Afterschool Program
CATS runs afterschool acting, theatre and screen clubs inside your school, led by actors and specialists who work in the industry. A 30-week programme that builds confidence, craft and a finished piece every child takes home.
What we do
Voice, projection, character work, movement and improvisation — the foundations, taught playfully.
For older years: acting to camera, hitting a mark, and making their own short film from script to screen.
Anxiety-informed coaching that helps quieter children find their voice — not just the loudest ones.
Directors, camera operators, make-up artists and photographers join to give children the real thing.
Why CATS
Actors and specialists who work in the industry week to week, not hobbyists.
Specialised study in anxiety and confidence-based work — every child is met where they are.
A background in dance woven through the programme to incorporate movement and encourage freedom.
Practical craft from people who've done the auditions, the takes and the callbacks.
Individual coaching inside group sessions that build relationships and connections.
Video clips of rehearsals, performances and solo practice shared with families.
Targets & skills
Available on request
Term-time lesson plan
A full school-year programme, extended to include voice and accent coaching, spoken word and interview work.
The foundations of acting — projection, tones, characters and emotion.
Using the space and understanding the body as a storytelling tool.
Vocal technique explored playfully through poems.
Presenting with confidence — in themselves and in front of an audience.
Playful invention and having fun with acting.
Devising an original piece together as a group.
First taste of text — bringing words on a page to life.
Teamwork, listening and building on-stage relationships.
Working with a camera and learning to take direction.
Views from both sides of the table — asking and answering.
Industry-professional led — the magic behind the character.
A friendly, low-pressure introduction to the audition room.
A final performance of their work and specialities to take home.
Year groups
Years 1 – 6
Programme
30 weekly sessions
When
After school, on-site
Equipment
Cameras & kit provided
Safeguarding
DBS-checked leaders
Finale
Showcase & film to take home
The team
All session leaders are DBS-checked and insured, and specialists join for the sessions in their field.
Founder & Lead Tutor
An actor with eight years of professional television experience, Caitlin has moved between camera sets, rehearsal rooms and drama studios her whole career. Alongside acting she trained in dance, which shapes the movement-led, physically confident way she teaches. She founded CATS to bring real industry practice into primary schools — giving children the tools of a working actor inside a supportive, confidence-first environment where every child is seen.
Director
Leads the director sessions, helping pupils shape and stage their own pieces.
Director
Works with older year groups on scene direction, camera work and finished short films.
Make-up Artist
Industry make-up artist running the costume, face paint and SFX sessions — bruises, cuts and prosthetics.
Photographer
Photographer on board for showcase coverage and optional pupil headshots.
Parent updates
We share progress updates and a chance to view the work: short video clips of rehearsals, performances and solo practice sessions, plus a written note on how each child is developing.
Permissions first. No footage of any child is taken or used without written parental permission, collected through the school before the programme starts.
Optional extra: professional headshots for pupils, for a fee, with our photographer on board.
Week 4 — Movement
Group
Week 12 — Devised piece
Solo
Week 22 — On-camera take
Screen
FAQ
Tell us your year groups and preferred start term. We'll come back within two working days with a free 15-minute call and an optional taster session.