PLAY ON! Theatre School is based in the village of Ilmington, Shipston-on-Stour, run by experienced drama & theatre practitioner Yve Harford-Brown.
We provide group sessions and individual acting tuition for all ages. Contact us to discover which class is best suited for your age/ability level. Sessions are designed to build confidence, performance skills & gain LAMDA acting qualifications!
Yve Harford-Brown, Acting Coach, LAMDA Teacher,
(MA Drama & Theatre , BA Education, LAMDA Grade 8, with Distinction)
Yve was awarded her Master of Arts in Drama & Theatre with Distinction, at University of Warwick, in 2006. After graduating, Yve worked for Stagecoach Performing Arts as an Acting Coach. She then launched PLAY ON! Theatre School, providing performing arts classes for 4-18 year olds throughout Warwickshire, for over 19 years. Yve has been specialising in LAMDA tuition for over 7 years. So far Yve has prepared 100's of pupils for their LAMDA exams, all of whom have been awarded Merit or Distinctions, with 80% of her pupils achieving Distinction Level.
LAMDA is a world-leading drama school and examinations provider, training and inspiring exceptional artists for over 160 years. LAMDA offers a wide range of exams, whether you love performing, or you are looking to build your confidence communicating . The exams are designed to be fun and impactful. Preparing for LAMDA exams builds creativity and public speaking skills, enabling you to follow performing arts pathways, and develop skills for life. When you pass a LAMDA exam you'll gain an internationally recognised qualification. Earn UCAS points for university , or use your qualification for the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
'I used to do Play On when I was 5-7. I owe you so much. Theatre has been the constant in my life, and that is because my passion was sparked in Play On Theatre. It has done so much for me. Theatre has brought light to my life: its given me a future, a passion and hope. Thank you so much.'
Raye, aged 16
'Play On has helped me to develop & flourish as a young performer. I first came to Yve when I was 6 years old where my passion for acting was ignited during an after-school club run by Play On. Yve created an environment where we were able to explore our creativity and build our confidence through different Drama related games along with being involved in annual performances of productions such as Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, and even a Harry Potter themed short film.
Through my time at Play On I always felt like my voice was heard & valued.
Yve has always supported me to experiment with my own ideas and has given guidance and advice focused on the technical as well as creative aspects of performance.
Yve Supported & Tutored me through LAMDA Exam Grades 5- 8 in Performance which I gained with Distinction. Through Play On I have developed the skills and confidence to go on to do other types of performance e.g. 2 Short IMDB credited films; & a recent 6 show, "off west-end", performance in a local theatre'
Hine, aged 17, (Grade 8 LAMDA, Distinction.)
'I have been tutored by Yve, individually and in groups since 2012 and she is an incredibly encouraging, understanding and a wonderful person to work with. Yve has provided me with so many opportunities over the years and has stood by my side whether it was progressing through grades in LAMDA exams or helping me achieve my next step in education/career. I have experienced, first hand, how she caters to all abilities and ages, and has been a centre for children and young people to express, learn and grow under her tuition. Whether you would like to have acting as a side hobby, or want it to express into a career, having someone as supporting as Yve who can bring out the joy and discovery through this art, in a tough industry especially, is something you should consider.'
Courtney, aged 18, (Grade 8 LAMDA, Distinction.)
'I first came across Play On theatre when I was in year 4. Yve tutored me through all but one of my exams and clearly by my results has been an exceptional teacher. When learning with her she always makes sure I get a say in what I am performing and makes sure I understand the scripts and contexts of them. As a young actor I really appreciate that- sometimes the language is hard to understand. I never feel afraid to ask questions and tell her that I don’t understand how to do something, as I know that she will always demonstrate how to do it and we will keep working on it with a positive outlook. After knowing her, learning from this theatre group and taking part in group and one to one sessions over 6 years, I can confidently say that this is an atmosphere where I have learnt how to be professional with my acting and have improved so much from where I was years ago.'
Jess, aged 15, (Grade 7 LAMDA, Distinction.)
'We have had a weekly after school theatre club led by 'PLAY ON!' for over 6 years. The club has always been popular and is very well led and managed. At the end of each term the children put on a performance. This gives them the chance to put into practice many of the skills they have developed during the term, and it is really nice for parents to be able to see what they have achieved. The feedback from pupils and parents has been consistently excellent, and a number of pupils have attended the club during their time at the school.'
Dunchurch Junior School, Warwickshire
'Everyone very much enjoyed the presentation by Drama Club. They were very attentive and many were enthusiastic about wanting to join in the future. It was lovely to see what the children have been doing. They have learnt a lot in a short time. I was amazed at the confidence which these children had gained.
Children watching behaved well. They really enjoyed the performance. Drama Club day clashes with other after school activities and so I don't think as many children who would like to are able to attend. It is excellent!'
Kilsby Primary School, Northamptonshire
