A CHILDREN’S theatre school is celebrating its 20th anniversary and for the Andover branch of Stagecoach life couldn’t be better.

Allen Watts, who runs the Andover branch at John Hanson Community School, is thrilled the school has lasted 20 years and hopes it will continue for many more.

He took over the Andover branch in September but had been involved with the Basingstoke West school since 2005 while he and his wife Helen have run the original Basingstoke school ever since 2003.

“Stagecoach is great for youngsters and it offers such a high standard of tuition,” said Allen.

“We are both so passionate about it and make sure every child that comes to us gets what they need from it.

“The thing is with Stagecoach it’s not just about acting.

“It’s about confidence building and training for life.”

Allen, who lives at Lansdowne Avenue, is thrilled he’s managed to get involved with the Andover Stagecoach.

“We really wanted to get involved with the Andover one as well as the Basingstoke branches as it’s our home town and it’s where we are bringing our children up,” he said.

“We wanted to bring the energy, passion and excitement of the children in Basingstoke to the children in Andover.”

Since September Allen has been getting to know the youngsters, aged between four and 16 and working out their strengths.

During the spring term the school will be working on a production of Alice in Wonderland.

“It’s really a privilege working with children. The energy they give you back is ten-fold,” explained Allen.

But it’s not just in-house productions the children are involved with – many go on to appear in professional shows with one youngster playing Young Scrooge in a recent production at The Haym-arket, Basingstoke.

Another pupil is now appearing in the West End as one of the Von Trapp children in The Sound of Music.

“When you see a child you’ve been working with it’s wonderful to see them achieving something they thoroughly enjoy,” Allen said.

Allen and Helen are now considering starting a 16-18 school and collaborating with the Guildford School of Acting for a foundation course.

They also plan to do more Parents do Stagecoach where parents are sponsored to go in for the day, working with their children. All money raised goes to charity.