“We are so proud of our whole Razzamataz community and how the children have responded to the situation," says Denise Hutton-Gosney, MD and founder of Razzamataz
We may be living in strange times but that hasn’t stopped a franchise theatre school network of students, families and staff from reaching out and doing some wonderful things to help their communities and the heroes in the NHS and keyworker roles.
There are almost 50 Razzamataz Theatre Schools across the UK and Ireland and each school plays an important part in their communities, with the children using their performing arts skills to bring cheer and help their neighbours through the lockdown.
“We are so proud of our whole Razzamataz community and how the children have responded to the situation they find themselves in,” says Denise Hutton-Gosney, MD and founder of Razzamataz. “As a network, we have always worked hard to raise money for local charities and the children are used to using their talents to do this but it has been absolutely heart-warming to see how they have used their own initiative to bring smiles to people’s faces.”
Millie, an Inters student from Razzamataz York wrote a song which was performed by York District Hospital’s Maternity Unity. Millie wrote a fighting COVID-19 song, which was performed by midwife-mum Nicky Wasawo and her amazing co-workers. Not only are they fighting hard, saving lives and delivering babies, but they also made time to create a wonderful uplifting video.
Over the Easter break, many students, their families, principals and staff did their bit to spread some cheer. Students Mia and Harry from Razzamataz Sutton Coldfield spent their time in lockdown making little Easter gifts for their local care home, principal Jessica from Razzamataz Brentwood and Hornchurch arranged for Easter eggs to be sent to the local doctor’s surgery from the whole team to say thank you and cheering up the community, Razzamataz Durham student Logan and family produced a fun Easter egg trail for the children in their village.
Using their performing arts skills, Grace from Razzamataz Medway Seniors has been singing for the elderly outside so they can watch from their balcony, Luke from the Inters class at Maidstone has been singing for his neighbours on his driveway and Razamataz Maidstone students and team also put together a song, You Wil Be Found, to thank our NHS and keyworkers and to bring the Razz Family together.
To recognise all the lovely things that the students are doing, Razzamataz Medway has established a Razz Acts of Kindness Week, where students can win a prize for their amazing efforts. Cerys from Inters has been volunteering at Rochester Hygiene Bank and Gracie from Minis has shown tremendous empathy by baking scones and chocolate cakes to give to her 89-year-old neighbour who recently lost his wife.
Also, going above and beyond are students at Razzamataz Tonbridge. Senior student, Lola Bromley, has been posting Razz Rainbows through all the front doors in her road and has taken it upon herself to deliver a weekly basket of vegetables from her family’s allotment to local vulnerable elderly residents. Junior student Callum Coleman has also been posting Razz Rainbows through every single door in his area and has also started a dog walking rota for his elderly neighbours.
Principals are also doing their bit to help in their communities. Four principals have taken on keyworker roles, Michael French, principal Razzamataz Barnet,
Georgia Davies, principal Razzamataz Bristol North, Caroline Kavanagh, principal Razzamataz Horsham and Michaela Crumpton, principal Bristol South.
Marc Kelly, principal of Razzamataz Hackney will be taking on a challenge to raise money for the NHS and the business’ own charity Future Fund. Marc started his Razzamataz journey as a teacher in the Carlisle school before having his own school in Hackney so he will be travelling the distance of 467 km over 20 days with the help of his parents. Marc will be running, his father will be cycling and his mother will be walking with the aim of doing a combined 22.5 km per day.
To celebrate the community of keyworkers, every week students are asked to ‘Nominate a Hero’ via the Razzamataz social media channels. There will be different gifts every week, from a champagne high tea, massage, pedicure to spa day and beer keg. It’s the business’ small way of saying a heartfelt thank you for everything they are doing.
“Like every business, we wanted to show our gratitude to our keyworkers and NHS staff and this is just one small way in which we can do our bit,” adds Denise. “The resilience that our children and teams have shown in this difficult time has been incredible and we could not be prouder of them all.”
With more than 20 years’ experience in the theatre school industry, Razzamataz was quick to respond to school closures and has rolled out Razzamataz Online classes to offer continuity in training for students and a lifeline to families. “I don’t think any of us realised just how isolated we had become and how much we truly missed our Saturday sessions until we were able to join in today,” one of the many parent testimonials.
For people looking to open up their own theatre school or just find out more about the franchise industry in general, Razzamataz is running a series of online Discovery Dens where you can meet the team and some of the franchisees and find out about the benefits of running a flexible business, which provides so much happiness to so many people in your community.