Behind the Curtain: The Countdown to Summer Camp Has Officially Begun!
Walk into the RABBLE Theatre office this week and you'll find organised chaos.
There are costume rails appearing from nowhere. Scripts piled high on desks. Music echoing down the corridor. Choreography being tweaked. Props being painted. Countless cups of coffee being consumed. Somewhere, someone is trying to work out how we're going to fit a canoe, a circus and several hundred excited young performers into one summer...
And honestly?
We wouldn't have it any other way.
Because that can only mean one thing...Summer Camp season is nearly here!
Behind the scenes, the RABBLE team is knee-deep in preparations for what promises to be one of our biggest and most exciting summers yet. In just a few short weeks, our rehearsal rooms will be buzzing with laughter, singing, dancing and the unmistakable excitement that comes from putting on a show in just five days.
Whether your child is joining us for The Greatest Showman or Moana, they're in for an unforgettable adventure.
Theatre Magic Doesn't Just Happen...
People often see the final performance - the lights, the costumes, the applause and the smiling faces and think, "What a brilliant show!"
What they don't always see are the weeks (and weeks and weeks) of planning that go into making those magical moments happen.
Long before our young performers arrive, our creative team is already hard at work. Songs are being arranged. Dance routines are being choreographed. Games are being planned. Props are being built. Costumes are being sorted. Risk assessments are being completed.Timetables are being fine-tuned. Even the snack breaks are carefully planned. Every detail is designed to make sure our campers have an incredible experience from the moment they walk through the door on Monday morning until they take their final bow on Friday afternoon.
A Team Straight from the Industry
One thing we're especially excited about this summer is the phenomenal creative team leading our camps. We don't believe children should have to wait until they're adults to learn from the best. That's why our camps are led by professionals who are working in the industry right now. This summer, we're delighted to welcome Ben Wilson, who joins us fresh from London's iconic Kit Kat Club in the West End.
Working alongside Ben is our outstanding Musical Director Chris Mitchell, a Grammy Award-winning musician whose career has taken him around the world. Having someone with Chris's experience helping our young performers discover their voices is something we're immensely proud to offer. Together with our brilliant team of directors, choreographers, performers and education practitioners, they're already busy planning every rehearsal, every scene and every show-stopping finale.
The result? Children get to spend a week learning from people who genuinely live and breathe theatre.
More Than Just a Week Off School
Of course, by Friday afternoon there'll be songs stuck in everyone's heads. There'll be costumes. There'll be standing ovations. There'll probably be a few happy tears from parents. But Summer Camp is about so much more than putting on a show.
Every year we watch friendships blossom between children who met just days before. We see nervous first-timers become confident performers. We watch children discover talents they never knew they had. Some leave desperate to join our Young Company.
Others simply leave believing in themselves a little more than they did on Monday morning.
That's the real magic.
This Summer's Shows
The rehearsal room is slowly transforming into the greatest show in Reading!
From huge ensemble numbers to spectacular choreography, this promises to be a week packed with energy, colour and theatrical magic.
Don't be surprised if your child spends the journey home singing This Is Me at full volume...
You've been warned.
Another rehearsal room is already filling with tropical playlists as we prepare to set sail on an unforgettable adventure.
Expect epic songs, larger-than-life characters, exciting choreography and plenty of laughter as we bring this much-loved story to life.
Why Families Keep Coming Back
For many families, Summer Camp has become one of the highlights of the school holidays.
Children return year after year because they know exactly what they'll find at RABBLE.
A warm welcome.
Professional teaching.
A place where everyone belongs.
An opportunity to make friends.
A chance to perform.
And plenty of laughter along the way.
As Reading's professional theatre company, we're passionate about creating experiences that inspire confidence, creativity and community. Every year, more than 2,000 children, young people and adults take part in our education programmes, and Summer Camp is often where that journey begins. It's not unusual for children who first joined us during the holidays to go on to become members of our Young Company, take LAMDA exams, perform in our productions or simply discover a lifelong love of theatre.
We Can't Wait to Welcome You
As we tick off rehearsal schedules, steam costumes, test sound equipment and count down the days, one thing is becoming very clear...
This is going to be a brilliant summer. All that's missing is your child. So if you're looking for an unforgettable summer holiday camp in Reading, an inspiring musical theatre camp in Berkshire, or simply a week where your child can laugh, create, perform and make lifelong memories, we'd love to welcome them into our RABBLE. Places are filling fast, the excitement is building, and the countdown has well and truly begun.
Now, if you'll excuse us...
We've got costumes to sort, songs to rehearse, props to build and a standing ovation to prepare for.
See you at Summer Camp!
