Staging a comeback during the pandemic

“Katie and I are from performing backgrounds, mainly in the West End and musical theatre. In 2016, we bought Stagecoach in Bedford as a side business to run while we were still working in shows. We cater for four- to 18-year-olds, and our ethos is ‘creative courage’. It’s more about building confidence and life skills in young children – including some with disabilities – than having a competitive environment.

“We offer an outlet for children to learn performing arts, and skills like team building. And for those who want to progress in the industry, we have the right contacts as well as experienced staff.”

“When the pandemic hit in March 2020, we were both working in West End shows, and overnight our income – from performing as well as the schools – disappeared. When things opened up again, we decided I should concentrate on expanding the Stagecoach business.

“Wendy White, our Relationship Manager at NatWest, knew the Stagecoach brand and had done this type of deal before. Wendy had done her homework and she understood what we were trying to do.

“The whole transaction was simple. To be honest, beforehand I had no idea whether we’d be able to get the finance we needed. NatWest knows this is a solid, stable business: our relationship with the bank has always run smoothly.”

“In hindsight, it might have been a risk to expand during the pandemic, but since things have reopened, we’ve been bursting at the seams. After lockdown, parents are seeing Stagecoach as the perfect way to get their kids back out into society and get their confidence up.”

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