Toni’s Tots Drama – #ClubHubUK Winner

What is Toni’s Tots Drama and what inspired you to set it up?

Toni’s Tots Drama delivers highly energetic and interactive drama workshops for younger children and their grown-ups. Suitable for children from 2 years up, these sessions are great  fun, filled with music, movement, craft and story telling with imaginative play at the heart. I am a professional actor and theatre practitioner and I decided to set up Toni’s Tots Drama in 2010 after having my own children and no longer wanting to be away on tour.

All 3 of my kids have taken part for being newborns strapped to my back! 7 years on ( and  a lot of drama sessions later) I am still continually wowed by the imaginative and creative ideas the participating children come up with in class. I love their openness and willingness to enter into our adventures.

It really is wonderful to see them grow in confidence from week to week. To see the timid new child develop into the roariest lion in the jungle is just fabulous!

What would you say is unique about your drama club?

Each drama session is different from week to week. We go on huge imagined adventures together.. The children are free to lead the story in whichever way they want. The children learn to work together, to share ideas and cooperate with one another. They grow in confidence and have a good old run around too.

What feedback do you get from parents?

Feedback from parents is always very positive which is nice. I love to hear stories from parents about how their little one has carried on the adventure through the day. Each week we make a puppet in class that the children all get to take home and I am often sent photos of what the creatures have been up to!

Here are some of my recent reviews from parents:

“Toni is wonderful with children and her sessions are joyful, inspiring and creative. I have so much fun and I am a bit older than her target audience”

“My two oldest kids have both loved Toni’s drama classes from the age of about 18 months. My daughter had a drama party for her 4th birthday last week – it was amazing. The kids ranged in age from 2 to 6 and Toni totally managed to captivate them all.”

“My son loved it and Toni is fantastic with the kids.”

“Toni is amazing. We see her at the Hippodrome on Fridays. My daughter is mesmerized the whole time i laugh so much my sides hurt!! Toni needs to be cloned and sent into schools everywhere!!!!”

“I cannot recommend Toni’s drama classes highly enough !! Awesome sessions , Toni is enthusiastic , friendly & professional & absolutely captivates every single child through an imaginative wonderland of adventures ! Super craft to add creativity to the stories , every child should have the opportunity to discover the amazing adventures that await on a weekly basis.”

What has been your greatest achievement with Toni’s Tots?

I’m  very happy with lots of things I have achieved with Toni’s Tots:  The weekly workshops and the monthly home education sessions I run are going very well; Toni’s Tots Drama birthday parties are very popular and I really enjoy doing them, what’s not to love about a birthday party?

In 2016 I was commissioned by Stirchley Baths to create an interactive storytelling workshop for early years about the history of the Baths. I have performed this several times as part of their Heritage weekends.

I have been a performer at the Bournville Book Festival from its very start, I’m very pleased about this. Performed in the Kids Big Top at Shambala Festival for the last 2 years which is so much fun! I am also now a regular fixture at the Birmingham Hippodrome, running sessions each Friday during term time.

I think the thing I am happiest about is the early years theatre show I have created. Inspired by the Toni’s Tots sessions I set up a theatre company called ‘Knees and Toes Theatre’ Our  first play ‘Mr Silly Pancake & the Land of Cake and Biscuits’’ is a very energetic, interactive show where, like in my weekly sessions, the children are vital to the plot.

They are on stage and participating, problem solving and ultimately saving the day! We premiered at the Birmingham REP theatre in December 2017 to sell out audiences then performed again at MAC in May 2108 ,again selling out! I hope we are able to perform the show again soon- watch this space!

How can parents get in touch with Toni’s Tots Drama if they are interested in signing up?

• Email- [email protected]
• Website www.tonistotsdrama.co.uk
• Facebook Tonis Tots Drama
• On Twitter @tonistotsdrama
• Instagram @tonistotsdrama
• Or by phone 07976 242 835

All my sessions are drop in so no need to sign up.

• Mondays 10am The Hub at Hazelwell Church
• Wednesdays 9.30am Kings Heath Community Centre
• Thursday monthly Home Educators group, 10.30am The Hub at Hazelwell Church
• Fridays 10.30am Birmingham Hippodrome