Perform drama classes for 4-7s
Perform runs two Sunday-morning drama classes at The Russell Primary School in Richmond. The 4-7s class (children aged 3 years 10 months to under 8) runs 9:30–11:00am; the 7-12s class (children aged 6 years 10 months to under 13) follows at 11:15am–12:45pm. Both run on Petersham Road, TW10 7AH, during term-time. Every child is entitled to one free trial session, which must be booked in advance — by phone or online — and scheduled within the next two weeks of term-time.
The Russell Primary School · TW10 7AHIllustrative photo · Nihal Demirci / UnsplashFind more like this near you
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About this class
Perform has been running at The Russell Primary School on Petersham Road since September 2001. The 4-7s session is on Sundays from 9:30 to 11:00am; the 7-12s session follows immediately after, from 11:15am to 12:45pm. Both classes are led by Miranda (Producer) and Georgia (Teacher), with area support from Gemma. The current term runs from 12th April to 19th July.
This summer, 4-7s children set sail aboard the Jammy Dodger for the Mermaids & Pirates theme. They'll meet the Seasick Pirate, singing parrot Rita Conchita and a mermaid on a mission on a quest to find the Sacred Coconut. The theme threads through all three sections of every session. Move & Feel opens the class with dances, rapid-reaction games and yoga-inspired exercises to build balance and coordination. The middle section, Listen, Speak & Sing, introduces specially composed songs, tongue-twisters and raps to develop verbal confidence and concentration. The final section, Create & Imagine, is where character exploration, storytelling and role-play improvisations bring the story to life.
The 7-12s class this summer works with The Dream — Perform's take on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream — bringing Oberon, Titania, footballers, popstars and celebrities into the mix. Their three sections cover Dance & Movement, Speaking & Singing, and Drama & Improvisation, progressing from choreographed routines and vocal warm-ups through to character work, physicality and accents.
Classes are booked in blocks of 10 consecutive weekly sessions and pause for school holidays. Each week has a different focus, so children can join at any point in the term rather than waiting for a fixed start date. Parents don't sit in during regular sessions — children settle more quickly on their own — but Open Workshops at half-term and end-of-term Presentations give families a chance to see what has been built across the weeks. After every class, the Producer sends a weekly email summarising that week's focus. Personalised Feedback Forms arrive periodically throughout the term, each read and signed by Perform's Principal, Lucy Quick, who founded the organisation 25 years ago.
When it runs
Good to know
Common questions
Can we try a session before committing?
Yes. Every child is entitled to one free trial session. Book in advance — by phone or online — and at the time of booking the trial must be scheduled within the next two weeks of term-time. Before attending, you'll need to complete and sign a registration form with contact, identification and health details.
What does my child need to wear?
The relevant Perform T-shirt must be purchased and worn to every session. Perform reserves the right to refuse admission without a refund if a child arrives without it, so it's worth sorting before the first day.
How does booking work, and what if we need to cancel?
Sessions are booked in blocks of 10 consecutive weekly sessions (a block of 20 is also available). Full payment is due by the end of the first session in the block. If you need to cancel, you must call the Perform office directly and speak to an operator at least three working days before the first session you won't be attending; Perform then retains £50 per child on account. With less than three working days' notice, the pro-rata cost of the remaining sessions is deducted from the amount paid. Refunds are not offered for weekly workshops.
What if we miss a Sunday?
Missed sessions cannot be added to the end of a block. You can, however, arrange a make-up session at another Perform class — call the Perform office before 11:00am on the day you'd like to attend, and your child must still have at least one untaken session remaining at The Russell Primary School.
Is there a show at the end of term?
Three times a year, families are invited to half-term Open Workshops and end-of-term Presentations where children perform the dancing, acting and singing they've been building across the term. This summer there is also a West End show, Mermaids & Pirates, for which tickets are separately available to book.
Summary drafted with AI assistance from the provider's published details and reviewed before publishing — how we use AI.
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