand. You can sign up for any of these by using the form below. For the range of prices and any further questions, please email laurahaywardsmith@lofttheatrecompany.com
To sign up, please click on the link below:-
https://forms.gle/XcVrGuce3XZ6pF7C8
FAQs
Q: How much will the workshops cost if my child starts in September?
A: £200.00 per term payable via the Loft website (link to payment portal)
Q: Will my child get a chance to perform?
A: Yes, there will be small “scratch” performances in the studio at the end of every term with the intention of a larger scale show in the summer.
Q: Is this a musical theatre group?
A: No, however, there will be elements of singing, dancing and acting as part of an ensemble.
Q: Is this a straight acting group?
A: No, but youths will have the chance to explore acting methods as an individual within an ensemble.
Q: How would you describe the work of the ensemble?
A: The chance for young creatives to explore theatre making and performance in all its forms,
| FREE TICKETS
All members of the Loft Youth Theatre Ensemble will be eligible for two free tickets to see any Loft main house production which is age appropriate. |
| VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT
We are recruiting for volunteer assistants to work with Laura and Dan. See the News page for details. |
MEET LAURA & DAN
Laura Hayward – Smith (She / her)
Community Theatre Arts Practitioner and Performer
Laura began her career as an apprentice for charity, Peer Productions from 2013 to 2014 where she acquired an Advanced Level Apprenticeship in Community Arts Management and Arts Award Gold level 3.
This springboarded her into performance academy at Rose Bruford, where she achieved a BA (Hons) in European Theatre Arts. In 2016 she travelled to Slovakia where she joined students at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava and accomplished an Erasmus degree.
In 2018 she was invited to Sorrento in Italy to train and perform as an actor and workshop facilitator for company, Teatrino where she travelled across the north of Italy with a troop of three other actors and performed plays and sketches in English to primary school aged children. Performances were followed by high energy workshops which involved drama games designed to teach the students spoken English.
She has been performing with theatre companies in Warwickshire, Surrey, Northampton and London for over ten years and assisted with a variety of youth arts projects, including assisting Elizabeth Morris with youth theatre Act One at the Loft Theatre from 2019 to 2020.
In 2021, Laura was accepted onto the Applied Theatre: Arts, Action Change MA course at Warwick University where she was able to hone her skills as a theatre practitioner, learn more about socially engaged theatre and the most effective methodologies used to work with communities to support health and wellbeing.
Laura is a mother of two little girls aged 1 and 2 and passionate about the power of theatre and its ability to change lives and alter perspectives for the better. She is currently assisting Arts Uplift with their community arts workshops for over 65’s around Warwickshire, working with high profile illustrators and movement artists on a weekly basis.
She is an advocate for the health and wellbeing of people of all ages and hopes to pursue her career as a community arts practitioner to enrich the lives of families through her socially engaged arts practice.
She can’t wait to get stuck into the Youth Ensemble at The Loft Theatre as a workshop facilitator to inspire, encourage and engage the next generation of theatre lovers!
Movement Director and Community Facilitator (Enhanced DBS checked)
Dan Walsh is an accomplished movement director and contemporary dance professional with a dynamic background in actor movement and performance coaching. Holding an MA in Movement: Directing and Teaching from Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Dan has developed a unique approach that combines technical expertise in physical theatre with a strong commitment to inclusive, adaptive teaching.
Dan’s career is marked by a range of significant experiences across theatre, workshops, and community projects. His recent work includes serving as the movement director for several productions at the Loft Theatre, such as Mosquitoes, Love Song, and Bouncers (Remixed), where he collaborated closely with directors to bring complex characters to life through movement. In these roles, Dan guided actors of varying experience levels, helping them explore physical expression as a core aspect of their performance.
In addition to his work in theatre, Dan has led a variety of actor movement workshops designed to deepen participants’ understanding of physicality, coordination, and improvisational movement. His workshops cover a broad spectrum of topics, including contact improvisation, anatomy exploration, and foundational movement techniques. Through these sessions, Dan has empowered both beginner and advanced performers to connect more deeply with their physical capabilities, enhancing their overall performance skills.
Dan’s inclusive approach is further reflected in his work with community-focused projects. At the Birmingham Rep’s Stories of Hope and Home and One Million Tiny Plays About Britain, he collaborated with directors and actors to create meaningful, movement-based performances that resonated with audiences and participants alike. He has also supported emerging talent at the Young Rep, directing movement for Blank by Alice Birch, where he mentored young actors in exploring storytelling through movement.
Dan’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion is exemplified by his involvement with the Anjali Dance Company in 2022, where he facilitated inclusive dance workshops, and his leadership role in the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in Birmingham. Working alongside the Critical Mass 2022 Project, Dan played an integral role in leading large-scale, high-energy performances that were inclusive of performers from diverse backgrounds and skill levels.
Dan’s expertise in movement direction, coupled with his ability to inspire performers, make him a valuable collaborator in both theatrical and screen work. He continues to explore innovative ways to incorporate movement into performance, ensuring that each project benefits from his dedication to fostering creativity, collaboration, and confidence within his students and colleagues.
