Upstagers Academy showcase performance
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Upstagers Academy

Born to perform!

Upstagers has been providing a creative outlet for youngsters in the Ilkley area since 1987. Our Upstagers Academy has a great team of teachers providing fulfilling, fun and beneficial classes in Performance, Singing and Acting to our next generation of Upstagers stars. Our students get the most out of their experience by building confidence and developing communication skills, whilst also having a lot of fun and meeting new friends. We're proud that many Upstagers alumni have created successful careers in theatre and other forms of performance.

Classes are available for six-year-olds up to young adults and take place at the Upstagers Barn opposite Ilkley railway station.

Watch the video below to see highlights of a typical Wednesday performance class!
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7x award-winning pantomime!

What a night for Upstagers at the Wharfedale Festival of Theatre Awards 2025!

Out of fifteen nominations, we were thrilled to bring home an incredible nine awards – a true celebration of the amazing talent and dedication within our Upstagers family.

The evening was filled with joy, camaraderie, and admiration for the outstanding local amateur theatre community. A huge thank you to Yeadon Town Hall for hosting such a fantastic event.

Here’s what we were proud to win:
🏆 Best Pantomime – Dick Whittington
🏆 Best Director(s) – John Clark, Andrew Hewitt & Joey Wilby
🏆 Best Choreographer(s) – Lily Normington & Bea Whiteley
🏆 Best Stage Presentation – Dick Whittington
🏆 Best Programme – Andrew Tarbett
🏆 Best Villain – Sophie Holdsworth
🏆 Best Dame – Mike Riley
🏆 Best Principal Girl – Olivia Leather
🏆 Best Comedy Support – James Hepworth

We are immensely grateful to everyone who contributed to making Dick Whittington such a triumph. The production was a true team effort, brought to life by the passion, creativity, and hard work of the entire Upstagers team. ❤️

Special thanks to Paul Clarke for capturing the evening in photographs.

You can find out more about the Wharfedale Festival of Theatre at wharfedaletheatrefest.org.uk.
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