New Home for Big Little Theatre School!

We are delighted to announce that Big Little Theatre School will be taking up residency at the brand new 'Garnet's Academy', a self contained arts block in the grounds of St Thomas Garnet Independent School, in Boscombe, from September 2009.

This dramatic new development has been agreed after very positive discussions between both schools, resulting in an exciting new chapter for all concerned.

Nineteen years ago, before Big Little was established, Michelle Guy began working at STG. Since then, the two schools have regularly interacted and supported each other. Now all these years later, Big Little will be residing side by side with STG and operating all it's administration, Bournemouth based weekday classes, uniform shop and much more from the Garnet Academy.

Students attending St Thomas Garnet school (aged 3-11) will benefit from the new academy for the already well established speech and drama lessons run by Big Little, under the guidance of Kate Gibbs. Every STG student will also participate in regular PIE (Performance in Education) sessions. These sessions will be delivered in the academy by Big Little creatives an bring the national curriculum dramatically to life through workshops, improvisation and 'ParticipAction'. The academy studio is also a valuable space for creative learning where the class teachers can book time in the studio with their class.

With the exception of the Ringwood Classes and the Saturday Youth Theatre's at Bournemouth School for Girls, Big Little will run exclusively from the Academy. This enables us to have all of our resources at our finger tips and the ability to create an excellent and stimulating learning environment, without the constant moving in and out of hired halls. The potential for master classes and specialist workshops is enormous and we can introduce the much called for 'pre-school' dance and drama classes.

The Garnet Academy will provide Big Little with full time office space, a Big Little shop, 3 tutorial/practise rooms, dance/drama studio, toilets, kitchen and storage. We will also have full access to the large STG school hall (out of main school hours).

More details about this wonderful development in Big Little will follow. It remains only to say at this time, that this is only made possible by the support and belief of every student, parent, friend, associate and staff member who has been part of Big Little through the years.

We are very excited by this. Having somewhere to call 'home' has always been our dream.