Category: General News

Your Jigsaw Watchlist – A Musical Christmas At Home!

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Whilst we won’t be meeting up for our weekly Jigsaw classes over the holidays, use this time at home to indulge your love of performing another way… So make get some snacks, snuggle up under the covers and relax…

We’ve picked a range of our Jigsaw-approved favourites – there’s something for everyone from our 3-4 year olds all the way through to the Youth Theatre! 

  1. Anything Goes (BBC Iplayer)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0012y8y 

Cole Porter’s 1934 hit musical set aboard the SS American. Musical theatre star Sutton Foster performs in the title role of cabaret singer Reno Sweeney. 

  1. BBC’s Big Night of Musicals (BBC Iplayer)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m001kjm5/big-night-of-musicals-by-the-national-lottery

Jason Manford hosts a spectacular night of songs from the musicals, keep an eye out for all your favourite West End stars!

  1. Matilda (Netflix)

Rold Dahl’s iconic Matilda has now found its way onto Netflix. This movie musical version is perfect for the whole family to enjoy! 

  1. In The Heights (Netflix and BBC Iplayer)

Before Hamilton took the world by storm, composer and lyricist Lin Manuel Miranda had already created In The Heights, a musical set in New York City exploring the life of modern day Puerto-Rican immigrants. A beautiful score of music (and an escape from England’s cold weather!).

  1. Shrek The Musical (Amazon Prime)

This childhood classic has been turned into a hilarious musical which ran on both the West End and Broadway for a number of years. You’ll once again spot the multi-talented Sutton Foster as Princess Fiona! Watch out for Shrek’s puns…they’re not great…!

  1. Nativity! (BBC Iplayer) 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b018xtm1/nativity

A Christmas classic – the festive period isn’t the same without it. Brilliant music and can be enjoyed by parents and children alike. 

 

Jigsaw Harpenden – Don’t feed the plants!

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The students performed “Don’t Feed the Plants,” a  production inspired by the hit musical Little Shop of Horrors. Group 1 brought the hungry plants to life, while Group 2 took on the principal roles and Plantbusters, telling the story with confidence and humour!

The show was packed with iconic songs from Little Shop of Horrors, and even had a dance number by Queen incorporated and some hit pop songs, which both added an extra level of excitement for our unique performance. From the moment the curtain went up, the stage was filled with energy, humour, and personality.

The costumes were fabulous and the talent was amazing! The energy and hard work our students put in throughout the term was clear to see! Every one of them has grown so much in confidence, so it was amazing for family and friends to see that too!

Katie, School Owner, shared:

“Our main school absolutely smashed their first ever show at Jigsaw Harpenden! They dazzled us all under the lights and brought lots of energy and humour to their roles! We are so proud of them.”

Harpenden Manager Alexis added:

““The show was fantastic! The children’s confidence grew so much over the term and it really showed in their performance. So wonderful to see!”

One parent commented:

“What an amazing show! The energy and confidence on stage was incredible. My child has enjoyed every moment of this term and couldn’t wait for this performance! Big thanks to all the teachers!

A huge well done to our Harpenden Main School — a fantastic end to a brilliant term!

 

Jigsaw Bushey Winterfest Performance

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Winterfest brought together some local performers and performing arts groups, festive entertainment and lots of Christmas cheer. We were so proud to see our students representing Jigsaw! They performed Christmas favourite Jingle Bell Rock, I’m Still Standing, and a medley of hits from their Main School show “Don’t Feed the Plants”. Some children wore Christmas hats and festive costumes, adding extra fun to their performance, and they did some dance numbers as well with huge amounts of energy!

For many of the students, this was their first ever time performing with microphones and a stage setup, they absolutely smashed it! It was exciting to see them confident, enthusiastic, and enjoying every moment on stage!

Kim, Manager, said:

“The children did such a brilliant job at Winterfest. They were confident, happy and worked so well together. We’re incredibly proud of how they represented Jigsaw.”

One audience member shared:

“The children were amazing! So confident and full of energy — they really brought the Christmas spirit to the town centre.”

We are incredibly proud of our Bushey Main School students for representing Jigsaw so brilliantly and spreading festive cheer at Winterfest!

 

Jigsaw Watford Winterfest Performance

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The event brought together local performers and theatre schools, festive entertainment and lots of Christmas cheer, and it was fantastic to see our students representing Jigsaw on their stage. They performed the Christmas favourite Jingle Bell Rock, I’m Still Standing, and a medley of hits from their Main School show “Don’t Feed the Plants”. They did their best singing, dancing and many children wore Christmas hats and festive costumes!

For several students, this was their first experience performing with microphones and a stage setup, which was really exciting! They performed with confidence and huge enthusiasm!

Kim, Manager, said:

“The children did such a brilliant job at Winterfest. They were confident, happy and worked so well together. We’re incredibly proud of how they represented Jigsaw.”

One audience member said:

“The children were amazing! So confident and full of energy — they really brought the Christmas spirit to the town centre.”

We are so proud of our Watford Main School students for representing Jigsaw so wonderfully and spreading festive cheer at Winterfest!

Main School Hendon “Don’t Feed the Plants”

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This year’s show brought together all of Main School. Group 1 played the very hungry plants while Group 2 became the fearless Plantbusters, and Group 3 took on the principal characters, really stepping up into such big roles! Each group played a vital role in bringing this hilarious story to life!

The show was packed with iconic songs from Little Shop of Horrors, and even had a dance number by Queen incorporated as well as some hit pop songs, which both added an extra level of excitement for our very unique performance. From the moment the curtain went up, the stage was filled with energy, humour, and personality.

The costumes were fabulous and the talent was amazing! The energy and hard work our students put in throughout the term was clear to see. Every single one of them has grown so much in confidence, so it was amazing for family and friends to see that too!

Katie, School Owner, said:

“Our main school absolutely smashed their show at Jigsaw Hendon! They dazzled us all under the lights and brought lots of energy and humour to their roles! We are so proud of them.”

Hendon Manager, Kim, added:

“Don’t Feed the Plants was absolutely epic! Our main school worked so hard throughout the term and put on a brilliant and vibrant show, filled with fabulous costumes, epic musical numbers and, of course, lots of fun and smiles! It was such a pleasure to watch them all shining on the stage!”

One parent commented:

“We really enjoyed the show. The children did an amazing job and it was great to see their confidence grow. Thank you to the team.”

A huge well done to our Hendon Main School — a fantastic end to a brilliant term!

 

Marvellous Mitcham & Morden End of Term Shows!

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As we find ourselves gearing up for Christmas, the last few weeks have naturally been super busy – not to mention full of our wonderful end of term shows performed over the final few weeks at Harris Academy Morden! We are so proud of all the hard work our students have put into these past 11 weeks: learning script lines, song lyrics and some fabulous choreography. The numerous weeks of rehearsals paid off with the brilliant performances our students were able to share with their friends and family.

Our show schedule was kicked off by the impressive 3-4 year olds who brought explorers on a Bear Hunt to life – full of energy and enthusiasm! Teachers Sophie and Rachel were incredibly proud of their students who were buzzing with confidence in front of their families. Clearly speaking their lines, performing dances with energy and (most importantly!) having fun on stage, all their skills were beautifully displayed at such a young age. We are so proud of them all!

Next up were the 5-6 year old shows who went on a Trip To The Zoo (with run-away lions on the loose!) Highlights included impressive cartwheels and some scarily accurate animal impersonations…! It was great to see our students working together as a strong ensemble to bring these shows to life and showcase thier skills.

Finally, we rounded the term off with a spectacular 7-18’s showing of Breaking the Habit! Each age group their created their own world with strong characters, clear plot and plenty of dance moves. We had Great Gatsby-like glitz and glamour for our oldest students, chaotic cops for our 9-11 year olds and our youngest group played the Blessed Sisters of Mercy who took in the show’s protagonist, there was quite literally something for everybody! (And plenty of laughs.) Performed in our large theatre space It was an impressive end to our 2025 Autumn term which audiences thoroughly enjoyed.

We can’t wait to be back to school on the 17th January and look forward to seeing a wide range of new skills and activites! Come and join the fun next term. Email michael@jigsaw-arts.co.uk or call 0208 657 8067

Super Sutton Shows Marking The End of Term!

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As we find ourselves gearing up for Christmas, the last few weeks have naturally been very busy – not to mention full of the wonderful end of term shows performed over the final few weeks at Harris Academy Sutton! We are so proud of all the hard work our students have put into these past 11 weeks: learning script lines, song lyrics and some fabulous choreography. The numerous weeks of rehearsals paid off with the brilliant performances our students were able to share with their friends and family.

Our show schedule was kicked off by the impressive 3-4 year olds who brought explorers on a Bear Hunt to life – full of energy and enthusiasm! Teachers Sophie and Sofia were incredibly proud of their students who were buzzing with confidence in front of their families. Clearly speaking their lines, performing dances with energy and (most importantly!) having fun on stage, all their skills were beautifully displayed at such a young age. We are so proud of them all!

Next up were the 5-6 year old shows who went on a Trip To The Zoo (with run-away lions on the loose!) Highlights included impressive cartwheels and some scarily accurate animal impersonations…! It was great to see our students working together as a strong ensemble to bring these shows to life and showcase thier skills.

Finally, we rounded the term off with a spectacular 7-18’s showing of Breaking the Habit! Each age group their created their own world with strong characters, clear plot and plenty of dance moves. We had Great Gatsby-like glitz and glamour for our oldest students, chaotic cops for our 9-11 year olds and our youngest group played the Blessed Sisters of Mercy who took in the show’s protagonist, there was quite literally something for everybody! (And plenty of laughs.) Performed in our large theatre space It was an impressive end to our 2025 Autumn term which audiences thoroughly enjoyed.

We can’t wait to be back to school on the 17th January and look forward to seeing a wide range of new skills and activities! Come and join the fun next term.

Email michael@jigsaw-arts.co.uk or call 0208 657 8067

Jigsaw Youth Theatre Opens In Mitcham & Morden!

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From the start of our Spring term beginning in January 2026, our students aged 15-18 will be part of a newly formed youth theatre. This class will provide a more nuanced approach to the three disciplines of the performing arts, honing in on specifics and pushing performance skills furhter than ever before! We’ll be staying true to the Jigsaw Arts key skills of singing, dance and drama but working in a more focused and grown up way.

Many of our Jigsaw students have a real passion for performing which they intend to pursue professionally, the next step of which usually includes applying for further drama schools and training courses. Jigsaw Youth Theatre provides expert advice on how to navigate the application process with, for example, teachers helping individuals develop a repertoire of songs they can use going forward for auditions. We will also be building a range of performance pieces as a company so we are able to explore more performance oppoturnities than ever before!

Previously the older studnets mixed with the whole school from 7-18’s, now our Youth Theatre will have a bit more indendence, doing their own shows and their own stand alone creative projects – we can’t wait to see what they create! As many of our teachers are performers themselves who have trained and are currently working within the performing industry, they are the perfect port of call for those students looking to take the next steps in making their performing dreams a reality!

Our supportive and insightful youth theatre is for further developing students who already have a love of the performing arts in more challenging sessions. We are so excited for its opening in January 2026 and can’t wait to welcome our students in!

 

The Best Christmas Present for Your 3–6 Year Old: A Gift That Lasts a Lifetime

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With so many toys available and children’s attention spans seeming shorter than ever, it can be hard to choose a Christmas present that truly makes an impact. Many toys are fun for a few days, then forgotten. But experiences stay with children, shape their confidence, and help them grow.

This Christmas, give your child a gift that goes far beyond the festive season:
Performing arts classes that nurture creativity, social skills, and self-belief.

Why Performing Arts Are the Perfect Gift for Young Children

1. Builds Confidence and Self-Esteem

Drama, dance, and singing encourage children to express themselves openly. As they practise performing in front of others, they naturally build confidence, overcome shyness, and learn to trust their own abilities.

2. Boosts Communication and Language Skills

Through storytelling, role-play, and vocal exercises, children develop clearer speech, stronger communication, and a richer vocabulary. These skills support reading, phonics, and public speaking at school.

3. Improves Focus and Concentration

Performing arts activities help young children practise listening, following instructions, and staying engaged, skills that transfer directly to the classroom.

4. Encourages Teamwork and Social Development

Group exercises in drama and singing teach children how to collaborate, take turns, share ideas, and support one another. They learn empathy, cooperation, and how to build friendships.

5. Enhances Physical Development

Dance classes improve coordination, balance, rhythm, and overall fitness. Movement-based learning is especially beneficial for energetic early years children.

6. Sparks Imagination and Creativity

Performing arts invite children to create characters, explore emotions, and express their ideas freely. This kind of imaginative play strengthens creative thinking and problem-solving.

7. Supports Emotional Wellbeing

Through drama and music, children learn to recognise, explore, and manage emotions in a healthy way, boosting their emotional intelligence.

Why Choose Jigsaw Performing Arts in Ilford?

At Jigsaw Ilford, our performing arts classes are specially designed for young children aged 3–6 years, offering a balanced and enjoyable introduction to:

  • Dance — rhythm, coordination & movement
  • Drama — expression, storytelling & role-play
  • Singing — vocal development, breathing & musicality

Each 90-minute class includes 30 minutes of each discipline, taught by experienced and enthusiastic specialist tutors. All our teachers are DBS checked, providing a safe, supportive environment where children can thrive.

We group children into 3–4 years and 5–6 years to ensure age-appropriate learning and confidence building.

Classes take place on Saturday afternoons at Valentines High School, Ilford.

Give a Two-Week Performing Arts Trial This Christmas!

Instead of another toy, give your child the chance to discover their voice, build lifelong skills, and experience the joy of performing arts.

Book a two-week trial today and reserve your child’s place in our fun, creative performing arts classes!

 

Jigsaw High Barnet launches at Queen Elizabeth Girl’s School

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We are delighted to announce the launch of Jigsaw Performing Arts High Barnet, now running every Sunday morning at Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School. Our first sessions were filled with energy, creativity and confidence as students enjoyed a fantastic morning of singing, dancing and acting.

The school is proudly managed by Megan, an experienced Jigsaw manager who already runs two Jigsaw schools. High Barnet marks Megan’s third Jigsaw Performing Arts School, and she was thrilled to welcome new families on opening day. Megan had so much fun meeting students and parents, and it was wonderful to see how quickly everyone settled in. The enthusiasm and excitement in the classes made it clear that this is going to be a brilliant term ahead.

At Jigsaw Performing Arts High Barnet, children aged 3–18 years enjoy professional training in drama, singing and dance in a fun, supportive and welcoming environment. Each week, students develop key performance skills, grow in confidence and creativity, and make new friends. Whether your child dreams of performing on stage or simply wants to try something new, Jigsaw offers a nurturing space for every young performer to shine.

We’re proud to be based at Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School, right in the heart of High Barnet. With its bright, spacious facilities and community atmosphere, it’s the perfect home for our newest Jigsaw school.

Bookings are now open for our Spring Term starting January 2026, so now is the perfect time to come and join the fun. New students are always welcome, and families can take advantage of our two-week trial to experience the Jigsaw spirit first-hand.

To book your place or find out more, WhatsApp us on 0208 108 0374.

Join Jigsaw Performing Arts High Barnet and discover where every child takes centre stage through drama, singing and dance!

CLICK HERE TO BOOK A TWO-WEEK TRIAL!