Before signing up to StageOne classes you may like to consider these Frequently Asked Questions!

What will my child learn?

StageOne has a set curriculum for all year levels with a focus on character building, physical movement and voice. Students are taken through a variety of exercises to practice techniques and skills learned are shown through public seasons (twice annually)

Do the tutors know what they are doing?

All of our tutors are practicing professionals, constantly increasing their skills and knowledge by continuing to be involved in the industry. Prior experience working with children is a neccesity for all staff and teaching qualifications are highly encouraged.

Is my child safe?

StageOne tutors are vetted by the NZ Police and hold a current First Aid certificate (Red Cross). StageOne operates under the comprehensive Health and Safety policy of Hagley Theatre Company (Hagley College) and staff are trained to cope with emergency situations. All students are advised of our evacuation procedures and are subject to regular drills.

Our teaching and performance venue, The Open Stage has 6 emergency exits and all students are advised of their location as well as the location of fire switches and firefighting equipment.

What feedback is given on my child's progress?

We regularly hold 'open sessions' where parents are welcome to attend classes and rehearsals to see what happens. All StageOne students receive a progress report at the end of each term and an opportunity is given for parents to feedback on StageOne itself.

What performances can I expect to see?

Performances are staged twice annually and feature some of the most up-to-date, contemporary scripts available. We have strong contacts in the UK, Australia and the USA who provide links to our material and many of our scripts have never before been staged in New Zealand. Many of the scripts used have been specifically commissioned for a particular age group and StageOne has a policy in place of not repeating performance seasons.

What does it cost?

Term fees (as shown on our Timetable page) are inclusive of all tuition and materials. There are no additional costs for scripts or costuming and entry to our performance seasons is via donation only. No deposit is required for new students and all fees are only payable once an invoice has been issued. Fees can be paid via EFTPOS, credit card, internet banking, cash or cheque.

We don't insist on all students wearing StageOne merchandise but items such as caps and t-shirts are available for purchase on a term-by-term basis. The StageOne Shop will soon be online too!

Do we need an agent?

Opportunities are limited in Christchurch so be careful before you get an agent! In particular you should beware of agents who charge a sign-up fee as there have been a couple of "dodgy" agents featured recently in the media. StageOne is often approached to provide talent for various projects (including TV commercials and short films) and we thoroughly check the details before contacting parents. In most cases any fee payable goes to the StageOne actor direct.