A renowned Birmingham theatre school has taken a bold step to bridge the gap between training and the professional stage by establishing its own in-house company for young performers.
From Training Ground to Professional Launchpad
The Star Project, which runs four musical theatre schools across Worcestershire in Barnt Green, Cofton Hackett, Droitwich and Worcester, has officially launched The Star Project Young Company. Founded in 2006, the school has built a reputation for nurturing confidence and creativity in children aged four to 18. Its team, all with professional industry backgrounds, now aims to provide a direct pathway into the theatre world for its most dedicated students.
The new company is a not-for-profit venture comprising 14 talented performers, aged between 11 and 17, who successfully won their places through competitive auditions. This elite programme offers advanced training specifically designed to equip students for professional careers. Crucially, the initiative ensures that all income is reinvested into training and productions, while the young artists themselves will be fairly paid for any professional work they undertake.
Meet the First Cohort of Young Professionals
The inaugural company members are: Ava (13), Ella (17), Macie (11), Millie C (13), Sienna (13), Florence (13), Isabella (known as Bella, 13), Maisie (15), Oliver (15), Ava (15), Millie S (12), Eva (15), Elsie (12) and Brooke (12). For many, this is the culmination of years of training with The Star Project. Eva, 15, joined the school at just seven years old and has already taken on leading roles such as Belle in 'Beauty and the Beast' at Droitwich's Norbury Theatre.
"I’m really grateful because it’s an amazing opportunity and I think as a team we’ll be able to achieve some great things," Eva said. Fellow member Millie echoed the excitement, stating she was "so excited to be part of The Star Project Young Company." The company also welcomes new faces like Ella, who impressed the audition panel despite not having trained with the school before. "Everyone has been so welcoming and it’s lovely to now be part of The Star Project family," she noted.
The group includes seasoned performers like Oliver, 15, the school's Head Boy, who has played lead roles including the Beast and Gomez in 'The Addams Family'. The company's talent is already being recognised externally: Isabella, 13, has secured a professional role in The Artrix Theatre's pantomime 'Treasure Island', and Maisie, 15, has gained a place on the prestigious Acting Pathway at Birmingham Ormiston Academy (BOA).
A Debut Production and a Vision for the Future
The Young Company's first professional engagement will be an immersive dinner-theatre experience in January 2026. The students will choreograph and stage the production themselves, guided by their in-house theatre director and company leader, Sarah Wynen.
"We are lucky to have such a talented group," Sarah said. "Because our first performance is a realistic interactive piece, we’re doing a lot of work around exploring our characters, the physicality of them and their traits, voices and accents. Our role is to nurture their talents and we’re so proud of all our students."
Jo Payne, director and founder of The Star Project, emphasised the wider mission. "Every child at our school has the opportunity to perform at a high level and build skills, memories and friendships that last a lifetime. This initiative is dedicated to our elite members under the age of 18. We aim to provide them with the opportunity to become young professionals and artists... They will help us to continue to grow as a cornerstone of youth theatre in Worcestershire."
By creating a paid, professional environment for its young stars, The Star Project Young Company is setting a new standard for youth arts development, offering a tangible and supported first step into the demanding world of professional theatre.
