09/03/2026
For the students who spend their Saturday mornings at Stagecoach Performing Arts in Truro, singing, dancing and acting are all part of the program, but the skills they develop aren’t necessarily limited to the stage.
Stagecoach offers weekly classes in all three disciplines, with students rotating through each during their time at the school. While some come to the program with an existing interest in theatre or performing, others arrive with little or no experience. Brenna, manager of Stagecoach Performing Arts North Nova Scotia, says creating a place for both has been an important part of the program since it came to Truro.
“Stagecoach is a performing arts program, but I always say it is about so much more than creating performers,” Brenna said. “Our students spend their Saturday mornings rotating through singing, dancing and drama, but what we are really working on is confidence, creativity, communication and giving kids a place where they feel like they belong.”
Truro already had a rich history of youth performing arts opportunities when Stagecoach was introduced to the community. What the program hoped to add was an education-based approach that would allow children to learn and develop their skills in a classroom before stepping onto a stage. Students are able to spend time learning and exploring the arts without the pressure to perform before they feel ready.
That approach also leaves room for students with very different personalities and levels of experience. Stagecoach works with children who are comfortable being the centre of attention as well as those who may initially find it difficult to participate. Brenna says confidence can be as simple as putting a hand up for the first time, saying a line loudly enough for others to hear, joining a group activity or offering an idea without worrying about whether it is the right one.
As students become more comfortable, teachers often see changes that carry into other areas. Along with skills in singing, dancing and acting, students are learning teamwork, communication, listening, problem solving, public speaking and how to think on their feet. They also learn how to recover from mistakes and continue with what they are doing, something Brenna sees as valuable regardless of whether a student has any intention of pursuing performing arts in the future.
One local family has had the opportunity to watch that development over several years. Katherine is preparing to begin her fifth year at Stagecoach, and her mom remembers that in her first year she was too shy and nervous to speak many lines on stage. By the following year, she had a significant role in the end-of-year show.
Her mom says some of the most valuable things Katherine has taken from the program have shown up outside of performances. She has learned the value of poise and clarity, storytelling and how practice pays off. She has also learned that she can’t control whether or not she gets the role she wanted, but she can control what she does with the role she is given. Her mom says the friendships she has made along the way have also been priceless.
“We value what a safe space it is for kids from all different backgrounds, interests and challenges,” she said. “That lays a foundation to build trust, and that trust gives kids the courage to push their boundaries.”
When her mom asked Katherine what she loves best about Stagecoach, Katherine said it has given her confidence and helped her find more things that she loves about herself.
Allowing students to participate at their own comfort level is something the school tries to carry into its performances as well. Drama teacher Emma Smit Geraghty asks students what they are comfortable with and what kind of role they would like in the spring show. Some want plenty of lines, while others want to participate without being on stage alone. Brenna says the goal is not to push every student toward the same kind of performing experience, but to work with them from where they are comfortable and help them develop from there.
Accessibility is another important part of that effort. Stagecoach offers the Dan Collins Memorial Scholarship each term for a child who could benefit from the program but may not be able to afford it. Collins was a close friend of Stagecoach principal Kristi Wenaus and had a love of theatre and a passion for watching children’s confidence grow through the performing arts. The scholarship was created in his name to give more children the opportunity to take part.
With Stagecoach continuing to grow in Truro, Brenna hopes to see more children have access to performing arts while maintaining the community that has developed within the school. That includes creating more opportunities for students to learn and perform and, eventually, seeing some of the older students become mentors and leaders for younger students coming into the program.
“I would love for Stagecoach to become one of those places in our community where every child knows there is a spot for them,” Brenna said. “I want us to continue growing while still keeping that feeling of community and connection that makes it special.”
For families considering the program, Brenna says children don’t need previous experience or confidence before they arrive. Students may naturally be more comfortable with one of the three disciplines and completely new to the other two, and the teachers work with them from there. Whether they eventually pursue performing arts or not, the hope is that they leave with greater confidence in themselves, new friendships and skills they can carry into other parts of their lives.
Learn more here: https://www.stagecoachschools.ca/
