A free drama class will use common experiences to unite the generations in Harrogate this month.

The Cuttings extra care apartments in Starbeck will welcome pre-school children to take part in the new drama class run by a familiar face around the Harrogate district.

Ami Stott is running the event, on February 13, through her new venture, Stardust Drama. The free class will see young and old unite to explore the weather theme, with storytelling and music to guide them through.

Ami said:

“I had already formed a link with The Cuttings before covid and it was amazing to take classes there.

“Then covid struck and that stopped everything. They weren’t able to have groups coming in for a long time, but they’ve been wanting me to come back for a while.

“It’s brilliant for the residents. It’s new faces, it helps combat loneliness and it just brings a bit of joy to their days.

“For the children, there’s no fear at that age. As children grow up, they can become nervous of elderly people and it’s if you get these activities form a younger age, hopefully you can avoid that.”

Taking “great British weather” as a universal theme, the session will use drama and imaginative play to take participants from a trip to the beach to a storm and into snow.

Familiar songs and stories will help residents to recall trips to the seaside and they will be able to join in the action from the comfort of their own seats.

Ami said she hopes the event, which has already sold out, will become a monthly fixture in the calendar at The Cuttings.

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Meanwhile, Ami is also launching weekly drama classes for children aged between two and four.

Taking place at Oatlands Community Centre on Wednesdays and Elim Pentecostal Church on Park View on Thursdays, they aim to encourage children to develop a range of abilities, including theatre skills, confidence and making friends.

Ami, who trained in drama and arts education at Bretton Hall, was previously head of drama at Heckmondwike Grammar School for seven years, before leaving teaching to raise her children.

She has since led classes for other baby and children’s groups around the Harrogate district. Stardust Drama is her first solo venture, and classes begin at the start of March.

Ami said:

“I am so excited, I just want to get started now. The themes of each week will link to national events, so we’ll be starting with one on World Book Day and exploring We’re Going On a Bear Hunt.

“We’ve got a mascot, TaDa the Star, and I’m absolutely loving creating all the lesson plans and getting ready to deliver the classes in the way that benefits the children the most. That’s where my passion lies.”

Parents across the Harrogate district are being offered a helping hand to keep children of all ages entertained. 

From pre-school groups sending out video activities to school children gaining skills from new sources, generous local professionals are offering free support to parents struggling to fill the days with something educational. 

Photographer Charlotte Hedgecock is usually at her busiest in the spring and summer months, capturing people’s wedding days on camera. During the week, her work is mostly commercial, including photographing client homes for a kitchen company. Under social distancing rules, however, her diary is completely empty. 

“Two weeks ago was meant to be the first wedding of the season,” she said. “I’ve had five rescheduled so far, some for later this year and some for next year. 

“I’ve still got four booked in for May, then four or five in June, and the same in July and August. I don’t know what will happen with those yet.” 

Charlotte Hedgecock, right, usually spends her summers capturing wedding days on camera

Rather than worrying, Charlotte decided to fill her time by setting up a series of free online classes for budding young photographers. Each week, she will release one lesson via her Facebook page, challenging students to improve their skills in different ways. The whole course will last for ten weeks. She said: 

“I thought this could help people if they’ve got children at home. Everybody’s got a camera phone. It’s good to get them thinking about something more creative and learning about the technology.” 

Music online

For Karen Allen, who has run Singamajigs classes for pre-schoolers for the last 15 years, the move online didn’t come naturally. 

Used to running her music classes in village halls or at the Kidzplay soft play centre in Harrogate, the idea of trying to recreate something professional for people to join at home was at first daunting. 

Singamajigs classes usually involve a lot of interaction for children and parents

“I wasn’t going to do anything,” she said. “You see all these people on the television who are so good at it – how do I compete with that? 

“Then I was talking to one of my mums and she said, ‘we just want you, because my daughter knows you’.”

Karen has opted not to charge for the classes she has run so far, but may introduce a pay-as-you-feel system in the coming weeks. She recognises that many people are in financial difficulty, but still need to have access to activities for their children. Her priority is keeping a sense of community, even from a distance. 

“Parents are connecting with me because they just want to know it’s OK,” she said. “Some are really struggling and you can hear it.  

“For me, as long as we survive financially, it’s not about charging, it’s about keeping the community I’ve had for many years together. It’s about staying safe and staying connected with the families I know.”