AUDITIONS | FREE TASTERS | RESUME | ALUMNI | WATCH WEK | TESTIMONIALS | FAQ | MEET TROUPE
AUDITIONS | FREE TASTERS | RESUME | ALUMNI | WATCH WEK | TESTIMONIALS | FAQ | MEET TROUPE
FAQ
Questions or queries not answered here? Call the WEK Office on 020 8123 2025 or email frontdesk@westendkids.co.uk
Attending Rehearsals
WHERE ARE WEEKLY REHEARSALS ?
Rehearsals for the West End Kids Troupe and WEK: Training Companies take place in Central London. EC3 and all take place on Saturday’s – not interfering with school / college.
I DON’T LIVE IN LONDON, CAN I STILL AUDITION / ATTEND?
Members of the West End Kids Troupe and WEK: Training Company come from throughout the UK. We have people Huddersfield, Newcastle, Birmingham, Swansea, Northern Ireland, London, Margate, Brighton, Dover, Devon and Deal! Those who attend from far and wide are in pursuit of tough, challenging, elite performing arts training which is going to bring about solid and noticeable improvements in their child’s performing abilities. Typically, they're not able to find this within their area.
Members of the WEK: Summer Intensive travel from all over the world.
DOES WEK INTERFERE WITH SCHOOL?
No. West End Kids really does encourage strong academic achievement. The business has changed a lot since the days where it was advisable to put all of your eggs into one basket and focus on performing. Today, that is NOT good advice. The chances of securing regular full-time employment are slim, and you must have a good academic back-up. Occasionally we may request a few hours off school for a big performance, but this is the exception rather than the rule.
WHAT ARE THE REHEARSAL HOURS?
Main West End Kids Performance Troupe:
Saturday: 9.15am – 6pm, Central London
WEK: Training Companies:
Saturday: 10.30am – 2pm or 2.30pm – 6pm (depending on group)
ARE THE OTHERS AT THE SAME STANDARD AS ME?
Yes. Within WEK: Training, you will be placed in a WEK: Training colour which focuses on strengthening your specific areas of weakness.
All members of both WEK and WEK: Training will share your level of dedication and seriousness. We are one of the only part-time training organisation to group by ability and not by age, demonstrating that the West End Kids approach is one based primarily on results and improvement.
Live Auditions
WHAT TO WEAR?
All you will need to wear at your audition is something comfortable to move in. Jazz shoes are preferred but trainers are acceptable, as are bare feet.
WILL I SING / DANCE ON MY OWN?
At your audition there is nothing to prepare in advance so you will be taught some choreography and also 16 bars (or thereabouts) of a song. You will learn all of the material in a group. You will sing a few lines of the song for the Musical Director and you will only dance in groups. If you are invited to attend a recall audition then you might be expected to both sing & dance on your own.
DO I NEED TO PREPARE ANYTHING?
No, there is no need to prepare any singing or dancing. We teach everything to you on the day so that everybody is on a level playing field within the audition.
DO I HAVE TO AUDITION FOR THE SUMMER INTENSIVE?
Yes, you will need to attend an audition in order to gain a place within the WEK: Summer Intensive. Once you have attended in audition, we will assess your suitability for a place on the course and then offer a place on the forthcoming year if appropriate.
WHAT IS THE AGE RANGE?
You can audition for West End Kids between the ages of 9 and 18 years of age. We may use our discretion – please register and if there is a problem with your age, we will contact you. Once you are a member of West End Kids you are able to stay until you are aged 21 yrs.
Fees & Finance (All Projects)
ARE SCHOLARSHIPS OR ASSISTED PLACES AVAILABLE?
Yes, West End Kids does offer scholarships, and these are at the sole discretion of the West End Kids creative team. For those who do not obtain scholarships, a range of flexible payment plans and options are available from the WEK office, and in most cases we can work with you to help configure a payment plan. For further information contact frontdesk@westendkids.co.uk
IF SUCCESSFUL, HOW MUCH ARE FEES?
The fees for West End Kids projects are as follows:
WEK: TRAINING PROGRAM:
Fees for the WEK: Training Company are just £31.83 per week. This fee covers 11x 3.5 hour weekly rehearsals plus a full day performance at an end of term showcase in a Central London theatre.
WEST END KIDS PERFORMANCE TROUPE:
Fees for the main West End Kids performance troupe are £38.38 per week. This fee covers 13 x 9 hour weekly rehearsals. It’s important to understand that this INCLUDES the costs of any additional rehearsals and ALL performances, so the true cost is actually much lower and closer to £25 per week.
The troupe maintains a busy (unpaid) performance schedule, including the end of term WEK Showcases.
WEST END KIDS SUMMER INTENSIVE:
The WEK: Summer Intensive represents outstanding value for money! Fees are £649 for the course and are fully inclusive of production, course, bed and boarding costs, and also include any additional activities. Instalment plans are available from the WEK office upon request and a payment schedule is outlined to you if you are successful.
There are no hidden extras, the price you see if the price you pay – inclusive of everything. Flexible payment plans are available upon request.
About West End Kids
WHAT IS THE WEST END KIDS SONG & DANCE TROUPE?
West End Kids is an elite song & dance troupe which exists to provide “on the job” Musical Theatre training, and to develop exceptionally talented singers and dancers from throughout the UK with a view to gaining places on full-time performing arts courses and who are considering professional careers.
Training is delivered through hands-on (on the job) performance experience and preparation for performance – West End Kids is, without doubt – the toughest, most challenging, most intensive and most rewarding part-time musical theatre training available.
The West End Kids Song & Dance troupe perform for tens of thousands of people each and every year at some of the UKs largest and most prestigious events and state occasions including appearances at West End LIVE, the o2, Camp Bestival, Royal Albert Hall, Westminster Palace and a great many others.
Each season, members of the West End Kids Company will cover;
SINGING
★ Vocal Repertoire
★ Vocal Technique
★ Vocal Harmony
★ Recording
★ Acting through song
★ Ear Training
★ Combing vocal & choreography
DANCE
★ Routine memory
★ Precision dance
★ Stamina & Fitness
★ Flexibility
★ Partner work
★ Prop work
★ Tap
★ Jazz
★ Commercial
★ Lyrical
★ Ballroom
★ Hip Hop
★ Lindy Hop
★ Broadway
★ Musical Staging
PERFORMANCE PSYCHOLOGY
★ Audition technique
★ Audition experience
★ Soloist opportunities
★ Practice
★ College audition preparation
★ Performance psychology
★ Performance experience
★ Professional development
WHAT ARE THE TERM / SEASON DATES?
For WEK: Training, there are 12 weeks in each term / season which runs across a 13 week period, with 1 week off – this is usually at half term, however – because WEK: Training is made up of performers from throughout the whole of the UK, sometimes term dates are not uniform, this is unusual however.
If you are in the West End Kids Song & Dance Troupe then any break is determined by the performance schedule.
At the time of being successfully invited to any West End Kids Company, you will be provided with a calendar of dates for the year
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WEK & OTHER PLACES?
The West End Kids model of training is completely unique within the UK. There is, quite simply – nothing like it in terms of its model. West End Kids provides “on the job” training – with the West End Kids Song & Dance Troupe performing for tens of thousands of people each and every year at major events, festivals and state occasions.
Based on the US model of training young musical theatre models, the main difference is that we are, without a doubt – the toughest and most challenging. We are entirely results orientated, focused on delivering improvements and results in all of our young performers.
If you love / need to be challenged (and we mean REALLY challenged!), then WEK is for you. We insist on a great deal of practice outside of rehearsals – you could say that WEK is full-time training within a part-time framework.
Designed for young performers who are highly capable, yet who are frustrated in their local area, West End Kids is mainly made up of the best young singers and dancers from the Home Counties and beyond.
WHERE DO WEST END KIDS GO ON TO TRAIN?
– Arts Educational
– Bird College
– Birmingham School of Acting
– Bodywork Dance Studio
– Central School of Speech & Drama
– Guildford School of Acting
– Italia Conti Academy Of Theatre Arts
– Laine Theatre Arts LAMDA
– Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts
– London School Of Musical Theatre
– London Studio Centre
– Midlands Academy Of Dance & Drama
– Millennium Dance
– Mountview Academy Of Theatre Arts
– Perfomers College
– Royal Academy Of Music
– Stella Mann
– Tiffany’s
– Wilkes Academy
– Urdang Academy
– + Many hundreds of others around the UK
WHAT ARE YOUR VALUES?
Talent. Dedication. Athleticism. Training. Teamwork. Fun. Discipline. Goals. Aspiration. Competition. Opportunity. Performance Experience.
It is the strong emphasis on mental strength, work-ethic and dedication, alongside the highest of performing standards that makes West End Kids the most elite, challenging training available for young performers
ARE ALL STAFF CRB CHECKED?
Yes, all West End Kids staff are enhanced CRB checked and/or have full chaperone licenses.
WILL I GAIN PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE?
The members of the West End Kids song & dance troupe are arguably among the most experienced young performers in the country, performing for tens of thousands of people each and every year at venues, events, occasions and engagements that many professional performers could only dream of.
In the summer of 2014, the WEKs are estimated to perform for over 100,000 in one season alone!
Members of the WEK: Training Company will also perform 3 times a year in a Central London theatre, alongside the West End Kids at the “WEK Revue”. WEK: Training also appear with the West End Kids at selected events.
WHAT IS THE AGE RANGE?
You may audition for West End Kids at the age of 9 and stay with West End Kids until the age of 21.
WHERE DO WEST END KIDS PERFORM?
West End Kids has the longest CV of any Youth Theatre Company in the UK and West End Kids, despite their young age, become incredibly experienced. For a full list of credits, please see https://www.westendkids.co.uk/about-west-end-kids
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