Category: Spotlight On

Meet our wonderful teacher Olivia from Jigsaw Potters Bar and Barnet!

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SPOTLIGHT ON OLIVIA

Name: Olivia Dyson 

Where are you from? Little town called buntingford in Hertfordshire 

When did start working at Jigsaw? I started when I was freshly 18 back in 2019, at Jigsaw PB. 

Which Jigsaw schools do you and have you worked in? I have worked in/am working at Potters bar and Barnet.

What subject do you teach? I’m a performing arts teacher so deal with the littlest stars between ages 3-6.

Where did you train? I trained for a Higher national diploma at Hertford regional college and completed my BA at the Colchester Institute in Musical theatre (all of this training was during the dreaded covid years!!!)

What did you do before Jigsaw? Jigsaw was one of my first ever jobs, I also assisted at other dance and theatre companies one in which specialises in Inclusive dance. I also held down a cleaning job too! 

Have you had any of jobs that you loved/hated? Cleaning was defo my least favourite as we weren’t allowed to listen to music or dance around whilst cleaning like they do in the movies. I also adore my weekday job where I teach inclusive dance from over 60’s, those living with dementia and children/adults with additional needs. I hear so many wonderful stories and see the impact that dance has on people’s lives and memories. Dance, music & Theatre really creates a sense of self and community.

What’s your greatest career achievement?  Tough question because there’s been so many highlights but I think knowing someone I taught from about 4 years old is now a Westend superstar! Or If we’re going back from childhood getting to be on TV Series such as call the midwife/Eastenders/silent witness (peaked at the age of 10) 

What do you enjoy the most at Jigsaw? I love getting to watch the smallest performers find their joy and confidence in class and how their talent progresses each year, watching their performing sparks grow. 

What has been your favourite moment at Jigsaw? I think it’s got to be when I had a student who always cried at shows finally stand up in front of an audience and smash it! Not only was she proud of herself I almost cried with pride. 

What’s your favourite show? Hard question as it does change but Beauty and the beast will always be special to me as it was my first big show as a kid to be in which started my whole love for performing. (I played little chip) 

What would be the most rewarding role or show for you to do? Oo I would love to either be Dorothy in the wizard of oz or any Disney show (little mermaid/belle/anna) so I can live out my Disney princess dreams.

Who is your favourite actor/actress? Why? I love a very traditional set of performers as they are who I idealised, so either Julie Andrews or Judy Garland both beautiful and talented actresses that I grew up wanting to be like them.

Do you have a favourite song? It changes all the time but at the moment either Olivia Deans cover of you can’t hurry love or the Joseph and the tech dream coat Megamix.

If you had a film of your life who would play you? Maybe like an Anne Hathaway or if it was a musical I’d want Carrie Hope Fletcher to play me.

Anything else you think we should know about you? I still love to perform, I find having a show to work towards keeps me training and improving my skills as well as brings joy to my daily routine. I truly would feel lost if I wasn’t able to keep singing and dancing. Theatre creates a big community where everyone appreciates the time and effort that goes into a show and keeping it fun doing what we all love. Every year I try to do at least 2 shows (I had 4 on the go all at the same time last year which may have been overkill!!)

Meet our super assistant from Jigsaw Potters Bar & Barnet – Steph!

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SPOTLIGHT ON STEPH  

Name  Steph Michael

Where are you from? East Barnet

When did start working at Jigsaw? January 2026

Which Jigsaw schools do you and have you worked in? I work in Jigsaw Potters Bar and Barnet.

What subject do you teach? I am a performing arts assistant in both schools. I also work with Megan during the week, helping her with the admin side of things!

Where did you train? I trained at Masters Performing Arts College in Essex where I gained a Level 6 Diploma in Musical theatre.

What did you do before Jigsaw? Have you had any of jobs that you loved/hated? I worked in a restaurant as a waitress whilst also auditioning for performing roles. A job that I loved and still love is teaching dance. A job that I hated was working in an office as I couldn’t sit still for that many hours.

What’s your greatest career achievement?  Graduating college, getting an agent and landing a job as a performing elf at Christmas.

What do you enjoy the most at Jigsaw? I enjoy the atmosphere and connection everyone has. The team are all very welcoming and friendly and the kids are very fun to teach and get to know each week. Jigsaw feels like a safe environment for children to be themselves, make lots of friends and most of all have fun!

What has been your favourite moment at Jigsaw? Seeing the younger kids that start off upset and wanting their parent at the start of the session to thriving, joining in and loving the rest of the session. It’s really nice to see their growth. Their confidence grows and they get braver each week they come in.

What’s your favourite show? Legally Blonde

What would be the most rewarding role or show for you to do? I would love to be a dancer in Hairspray, Mamma Mia or Legally Blonde.

Who is your favourite actor/actress?  Why? Brianne Howey – I think she’s really funny and she plays each character in each show she’s in so well. She embodies the character very well and has the ability to make you believe everything she is saying or doing.

Do you have a favourite song? What you need – Tems

If you had a film of your life who would play you? Ashley Tisdale – because I think she is just as dramatic as I am!

Anything else you think we should know about you? I have a big German Shepherd dog that I love. I’m terrified of wasps. I love musical theatre and would love to be on the West End one day!

Rehearsal Buzz as Jigsaw Youth Theatre Barnet Prepares for Wycombe Swan Performance

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There’s a real sense of excitement in the rehearsal room at Jigsaw Youth Theatre Barnet right now as our young performers prepare for their upcoming partner performance at the iconic Wycombe Swan Theatre. Week by week, the energy has been building, and it’s clear that something very special is taking shape.

From the moment rehearsals begin, the room is alive with creativity. Scenes are being sharpened, choreography refined, and characters brought to life with increasing confidence. What’s been most inspiring to see is the incredible team spirit among the cast. Everyone is supporting one another, celebrating progress, and pushing themselves to give their very best.

The excitement of performing on a professional stage like the Wycombe Swan Theatre has certainly added an extra spark to rehearsals. For many of our young performers, this will be their first time performing in such a prestigious venue, and the anticipation is palpable. It’s not just about the performance itself, but about the journey, developing skills, building confidence, and experiencing the magic of theatre together.

There have been plenty of laughter-filled moments along the way too. Whether it’s perfecting a tricky scene transition, mastering a piece of choreography, or simply enjoying the camaraderie that comes with creating theatre as a team, morale in the rehearsal room is truly beaming.

As the performance approaches, the cast and creative team are continuing to refine every detail. The dedication and enthusiasm shown by these young performers is a wonderful reminder of the power of youth theatre, bringing people together, nurturing creativity, and giving young people the opportunity to shine.

We can’t wait to take to the stage at Wycombe Swan Theatre and share all the hard work that has gone into this production. Watch this space!

Jigsaw Barnet Students Shine in 9 to 5 at East Barnet School

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It’s always a proud moment when Jigsaw students take their performing arts skills beyond the classroom and onto bigger stages. Recently, Manager Megan and Youth Theatre Director Yas had the pleasure of attending a production of 9 to 5 at East Barnet School — and they were thrilled to see two familiar faces lighting up the stage.

Two Jigsaw Barnet students, Jessica and Evelyn, were performing in the show, and the team were absolutely blown away by their talent and confidence. Jessica took on one of the lead roles and delivered an incredible performance that truly shone. From the moment the curtain rose, both students displayed fantastic stage presence, energy and professionalism.

Seeing our students perform in productions like this is always incredibly special. It’s a wonderful reminder of how the confidence, creativity and performance skills developed during their time at Jigsaw can open doors to exciting opportunities beyond our classes.

What made the evening even more meaningful was knowing that both Jessica and Evelyn have grown up as part of the Jigsaw family.

Manager Megan said:

“Jessica and Evelyn have both grown up at Jigsaw, so it was incredibly special to see them performing in such a brilliant production. Watching them on stage with so much confidence and presence made us so proud, it’s amazing to see how far they’ve come.”

The whole Jigsaw Barnet team is incredibly proud of them both. Their hard work, dedication and passion for performing arts truly shone through.

A huge well done to Jessica and Evelyn, we can’t wait to see what you do next!

Jigsaw Arts Balham takes to the stage at Theatre Peckham with National Theatre Connections

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Jigsaw Arts Balham takes to the stage at Theatre Peckham

Jigsaw Performing Arts School Balham are heading to Theatre Peckham in South London. Our brilliant youth theatre students have been invited to perform as part of the prestigious National Theatre Connections 2026 festival at Theatre Peckham on Friday 27 March at 7pm.

National Theatre Connections is a nationwide programme that brings together youth theatre companies from across the UK. Each group performs a brand new play written especially for young performers by leading playwrights. For students, it offers a unique chance to experience professional theatre while developing confidence, creativity and teamwork along the way.

For our Balham cast, this opportunity is an exciting step onto a professional stage. They have been working hard in rehearsals and are looking forward to sharing their work with a live audience in a real theatre setting. We are incredibly proud of the commitment, enthusiasm and teamwork our students have shown throughout the rehearsal process.

The play: Ride or Die

Jigsaw Arts Balham will perform Ride or Die by Florence Espeut-Nickless, a fast paced and brilliantly relatable story about friendship, family and the unpredictable adventures of growing up.

The story centres around a year long debate between a group of friends who are determined to answer one important question. Is Alton Towers actually better than Thorpe Park? The score is currently tied. Alton Towers has two votes and Thorpe Park has two votes. The deciding vote belongs to the youngest member of the group, Angel. The problem is that Angel has not visited either theme park yet. As a Year 7 student, Angel has not been on the famous Theme Park Extravaganza school trip. That is about to change in two weeks’ time, when the trip is finally scheduled. The group believe the debate will finally be settled. What follows is a series of chaotic events. Angel is suspended from school, Nan goes away on an unexpected holiday and Dad attempts to take charge with mixed results. Before long the children have borrowed Nan’s car and collided with a Waitrose delivery van. The adventure quickly spirals into a truly unforgettable evening. Full of humour, energy and heart, Ride or Die captures the excitement and uncertainty of growing up while giving young performers a fantastic platform to bring bold characters to life on stage.

A fantastic opportunity for young performers

Taking part in National Theatre Connections is an incredible experience for young actors. The programme gives youth theatre companies the chance to rehearse professionally written scripts and perform them in theatres across the country.

Experiences like this help young people develop confidence, resilience and a deeper understanding of theatre. Students gain valuable experience performing in front of new audiences while working together as a company to create something they can be proud of.

Our Balham cast have been rehearsing with real dedication during their performing arts classes at Jigsaw. Watching them grow in confidence and creativity throughout the process has been a joy for the teaching team.

We would love friends, families and theatre lovers from across South London to come along and support our talented young cast as they take to the stage.

Join us at Theatre Peckham

Performance date: Friday 27 March 2026
Time: 7pm
Venue: Theatre Peckham

Tickets can be booked here:
https://www.theatrepeckham.co.uk/show/britneys-lock-ride-or-die/

Tickets are limited so we recommend booking early to avoid missing out on this exciting performance.

We cannot wait to see our Jigsaw Balham performers bring Ride or Die to life on stage.

Welcome to team Jigsaw Harpenden!

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At Jigsaw Harpenden our team is the heart of everything we do. Full of energy, creativity, and care, they bring every class to life with passion and professionalism.

Leading the way are our school managers Katie and Alexis. With years of experience between them, they make Jigsaw Arts a ‘Place to belong’ for all our wonderful students.

Our incredible teaching team are all professionally trained, DBS checked, and between them have a wealth of Performing Arts experience.  Most importantly, they’re here to help every student grow in confidence, creativity, and talent, while having lots of fun along the way!

Meet our Team

ALEXIS: Our incredible Manager. She is the smiley face that warmly welcomes you to our school each week. Alexis makes sure our school runs like a well oiled machine with fun, safety and high quality Jigsaw classes at the heart of it all! Alexis is also a Jigsaw mum to Teddy who is in our 7-18’s sessions!

GEMMA: Gemma teaches our gorgeous Jigsaw Jumpers clases for 12 months – 3 year olds and she teaches both singing and drama to our 7-18 year olds. What a talent! Gemma trained at the prestigious Mountview Theatre Arts in London and has performed as a lead vocalist on Silver Sea Cruises. 

LILY: Lily teaches our super cute 3-4 year olds Performing Arts! She loves inspiring our little ones. A fun fact about Lily is that she is exceptional at ice skating – you should see how fast she can spin on the ice!

MADDIE: Maddie is our Harry Potter obsessed 5-6’s teacher! Our students absolutely adore the fun she brings to Jigsaw each week whilst getting the very best out of each child. Maddie is an amazing commercial dancer – she trained at “Dancebox studios’!

ELLA: Ella assists with Jigsaw Jumpers and is our wonderful Main School (7-18’s) dance and drama teacher. Ella trained at ‘WIlkes Academy’. Ella loves to watch live theatre shows and concerts. She enjoys sharing her passion and knowledge for musical theatre with the next generation of talent here at Jigsaw!

GRAINNE: Grainne assists our 3-4’s classes with Lily and is also our superstar cover teacher! Grainne was born in Ireland, trained in Dublin in ‘acting and appeared in “Call the Midwife”! Our Manager Alexis also starred in this TV show too!

ALEX: Alex is our Performing Arts assistant – she gets stuck in each week encouraging our students and making sure our little ones have a helping hand in their sessions. Alex is in sixth form at KWS and enjoys all aspects of the Performing Arts!

KATIE: Katie is our school owner and mum to Luther (5), Daphne (4) and Lyra (18 months) and all three attend Jigsaw Harpenden every Sunday. They absolutely love their sessions and Katie finds so much joy in seeing her children grow in confidence from term to term with their amazing teachers Lily, Maddie and Gemma! 

We love seeing our students thrive at Jigsaw and we look forward to welcoming you if you’d like to trial Jigsaw and give it all a go! CLICK HERE to check our trial availability for Summer 2026!

Jigsaw Potters Bar student Noah Ronkainen Phillips is in Kinky Boots in the West End!

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From Jigsaw Potters Bar to the West End! We are thrilled to share that Noah has landed the role of Young Lola in Kinky Boots the Musical. One of our very own students is officially making his West End debut in Kinky Boots the Musical and we are bursting with pride.  

 

From Noah’s first class at Jigsaw Potters Bar 7 years ago, it was clear he has something very special. Week after week he showed commitment, energy, passion and willingness to push himself in every class. Megan and the team have watched Noah grow more confident each week and grow not only as a performer but as a determined and creative young individual. 

 

To see one of our students stepping on a West End stage is incredibly inspiring for our entire school community. It is an amazing example showing dreams really can become reality with dedication, hard work and the right support. Years of training, resilience and growth has led to this incredible moment and all of the team are so proud. 

 

Everyone here at Jigsaw Potters Bar is cheering Noah on. A massive CONGRATULATIONS! We can’t wait to see you shining on that stage!

 

Get in touch with School Manager Megan to learn more!

Email: pottersbar@jigsaw-arts.co.uk.

Call: 0208 108 0374.

WhatsApp: 0208 108 0374.

Find us on Instagram: @jigsawpottersbar and Facebook: Jigsawpottersbar

A Fantastic Start for Our New Jigsaw Arts Youth Theatre in Mitcham & Morden!

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We’re also excited to be launching a brilliant new scheme designed especially for our eldest students, giving them even more opportunities to develop their skills, grow in confidence, and take on new creative challenges.

There are lots of exciting plans already in the works. We’re currently finalising the details for a West End theatre trip after Easter, and we’ll also be heading to see Legally Blonde at the New Wimbledon Theatre in October — a fantastic chance for our students to be inspired by live professional performance.

On top of that, there will be new performance opportunities coming up for the group, giving everyone the chance to showcase their hard work and talent.

While this may be a brand-new class, collectively this group has been attending Jigsaw for over 85 years! They are bringing all of that experience, dedication and passion into the sessions, helping to create a wonderfully supportive and ambitious environment.

A very special shout out goes to Emily and Laine, who were with us at Jigsaw Mitcham when we first opened our doors over ten years ago — and they were only in the 5–6s at the time! It’s amazing to see them now as part of our Youth Theatre, continuing their journey with Jigsaw.

We can’t wait to see what the rest of the term brings for this fantastic group. Watch this space — there’s so much more to come!

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

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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!

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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!