05 Jun Ollie, Volunteer Performing Arts Coach – Volunteers’ Week 2023
Student Ollie Brown has his sights set on the stage and is helping others achieve the same.
The 19-year-old from Broadsands starts a degree course at Bath Spa University later this year which he hopes will help catapult him into a career in musical theatre, as an actor and singer.
But before he leaves, he is coaching others through Doorsteps Arts in Paignton and recently helped groups of youngsters deliver three sell-out shows of Matilda at the Palace Theatre in Paignton.
Ollie finished at Churston Ferrers Grammar School last year with qualifications in Drama, PE, and Psychology and has taken a year out working at Sainsbury’s in Paignton during the day and helping out at Doorstep Arts two nights a week teaching acting, dance and getting involved in the staging.
“We have so much fun. It is all about the enjoyment and drama is all about the enjoyment; if you are not enjoying it, you are not doing it right,” said Ollie.
“It is good to be able to give something back. I just give it my all and that comes across to the kids, Give 100% and you get 100% back,” he added.
Ollie aims to keep taking the classes until his university course starts. Still, unfortunately, his holidays will coincide with the children’s holidays, “It is a shame because I will miss it. But it has been fun.”
And he will be missed. Polly Ferguson Carruthers, co-director of Doorstep Arts said: “ Ollie has selflessly supported our Doorstep Arts Studio Course (DAS) for over a year. Ollie has grown his drama facilitator skills during this time, whilst bringing so much joy to young children. He has been leading games, supported vocals, and creating innovative choreography with the groups. The children adore him and he will be greatly missed. We wish him all the luck in the world, thank him for bringing so much to to the groups and want him to know he is welcome back to Doorstep anytime!”
