The Show Must Go On: Anna Fiorentini Theatre & Film School to return to the Hackney Empire with 21st Anniversary Showcase and announce new bursary opportunities 

• After being postponed due to the pandemic, Anna Fiorentini Theatre & Film School’s students return to the Hackney Empire to celebrate their anniversary in March 2022
• Full and part-funded places are available for the Anna Fiorentini Theatre & Film School

To mark its 21st Anniversary, the Anna Fiorentini Theatre & Film School is thrilled to announce an exciting lineup of song and dance numbers to be performed by students aged between 7 – 18 years old. The spectacular Showcase will take place at 7.30pm on 19th March 2022 at the Hackney Empire. 

Special guests include alumni Tahj Miles, who is currently starring in BBC’s Death in Paradise, alumni Jessica Agombar, who is a BMI award-winning songwriter who has written for BTS and the Jonas Brothers, and esteemed actor Joseph Marcell who starred as the Butler in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and who is a long time supporter of the school. Tickets are available to purchase now.

Previously postponed due to lockdown restrictions, the students of the Hackney and Docklands branches of the Anna Fiorentini Theatre & Film School will be able to welcome back audiences at last. Under the direction of top industry professionals, students have been working towards this performance in their weekly classes. 

Anna Fiorentini, founder and principal of the Theatre & Film School said - 

“Growing up in Hackney, I saw first-hand the lack of inclusive, affordable and high-quality performing arts classes within my community. Wanting to make a difference, I set up the Theatre & Film School in Hackney in 2001 as a Prince’s Trust Business. From humble beginnings, we grew a solid reputation within the industry and opened more branches across London. But as we prepared to celebrate our 20th Anniversary, the pandemic threatened to overhaul all our achievements and close the school. 

Thankfully due to a disruption loan, several fundraising efforts, and some grants, including the Arts Council Recovery grant, we were able to continue to provide our weekly classes. The Showcase is a chance to celebrate, and we are beyond excited to be able to finally put on this incredible show. The students have been working so hard and we hope the community will once again get behind our students and support their local children and young people.”

Stage and the City, the adult branch of the School, will also be participating in the Showcase by hosting a Charity Lip Sync Dance number. A group of adults, some with little to no experience in performing arts, have come together to learn a dance routine under the guidance of a top professional. This is a sponsored dance that will be performed in the Showcase to raise money for children with or affected by cancer to attend the School. 

The Covid-19 crisis created an unprecedented challenge and hit the Anna Fiorentini Performing Arts School hard. However, thanks to a disruption loan, some individual donations and a few grants, including an Arts Council Recovery grant, the Coronavirus Support Fund (distributed by The National Lottery) the Social Enterprise Support Fund and a grant from South Hackney Parochial Charities, the School managed to survive and can continue to provide opportunities for children and young people to increase in confidence and self-esteem through the performing arts. 

And, despite an exceptionally difficult year, the Fiorentini Foundation in partnership with the award-winning Anna Fiorentini Theatre & Film School has managed to secure some funding for bursaries. Thanks to various Trusts and Foundations they are able to offer some full and part-funded places in 2022 to students that wish to attend the schools but may struggle with fees, or those with long term health issues or learning/physical disabilities. The School believes that professional performing arts training needs to be accessible to all children and young people who wish to build on their confidence, self-esteem and life skills or pursue a career in the arts industry. Their bursary scheme aims to provide the vital support necessary for students to overcome any financial or life barriers they face to access the schools. For more information and to apply for the Bursary Scheme, visit:

www.afperformingarts.com/theatre-and-film-school/about/scholarships

Tickets are now available to purchase through the Hackney Empire website: 

https://hackneyempire.co.uk/whats-on/anna-fiorentini-theatre-school/