Our weekend schools have been running for 27 years making Top Hat Stage School the longest running part time stage school in Hertfordshire. Our ethos has always been “Quality performing arts training” something we maintain in all our courses.
Top Hat's regular schools are held at weekends, during school term time. Students aged 4 and 5 years old attend a 2-hour session (Tiny Toppers) or a 3-hour session for those aged 6 years and above (Top Hatters). Children are divided into groups according to their age. This ensures that each child can be challenged and able to reach their full potential and also so that our classes are never too large. Our classes also offer equal opportunities from the experienced, the young professional or to the newcomer with no experience at all. Every child is welcome at Top Hat.
When your child joins us he or she along with yourselves will be joining something special, an affiliation and friendship that we hope will last for many years, providing a solid base on which your child will thrive. We operate an open door policy whereby all Top Hatters and parents are able to communicate their views, feelings and suggestions through the teaching staff or directly to ourselves, whereby improvements may be made.
Our teachers are carefully selected and auditioned. All are professionals within the Theatre Arts, many of whom are actively involved in West End Productions, T.V and Films. All of our teachers are CRB checked and we have First Aiders in all locations.
We also run our own sister company: "TOP TALENT AGENCY" - our children's acting agency division. Representing many students from Top Hat Stage School who are ready for this step in their career and prepared to go to castings. Being on our agency's books and attending Top Hat each week, allows our Teachers to prepare students for castings as well as the all-important audition technique. The agency is selective and our books open twice per year. Previous students on the agency have received work on T.V, Film, Theatre, Commercials and Modelling. Check out: www.toptalentagency.co.uk for more info.
Top Hat is dedicated to creating friendly, caring and inspiring classes, ensuring each child can flourish and make new friends with fellow thespians.
Occasionally we have had casting director’s visit our schools in action. We therefore encourage all students to wear the TOP HAT uniform, which can be purchased direct through the schools centre manager at reasonable prices. We find through talking to the children that most of them are proud to wear their uniform and be affiliated to TOP HAT.