A new ‘youth music theatre company’ professionally run by teachers, based in Tenby and Saundersfoot, is due to start after the summer

Mrs. Samantha Hughes has relinquished her management post as head of expressive arts at Greenhill School to carry out her long-held vision of becoming managing director of ‘Escape’ which will feature the team of exceptionally experienced staff, who brought the highly acclaimed ‘School of Rock’ to the school’s students last year.

Miss Jo Davies will be theatre director and Mrs. Sarah Rapi company assistant.

Joining on a more part-time basis will be Mrs. Miranda Morgan as voice coach; Mr. Tom Bromby as band leader and Mrs. Cath Taylor as seamstress.

The company have been proudly sponsored by ‘Twisted Tangles’ who will be providing the hair and make-up for future shows.

Mrs. Hughes was a former pupil of Greenhill School, at a time where she remembers funding for the Arts seeming almost unlimited!

Without the free peripatetic music tuition and enthusiasm from her teachers, she feels she may never have been able to realise her own dreams of becoming a professional educator of the arts.

“Getting involved with performing arts as a child provides so much more than just a hobby,” she said.

The skills learned are endless and they will stick with you for life. Music became more than just a passion for me: it framed my identity.

“All I want for now is to be able to provide the next generation with similar opportunities to those I was fortunate enough to grow up with in Pembrokeshire.”

“With the current level of financial constraints in schools, the creative aspects of education have become more limited.

“Escape - Youth Music Theatre Company aims to support the development of necessary life skills such as communication; concentration; commitment and working with others through acting; singing and dancing.

“Perhaps above all, the sessions aim to provide a fun and enjoyable way to build young people’s confidence for their future pathways,” she continued.

Sessions will commence this September in the Regency Hall, Saundersfoot on Tuesdays and the De Valence Pavilion, Tenby on Wednesdays.

Free taster sessions are offered to young people of all abilities and consequent membership is open for anyone in academic years 1-13 (ages 5-18).

The first public performances will be this December and a full company musical will be put on in the De Valence Pavilion in the Summer of 2020.

The ‘Escape Youth Music Theatre Company’ website is currently under construction, but more details can be found either on Facebook, or by contacting [email protected]