Stage 84 - The Yorkshire School of Performing Arts

Outstanding Achievements

Stage 84 performed for the Bradford Centenary at Valley Parade in 1997

A list of just some of our accomplishments to date. Click any thumbnail image to enlarge.

1984

Valerie Jackson founds Stage 84 offering classes in Performing Arts and Drama to young people in Bradford. Initially there are around 19 students but after only a few months numbers increase to over 100.

1984

Stage 84 present their first performance, 'Nativity' at Bradford Cathedral to a capacity audience.

1986

'All Our Children', Stage 84's first show, is presented at The Library Theatre, Bradford.

1986

Stage 84 present 'All Our Children Again' at The Library Theatre. The manager of the Alhambra Theatre sees the show and immediately invites the company to perform for one night at his theatre. Audiences are delighted.

1990

'Daisy Pulls It Off' is presented at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

1991

At the Barclays National Music Awards in London, Stage 84 receive the Judges Special Award for the 'Most Outstanding Musical Ensemble' and the 'Most Outstanding Individual Performance' for their own musical, 'Ellis'.

1992

Peter and Valerie Jackson buy the Old Bell Chapel, Idle, and renovate and refurbish the building thereby creating a permanent home for the School.

1993

Stage 84 receive awards of the 'Most Outstanding Dramatic Performance', the 'Most Outstanding Choreographic Performance' and the 'Most Outstanding Individual Performance' at the Barclays National Music Awards, London for their presentation of 'Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'.

1994

At the Barclays National Music Awards in London, Stage 84 receive for their production of '42nd Street' awards of the 'Most Outstanding Individual Performance' and the 'Most Outstanding Choreographic Performance'.

1996

At the 75th Anniversary of British Festivals Finals, out of 1 million original competitors, a Stage 84 pupil is awarded a prestigious gold medal for his outstanding performance. He performs before Royalty in London later that year.

1997

300 Stage 84 Performing Arts students present a pageant before the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh celebrating the City of Bradford Centenary. The performance takes place at Valley Parade, home of Bradford City AFC in front of a crowd of 15,000 guests. Principal Valerie Jackson, members of staff and selected students are presented to the Queen.

1998

Stage 84 students record a CD to raise funds for the Bradford Lord Mayor's Appeal. Two tracks feature; a cover of 'It's Not Where You Start It's Where You Finish' and 'The Spirit of Hope' written by Peter Jackson. Listen below;

2000

Following 2 years of planning the Old Fire Station building in Idle is refurbished with assistance from National Lottery Funding to create brand new teaching spaces for the School. The property boasts a large dance studio, 4 Speech and Drama rooms, wardrobe department, scenery workshop and disabled access.

2000

Stage 84 students represent the City of Bradford at the Millennium Dome, London as part of the Our Town Story programme. 100 students travel to London for the performance and have VIP access to areas of The Dome. Lyrics were specially written for the piece by Peter Jackson, choreographed by Andrea Mallen.

2001

Assisting Bradford’s European Capital of Culture bid, Stage 84 students perform in various locations around the city. Many are photographed in scenes mirroring Hollywood’s famous white letters as part of the bid.

2001

Stage 84 students are selected for the BBC Choir of the Year.

2002

Liz Dawn invites Stage 84 to perform with the cast of Coronation Street in a large production at Leeds Grand Theatre in aid of charity.

2004

Stage 84 celebrates it’s 20th Anniversary in the Summer. Studios are opened to the public and an exhibition is created showcasing past achievements. Many students perform as part of the celebrations.

2004

Drama Workshop students enter the Shell Connections competition performing a new play, 'The Musicians'. The play transfers to York Theatre Royal and is described by the National Theatre assessor as a 'brilliant interpretation'.

2004

Permission is obtained from The Really Useful Group to perform Jesus Christ Superstar at Bradford Alhambra. This is the Northern amateur premiere of this musical. Many former students of Stage 84 return to take part in the production.

2006

Following Stage 84’s presentation of The Wizard of Oz at the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford, the production is transferred to Hamm, Germany. This is a result of an ongoing partnership between the twinned cities of Hamm and Bradford. This production was acclaimed by audiences in Hamm. Former students travel with the cast to work back stage.

2006

Stage 84 Drama Workshop students are awarded a prestigious Exhibition Award by Trinity College London for achieving the highest mark in Group Drama in this year in Great Britain. The group achieve an outstanding result of 96%, Distinction.

2008

The largest amateur production of We Will Rock You outside of the West End is presented by Stage 84. The production begins with a specially recorded video message from Brian May of Queen. Anita Dobson attends the Gala performance. Stage 84 remain the only group to have presented this musical at a First Class Touring Theatre.

2009

A Stage 84 Speech & Drama student, Helena Blair is awarded the prestigious Exhibition Award by Trinity College London for the highest mark attained in Individual Communication Skills in this year in Great Britain. She passes her examination with Distinction, a result of 98%. Helena will later accept a place at Cambridge University.

2009

25th anniversary celebrations of the School include Drama Workshop students presenting the full play version of An Inspector Calls in the Old Fire Station. The Old Library building is also opened - former and present students perform for invited guests and the public are invited to an open day at the school. Spectacular 2009 features excerpts from past shows.

2010

Together with young people from Germany and Holland, Stage 84 students rehearse and perform a new musical, Alpha Code. Continuing the partnership between the Cities of Hamm and Bradford, the musical is presented in both Germany and England simultaneously. The musical forms part of the celebrations for the European Capital of Culture 2010.

2010

Valerie Jackson receives an MBE as Founder and Principal of Stage 84 and for Services to the Arts in the North of England.

2011

The entire Stage 84 company is awarded an exceptional result of 100% by Trinity Guildhall for their production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast assessed under the examination category of Musical Theatre in Production. Each of the 5 grading areas of 'Group Dynamic', 'Performances', 'Staging', 'Design' and 'Technical' receive the highest mark Trinity can award. The examiner comments "Valerie Jackson and the whole of Stage 84 must be tremendously proud of this production."