Peter Pan drama holiday course
Perform runs weekly drama, dance and singing classes for children aged 4–7 and 7–12 at St Andrew's Hall, Albert Road, Caversham, Reading (RG4 7AW) — held on Saturday mornings and early afternoons throughout term time. Every child can attend a free trial session before committing to a block.
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About this class
Perform has been running Saturday sessions at St Andrew's Hall in Caversham since October 2003. Three time slots are on offer each week: 4–7s at 9:30–11am or 11:15am–12:45pm, and 7–12s at 2–3:30pm. Producer Sophia and Teacher Victoria lead the classes, and Area Partner Sophie visits the sessions — part of Perform's approach to staff oversight and development.
Each session moves through three distinct sections. For the 4–7s, that means movement work (dances, rapid-reaction games and yoga-inspired mirroring to build coordination and balance), a speech and singing section using specially composed songs, tongue-twisters and raps, and a creative slot built around character explorations, storytelling and improvisation. The 7–12s work covers acting and improvisation — vocal projection, physicality, accents and focus exercises — alongside movement and dance, and a speech and singing section where small groups mean most children get a solo or featured moment. This summer the younger group are sailing with Mermaids & Pirates while the older children take on The Dream, Perform's reworking of A Midsummer Night's Dream. The current term runs from 11 April to 18 July.
Everything ties back to what Perform calls the 4 Cs: Confidence, Concentration, Communication and Coordination, woven into every activity. The curriculum is rolling, so children can join at any point without waiting for a term boundary. Classes are capped at 22 children, with two Perform staff in the room throughout. Parents receive a personalised written feedback form — signed by Principal Lucy Quick — and a weekly email from the Producer summarising that week's focus.
When it runs
Good to know
Common questions
Can we try a session before signing up?
Yes — every child gets a free trial class. Book through the Perform website by searching for St Andrew's Hall, Caversham, or phone the office directly.
What ages are the Saturday classes open to?
The two groups at this venue cover 4–7s (two morning slots) and 7–12s (early afternoon). Perform deliberately keeps a mixed age range in the 4–7s class: younger children are challenged by the group, while older children gain early leadership experience. For the 7–12s, previous experience matters less than character — the focus is on developing social skills through performing arts techniques.
How are classes booked and paid for?
Classes are purchased in blocks of 10 or 20 sessions, with the option to renew to the end of term or pay monthly by Direct Debit. A bursary scheme is available, and Perform accepts childcare vouchers. New customers who join the mailing list receive £30 off their first block of 10. Cancellations require three days' notice; the credit transfers to your account rather than being refunded. If you restart after a gap, a minimum of 10 consecutive classes must be purchased.
What actually happens in a session?
Sessions run for 90 minutes and move through three sections — movement and dance, speech and singing, and drama or acting work — with the content shifting each week according to the rolling termly theme. This summer the 4–7s are deep into Mermaids & Pirates; the 7–12s are working on The Dream. There are always two Perform staff present, and class sizes don't exceed 22 children.
Are there any performances parents can attend?
Families are invited to half-termly Open Workshops and end-of-term Presentations three times a year. The St Andrew's Hall holiday course this year — a Peter Pan theme for children aged 4–10 — runs Monday 27 to Friday 31 July, 10am–3pm, led by Laura and Dominic with Area Partner Gemma, and includes mini-performances during the week.
Summary drafted with AI assistance from the provider's published details and reviewed before publishing — how we use AI.
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