Catching Up with Yazmin: From Jigsaw Student to West End Performer

We’re delighted to share an update on one of our brilliant former students, Yazmin, whose performing arts journey began right here at Jigsaw Performing Arts School in Ilford and has gone on to reach some truly exciting milestones.

During her time at Jigsaw, Yazmin developed a real passion for dance, drama and singing, loved meeting new friends, and thrived on trying out new skills. She often spoke about how Jigsaw helped her build confidence and encouraged her ambition to pursue a career in the performing arts – and she certainly meant it when she said “watch this space!”

Since then, Yazmin has continued to work hard on her training, going on to attend the prestigious Mountview Theatre School, where she further honed her skills as a performer. Her dedication paid off when she was cast in the West End production of Les Misérables.  An incredible achievement and a proud moment for everyone who has followed her journey.

Yazmin is now continuing to shine on stage, currently appearing in panto as Princess Rose in Sleeping Beauty at Nottingham Playhouse. It’s wonderful to see her talent, confidence and love for performing bringing joy to audiences, just as it did all those years ago at Jigsaw.

From a four-year-old taking her first steps in her performing arts class to a professional performer on some of the UK’s most celebrated stages, Yazmin’s story is a fantastic example of where passion, training and belief can lead. We can’t wait to see what she does next.

Yazmin will also be back teaching perfroming arts to our younger students in the New Year.  What a treat!

If you’d like to follow in Yazmin’s footsteps—or simply explore the skills, confidence, and creativity our classes can unlock, we’d love to welcome you. Join us for a two-week trial at Jigsaw Ilford, held at Valentines High School on Saturday afternoons, and see firsthand how our classes help students grow both on and off the stage.

Jigsaw Youth Theatre now LIVE!

Exciting news for young aspiring actors! Jigsaw Youth Theatre is running in Ware, offering a fantastic opportunity for teenagers to dive into the world of performing arts. Whether you’re thinking of pursuing a career in the arts or simply want to develop skills and build confidence and creativity, Jigsaw Youth Theatre provides a vibrant and supportive environment for young talent to thrive. 

Here Franchisee Rachel, will answer a few questions on what you can expect!

What is Jigsaw Youth Theatre?

JYT is an extension of our already popular, weekend classes. Aimed at students aged 15-18 (14 if in year 10), it is a chance to further develop skills in acting, singing and dance in a more challenging environment. We will be exploring engaging texts that are aimed at more mature students and there will be performance opportunities throughout the year to put those skills into practice. 

I’ve never performed before, can I still attend?

Absolutely! There is no limit to when a student can begin to get involved in the arts. Our classes are flexible and inclusive so that students of any skill set can feel equally as involved. Now is a great time to try, as JYT is new for all of its participants. 

Will there be chances to go on theatre trips? 

Each school will vary in its plans for the year, but almost all Jigsaw schools do participate in theatre trips for it’s teenage students. We find that trips are a good chance for students to bond and it also opens up their mind to the variety we have in the world of theatre, inspiring them for the academic year ahead!

Did you ever have any experience in a Youth Theatre?

I was part of my local youth theatre for many years and some of my most rewarding memories as a teen took place within the group. I joined Central Youth Theatre back in my home town of Wolverhampton as a very timid 12 year old, and stayed until I was 18! I had opportunities to perform in professional theatre spaces, at Youth Theatre festivals down in London and even gained some experience in film, costume design and producing/funding a large scale production. CYT is still running today and it inspired my life so much that I still regularly touch base with the directors, as do many of the alumni. 

What is your aim for JYT? 

My personal aim for JYT is to create a safe environment for young actors to explore their creativity, be inspired and afford them some similar opportunities of those I was lucky to experience during my own time in a Youth Theatre. For those that would like to pursue a career in the arts further after school or college, it would be great to be able to give them an insight into how a professional working environment can be in the world of performing arts. Most of all, we of course want it to be fun!

K-pop, pumpkins, fun and laughter — the best half-term activity! K-pop Halloween Hunters!

On October 29th, at Watford Grammar Girls school, we ran a full day of exciting K-pop Demon Hunters-themed activities for children aged 3–18, and everyone had the best time!

All of our sessions were based on the film K-pop Demon Hunters. In singing, Sophie taught songs like Free and What It Sounds Like, which everyone loved performing. Bex ran our dance sessions, where we learned awesome routines to Golden and Soda Pop! Amy led drama, full of fun games, characters, and mini performances, and Eleanor looked after our little ones with songs, crafts, and plenty of giggles!

Throughout the day, we also made arts and crafts, wrote our own poems and raps, and worked towards a little performance at the end of the day. Each group got to show everyone what they’d been working on — and they were amazing!

It was so lovely to see all the children’s confidence shining on stage. The teachers brought so much energy and positivity, making it such a fun day for everyone.

We asked some of our K-pop Halloween Camp stars what their favourite part of the day was — here’s what they said:

⭐ “I loved the dancing, it was so fun!”

⭐ “The Halloween games were really cool!”

⭐ “I liked singing all the songs from the movie!”

⭐ “It was the best day EVER!”

The day was packed with music, creativity, and lots of spooky fun! Every child went home smiling, and we’ve had so many lovely comments from parents saying how much their children enjoyed it!

 

A Jigsaw Journey

At Jigsaw Balham, we’re lucky to see countless children grow in confidence and joy every single week but every so often, a story comes along that perfectly captures what Jigsaw is all about.

One of our wonderful Jigsaw parents recently shared her experience with us.

“It’s been a proper transformation from a very shy girl who used to curl up on stage, to now wanting nothing else but drama!”

Her eldest daughter joined Jigsaw Balham five years ago. A quiet, thoughtful little pudding who was still finding her feet. Over time, through weekly classes filled with movement, and imagination, something began to change. She began to take risks, to smile bigger, to perform louder and eventually, she discovered that performing wasn’t scary at all… it was her favourite thing in the world! 

Now, she’s a confident young performer who loves drama and can’t wait for her next class.

And the story doesn’t end there. Her younger brother has joined Jigsaw too! While his personality is completely different, his mum says he’s thriving in his own way:

“He just skips in and loves it. I’m hoping for him that over the years he’ll become a bit more of a risk taker and not shy away from speaking to people.”

For us, that’s the heart of Jigsaw… giving every child a space to be themselves, to explore, to grow and to find their place to belong.

Each week, we see children take small but powerful steps forward. Saying their first line, dancing in front of an audience, or simply joining in with a smile. These are the moments that build confidence for life.

If you’d like to see your child grow in confidence and creativity, come and join us at Jigsaw Balham & Streatham. Our classes run on Saturday and Sunday mornings for ages 3-18, and we’d love to welcome you into our Jigsaw family.

Book a two-week trial today.

Spotlight on Maddie! – Performing Arts Teacher!

How did you first get into performing arts?

I first got into performing arts when I was very young! I think I was only 3 or 4! My mun decided to put me into ballet as I was always dancing around the house!

 

What do you enjoy most about teaching at Jigsaw?

The thing I enjoy the most about teaching at jigsaw is all the children’s crazy energy! Every week is always so much fun! I also love watching them all grow in confidence, their progress is so lovely to see! 

 

What do you enjoy outside of Jigsaw??

I really enjoy going to the gym! I also like to go to different dance classes and exploring new places with my friends! 

 

What’s your favourite show you’ve been in, and what would your dream role be?

My favourite show was definitely the Christmas extravaganza we used to do at college every year! Everyone use to look forward to it! My dream role would be to be in the ensemble for ‘MJ the musical’ or ‘We will rock you!’ as those are my favourite musicals!!! 

 

Spotlight on Freya! – Dance Teacher!

How did you first get into performing arts?

I started performing arts when I was only 2. I was always dancing around so I started doing ballet, tap and modern and danced my whole life until going to musical theatre college! There, I then started singing and acting, which I also love as well now!

 

What do you enjoy most about teaching at Jigsaw?

I just love the progress the children make! Their growth in confidence is so nice to see!! And I love seeing them smile every week!!

 

What do you enjoy outside of Jigsaw??

Outside of jigsaw, I enjoy taking dance classes and spending lots of time with my friends and family! I also love spending time with animals, especially my hamster who is called Penny!

 

What’s your favourite show you’ve been in, and what would your dream role be?

My favourite show I’ve ever been in was ‘Into the Woods’ which is a show I did when I was in my second year of Uni! I had so much fun! And my dream role would be to be a dancer in ‘Everyone’s talking about Jamie’ as that’s my favorite musical!

 

Spotlight on Phoebe! – Performing Arts Assistant!

How did you first get into performing arts?

I first got into performing arts when I was very little! My older siblings all went to a local theatre school and I saw they enjoyed it so I wanted to join too! I was singning and dancing around when I was a baby!

 

What do you enjoy most about assisting at Jigsaw?

I absolutely love seeing how much fun all the children are having! I love seeing their cheeky smiles every single week! The whole weekend brings me so much joy

 

What do you enjoy outside of Jigsaw?

I absolutely love going on walks with my dog! His name is Sydney and he’s a greyhound so he’s so fast!! I also love going out on days out with my friends and family!

 

What’s your favourite show you’ve been in, and what would your dream role be?

My favourite show I’ve ever been in was definitely ‘The Wizard of Oz’! I did this with Watford Boys Grammar School! I played the Wicked Witch of the West, it was such a good role to play! My dream role is Elle Woods in ‘Legally Blonde’. 

 

Spotlight on Phoebe! – Performing Arts Assistant!

How did you first get into performing arts?

I started singing and dancing when I was very young! I loved it so much I went to the theatre school my older siblings were at! And have loved it since then! I just love the thrill of perfoming!

 

What do you enjoy most about assisting at Jigsaw?

I just love singing and dancing with the children! It’s so nice to see how much they love it! I also love just being silly with them and hearing their giggles! 

 

What do you enjoy outside of Jigsaw??

I really enjoy going on walks with my dog! I also love going out with my friends to new places and going to theme parks! My favourite is a big theme park in germany called Europa Park, me and my family go there every year! I’m a reel thrill seeker!!! 

 

What’s your favourite musical and what would your dream role be?

My favourite musical is ‘Into the Woods’ , I just love the story and the characters, I’ve listened to it so much I know the 15 mins prologue off by heart! One of my dream roles is definitely Elle Woods in ‘Legally Blonde’ , I just love her!! 

 

We’re in! Jigsaw Balham joins NT Connections 2026

We are absolutely thrilled to share that Jigsaw Performing Arts Balham’s Youth Theatre has been accepted onto the National Theatre Connections Programme for 2026! This is a huge achievement for our talented young performers and a fantastic opportunity to showcase their creativity, teamwork, and love of theatre in a national programme.

 

What is National Theatre Connections?

National Theatre Connections is a prestigious programme run by the National Theatre, bringing together youth theatres and schools from across the UK. Each year, ten brand-new plays are commissioned from some of the UK’s most exciting playwrights. These plays are performed by youth theatres nationwide, giving young people the chance to work with professional scripts and be part of a nationwide celebration of new writing for the stage.

For our Jigsaw Balham Youth Theatre, this means:

  • Working on a professionally written play from the 2026 selection.

  • Performing locally here in Balham in early 2026, showcasing the incredible talent of our students.

  • Taking our production to Theatre Peckham in March 2026, a professional partner theatre, where our young actors will step onto a real stage and perform in front of new audiences.

 

Why This Matters for Our Young People

Being accepted into the National Theatre Connections Programme is not just about performing, it’s about giving our young people the chance to experience theatre-making at the highest level.

Our students will:

  • Collaborate as an ensemble, developing strong teamwork skills.

  • Be inspired by professional playwrights and theatre practitioners.

  • Build memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.

 

How to Get Involved

If your child loves acting and dreams of taking their passion to the next level, now is the perfect time to join our Jigsaw Balham Youth Theatre. We welcome committed, enthusiastic young performers who want to grow their skills and be part of something truly special.

Youth Theatre details:

  • For young performers aged 14-18 years 

  • Term starts on the 20th September 2025

  • Two week trials available to all new families

Places are limited, and with the excitement around this opportunity, we expect high interest.

To find out more or to secure a place visit www.jigsaw-arts.co.uk/franchise/balham 

We are so proud that our local community in Balham will be represented in a national programme. This achievement highlights the talent, hard work, and dedication of our young people, and we cannot wait to see their creativity shine through.

Follow our journey on social media as we share behind-the-scenes rehearsals, student insights, and updates on our National Theatre Connections adventure.

The countdown to Connections 2026 begins!