What are you working on this term at Jigsaw Harrow?

At the moment we are exploring dance, drama and singing through an ‘Under The Sea theme’. Having a theme really helps to engage the imagination of the group and gives us a focus for the term.

What do you think are the benefits of the performing arts?

The benefits of performing arts are endless, no matter your age or level of ability! The performing arts give us an increase in confidence, help with communication skills, improves our focus and brings us a sense of joy too!

As a Performing Arts teacher what do you hope to inspire in your young students?

Firstly, I would love to leave students with a sense of confidence, secondly a lifelong passion to continue with the performing arts I think, as I believe it to be so beneficial for our wellbeing. 

What is the thing you most enjoy about teaching this age group?

I love the imagination of the 3-4s, they have an incredible perspective on life and come up with ideas I never could have thought of! I love their energy and enthusiasm too!

As well as being a teacher for Jigsaw you are also an actor. What first inspired you to act?

I was a very shy child and acting gave me a chance to come out of my shell. I studied drama at college and then went on to study at East 15 to allow me to pursue acting professionally.

Can you tell us a little bit about the show you are in at the moment?

I start rehearsals for Robinson Crusoe in a couple of weeks’ time, which is a pantomime touring the Essex area and surrounds. It’s going to be fun (and loads of hard work) but I’m very excited!

What would your advice be to a young person who is keen to join a drama, dance or singing class but doesn’t know where to start?

I would to say to just go for it! Attending a new class can be scary but stepping out of your comfort zone will be well worthwhile. Find your local Jigsaw School! Jigsaw schools are all run by professional performers, but everyone is really friendly, and it is a place where every single student is valued for their unique contribution.

Jigsaw Performing Arts is dedicated to developing performance skills, promoting self-expression and building confidence. We offer performing arts classes for children aged between 3 – 18. Find your nearest school by entering your postcode into the search on our home page. 

Spotlight on New Jigsaw Students

“Before attending Jigsaw, my confidence was extremely low. Now it has helped me to gradually overcome my shyness and I feel I can achieve anything that I put my mind to.” 

Lashay lives in Islington, she is 13 years old and has 4 sisters and 5 brothers. She decided to come to Jigsaw to improve her confidence and for her love of singing and acting in particular. These are her favourite subjects at Jigsaw and she is inspired by the likes of singer Ariana Grande and her favourite actors Jessica Alba and Eddie Murphy, whose careers she admires. Lashay tells us that her Jigsaw teachers are lots of fun and very friendly whilst helping her to learn new skills and to apply herself as she considers herself be a hard worker. She also enjoys the aspect of helping others feel more comfortable in class. This is something she feels she can now achieve due to feeling more confident in her own ability.

Lashay hopes to be a singer or an actress one day. When we asked her “If you had a film of your life, who would you choose to play you?” she answered “Beyonce”. Watch this space!

“It was that workshop that changed my life. Only by a bit, but a bit is all that it takes to make your day. I know that Jigsaw can help me to become what I want to be.”

Natasha is 11 years old and is from Muswell Hill. She first became a Jigsaw student by attending one of our Summer Schools. She realised that a lot of the students attended every weekend so she decided to nag her mum to let her join as she had made lots of new friends and had enjoyed her new experience. Natasha said she couldn’t believe it when she was awarded a half scholarship as she didn’t ever think she would be so lucky.

She tells us: “I knew that people believed in my voice and my experience has proven that I can be something and that small things can help you do something huge.” When we interviewed Natasha to find out more about her, she told us that singing is her favourite subject at Jigsaw because it is so much fun and she is now confident enough to sing solo. We wanted to find out what she feels she has gained from being at Jigsaw and she explained that she enjoys being taught something new every week, the people are all lovely and she is able to come to Jigsaw and believe in herself. The highlight of the weekend for Natasha is “playing the Eastenders game” in drama and her favourite actors are Jennifer Lawrence and Theo James.

If someone was to play Natasha in a film of her life, she said it would have to be “someone that can show all of the features that I have”. Quite right!

Jigsaw Performing Arts is dedicated to developing performance skills, promoting self-expression and building confidence. We offer performing arts classes for children aged between 3 – 18. Find your nearest school by entering your postcode into the search on our home page. 

Where are you from? 

Kelly-Anne: Glasgow.

When did you start working at Jigsaw? 

2013

Which Jigsaw schools do you and have you worked in? 

I started as cover drama teacher at Crouch End for a few weeks and now I am the drama teacher for Jigsaw Enfield and singing and drama teacher for Jigsaw Edmonton.

What subject do you teach? 

Drama and singing.

Where did you train?

In Glasgow at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland; I studied musical theatre. I also have an Honours Degree in Politics and Public Policy from Glasgow University.

What did you do before Jigsaw?

I worked as a singer on a cruise ship going to Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Cyrpus, Greece and Turkey. While I was studying I worked in lots of shops but I think most of my wages were spent on the staff discount. The worst job I ever had was when I was 15 and I worked in a cafe and the manager used to make us put frozen food into our apron and bring it to the kitchen to pretend it was being cooked fresh.

What’s your greatest career achievement?

 Oooh I don’t know I’m pretty proud of everything I’ve done and I have no regrets – I like to think that something big and exciting could happen at any time.

What do you enjoy the most at Jigsaw?

I enjoy working with the different students. Jigsaw Enfield is a massive school so it’s really lovely to teach such big groups full of very different people and watch them grow in confidence and as performers. I am delighted that this year’s main show has students playing big parts who played small parts last year.

What has been your favourite moment at Jigsaw?

There have been lots but possibly the first week we all came together on presentation term at Enfield. All of the groups had been given challenging physical theatre pieces to work on and I was really proud of how well they had adapted to the new performance style.

What’s your favourite show?

My Fair Lady.

What would be the most rewarding role or show for you to do?

 Eliza Dolittle. I also really enjoy working on new pieces of theatre as it’s great to be involved in the development of a new piece and there is a real sense of pride seeing what it becomes.

Who is your favourite actor/actress? 

I have too many! I like actors and actresses who take you by surprise and can play a wide range of roles.

Do you have a favourite song?

Hard to pick a favourite but cheesy old school pop songs are special to me like “Shout” by Lulu because my mum and I used to do ‘kitchen songs’ where we would basically sing really loudly in the kitchen while making food.

If you had a film of your life who would play you?

Maybe a Jigsaw student in the future?

Anything else you think we should know about you?

I’m always hungry and normally for naughty food! As soon as I go home to Glasgow I go visit my Granny and get some chips and cheese!

Jigsaw Performing Arts is dedicated to developing performance skills, promoting self-expression and building confidence. We offer performing arts classes for children aged between 3 – 18. Find your nearest school by entering your postcode into the search on our home page. 

Jo has been working for Jigsaw since 2000 and she currently manages three weekend schools. Jo has 16 years experience of working with children. She has completed special needs and child protection training and loves to combine her childcare experience with her passion for the performing arts.

Here we ask Jo a few questions about herself and life as a Jigsaw manager…

Where are you from?

Islington.

Which Jigsaw schools do you and have you worked in?

Enfield, Winchmore Hill, Finchley and soon to be Edmonton in September 2014.

What’s your background?

I specialise in early years child care.

What did you do before Jigsaw?

As well as training in early years’ education, I also trained as both a hairdresser and a chef. I loved both of these!

What’s your greatest career achievement?

There isn’t one specific achievement that stands out to me, more so the variety of work that I have done and the enjoyment that I have gained through it.

What do you enjoy the most at Jigsaw?

My biggest enjoyment is the children and watching their progress.

What has been your favourite moment at Jigsaw?

My favourite moments are at the end of the year when the children receive their awards. It’s great to see the children that have attended for years receive credit for this.

What’s your favourite show?

Miss Saigon is my favourite musical of all time. I don’t have a favourite Jigsaw show as I enjoy the variety!

What would be the most rewarding role for you to play?

I would love to be Rizzo in Grease.

Who is your favourite actor/actress and why?

Leonardo DiCaprio is my favourite actor because he is so versatile.

Do you have a favourite song?

“There are Worse Things I Could Do”, the song that Rizzo sings in Grease.

If you had a film of your life who would play you?

Someone very confident. I think I’d choose Glenn Close who plays ‘Cruella De Vil’ in ‘101 Dalmations’.

Anything else you think we should know about you?

Just that I’ve got a very tough shell but I’m a softy underneath!

Jigsaw Performing Arts is dedicated to developing performance skills, promoting self-expression and building confidence. We offer performing arts classes for children aged between 3 – 18. Find your nearest school by entering your postcode into the search on our home page. 

Spotlight on Drama Teacher Joe Bromley

Joe Bromley has many years’ experience of teaching, acting, directing and writing.  She loves drama and creativity and encourages students to write their own pieces for performance.  She also has her own theatre company, Really Big Pants, specifically for primary-aged children. This week we caught up with Joe to hear about her classes at Jigsaw Ealing and find more about the teacher behind the Jigsaw T-shirt. 

What are you working on this term at Jigsaw Ealing?

It is currently presentation term in Ealing, and Group 1 have been focusing on… timing.  They’re presenting The Wonky Donkey, which involves some audience participation and will (hopefully!) be very funny.  But we’ve gone quite serious for the other groups – Group 3 have been studying elements of The Hate U Give and have worked extremely hard on blending narration and dialogue into a powerful extract.  And Group 2 have gone rogue – we have taken inspiration from Hamilton and they’ve written their very own hip-hop poems to perform about issues they want to address.  The creativity that has come out in class has been astounding and I am extremely proud of them.

As well as being a teacher for Jigsaw you are also a published writer and run your own theatre company.  Firstly, can you tell us a little bit about your theatre company, Really Big Pants?

There are only two of us in the company, and we do everything from sourcing the props and washing the costumes, to processing the bookings and then getting out on the road to schools, theatres, arts centres, bookshops, libraries, museums, castles, festivals – you name it! – and performing!  It is specifically for primary-aged children and we wrote three shows with themes that we really cared about: literacy, the environment, and self-esteem.  (And yes, a pair of really big pants feature in each one.)

Can you tell us a bit about your book Suddenly… and other stories?

The book is an adaptation of our storytelling show, plus two further adventures for the main characters, Grandma and Red.  It features gorgeous illustrations throughout and was written to delve deeper into their world.  It was a joy, and a lifelong dream.  There is a sequel swirling in the mists of my head, but next up is a book of poetry to go with another one of our shows!

What would your advice be to a young person who is keen to write but doesn’t know where to start?

Read!  Read, read, read, and then read some more!  And then just write.  Structure and grammar and spelling and all that malarkey matter, but creating a story is the most important part.  There are so many ways to tell stories – making them up and acting them out with your friends or dolls (or compliant pets), or drawing them in a comic strip, or simply observing somebody and then imagining a little adventure for them, are all great ways to think up a plot but then sit and write it down.  It doesn’t have to be perfect straightaway.  That’s what editing is for.  Practice.  The more you write, the better you’ll get.  Go for it.

What do you think are the benefits of the performing arts?

I believe the benefits are endless.  They are a mirror for values and play a vital part in everyday life – not just having the confidence to express yourself, but also as an outlet for creativity.  What would life be like without expression?

Food for thought indeed!

Jigsaw Performing Arts is dedicated to developing performance skills, promoting self-expression and building confidence. We offer performing arts classes for children aged between 3 – 18. Find your nearest school by entering your postcode into the search on our home page. 

Shannen has been teaching dance and Performing Arts for Jigsaw for just over a year now in Broxbourne. Shannen has recently joined the teaching team in Jigsaw Ware and they are currently working on their show “Funny Goings On in Gloobury Mansions”. Here is a little insight into Shannen’s Performing Arts background and why she finds teaching so rewarding…

Where are you from Shannen? Hertfordshire

When did you start working at Jigsaw? Summer term in 2014.

Which Jigsaw schools do you and have you worked in? Jigsaw Broxbourne and Jigsaw Ware

What subject do you teach? Dance and Performing Arts

Where did you train? Italia Conti Arts Centre (3 Years), DNA Studios (Teacher Training) (1 Year), The Dance College (Teacher Training) (Currently Studying There)

What did you do before Jigsaw? Have you had any jobs that you loved/hated? I have only ever been a Dance and Performing Arts teacher. This is my 7th year and I still absolutely love it!

What’s your greatest career achievement? Working professionally as the Dance Captain on a Resident Entertainment team at a Warner Leisure Hotel for a year!

What do you enjoy the most at Jigsaw? Seeing every class run in each week smiling and excited to dance.

What has been your favourite moment at Jigsaw? Definitely being entertained by some seriously impressive moves and skills by the kids during their break times at Jigsaw Ware!

What’s your favourite show? I couldn’t possibly pick, I love every show! The most recent 2 shows I have seen though were ‘Matilda’ and ‘Memphis’, they were both incredible. I’d recommend them both to anyone!

What would be the most rewarding role or show for you to do? Anything, I’m not picky, haha. Just as long as it was an enjoyable and challenging role. Then I would have a sense of achievement from it.

Who is your favourite actor/actress? Why? Anne Hathaway and Johnny Depp. They are both realistic and versatile!

Do you have a favourite song Shannen? Sadly no, but I like anything that’s upbeat and puts you in a good mood. So I play ‘I Don’t Like It, I Love It’ by Flo Rida & Robin Thicke in class a lot!

If you had a film of your life who would play Shannen? Amy Schumer – She’s hilarious!

Anything else you think we should know about you? Thanks to having family in Australia, I’ve been lucky enough to have travelled around the whole world. There are plenty of memorable, beautiful places to explore out there!

Jigsaw Performing Arts is dedicated to developing performance skills, promoting self-expression and building confidence. We offer performing arts classes for children aged between 3 – 18. Find your nearest school by entering your postcode into the search on our home page.