IT’S a new year, and McQueen’s Dance and Theatre School CIC have got plenty planned for 2020 — with a little bit of time travelling.

The Post met with Rachel and Mark Oles from McQueen’s at their studio on Pennygillam Industrial Estate recently, where we were able to find out about all the exciting events and performances the theatrical duo have in store for Launceston.

Since our last visit in September, the studio has certainly had a makeover.

Stepping out of the rain and into the large studio, Rachel and Mark have placed professional lighting and equipment at the front, ready for their new ‘School of Rock’ venture with local musician Martyn Callwood, which began on Saturday, January 25.

On the other side of the studio, they have placed a wooden structure to separate the main studio area from a new, private backstage area.

Adorned with fairy lights, comfy sofas and a curtain which will soon be put in place to make two separate areas, the new backstage area is the perfect place for students to get ready for performances and wait for their moment on-stage.

This area is much needed as McQueen’s continues to gain more students and grow its productions and events. School of Rock is just one of the theatre school’s latest ventures, with plenty more in the pipeline throughout the year.

McQueen’s recently accepted over £5,000 from the Co-op Local Causes Fund, which they have split between spending on new musical equipment for School of Rock, and also the Festival of Fun, which they will be hosting in August.

The Festival of Fun will offer a range of activities and performances over a week in August. There will be catering vans, fairground rides, stalls and supporting acts from the local area taking part.

The event will coincide with National Play Day, traditionally held on the first Wednesday in August, which offers fun events and activities for all across the UK.

Mark said: “We’ve been doing it (Festival of Fun) for the last five years. It is held in the first week in August, with two days of families playing together. It’s where families can come and join in different activities.”

Having held a fun day in Launceston town centre in previous years, McQueen’s now hope to make the Festival of Fun even bigger and better for 2020, with Coronation Park in mind for the festival’s location.

Rachel said: “It should be a great festival, and it’s all about Launceston! Hopefully it will bring everybody together to do something.”

As well as this, McQueen’s are looking forward to a unique production titled ‘McAnimation’, which they will be presenting to audiences on April 4. Incorporating a variety of the nation’s favourite animations and cartoons, audiences will be treated to a series of songs and dances from animations such as ‘The Lion King’. Elder dance students will take on the role of gazelles, while Simba and Nala will of course be leading the way, and Mark will even be braving a pair of stilts to play a giraffe. The more modern Disney animation ‘Moana’ will also be included, with the McQueen’s choir learning and singing in Samoan, which will be taught by Rachel.

Trained vocalist Rachel said: “I love getting the students out of their comfort zones. We will also be getting the family choir involved — the parents really enjoy coming along with them and singing with them in performances.”

Over the Christmas period, the McQueen’s choir sang an A Capella rendition of ‘O’ Come All Ye Faithful’ during a BBC Spotlight feature on Launceston’s Christmas events.

Rachel and Mark are also looking forward to introducing their drama club, with more plays being presented to audiences as a result. Circus skills classes will continue and some older students will be given the opportunity to help teach. In addition, students will also be given the chance to take part in the ‘University to Passport Learning’, which helps to springboard young people into employment.

But one of the reoccurring themes with all of McQueen’s productions and activities this year will be stepping back in time — think Great Gatsby, Peaky Blinders and all things 20s!

Rachel said: “Because we’ve gone into the 20s now, we’ll be stepping back to the 1920s. We will be holding a speak easy evening where we will run the 1920s throughout the evening. The Charleston (a 1920s dance) goes surprisingly well with lots of different songs!”

With plenty of new events in the pipeline for the theatre school, one thing remains the same — their passion for the arts and making it as accessible as possible for all young people.

When asked why they choose to devote so much time into their work, Rachel said: “I always say — it’s not a job, it’s a vocation. We love passing on that knowledge to others.”

Mark continued: “It’s so everyone can access the arts. In schools, they are softened about drama and music and subjects like that, but the skills they can get from the arts is just amazing.”

In order to ensure children and young people from all ages, backgrounds and abilities are able to get involved in the range of classes available, McQueen’s keep their prices very low. Mark continued: “It’s about making sure that everybody can access something within the arts. Even if someone asks if we do something and we don’t offer the classes, we’ll always say we’ll look into it.”

“For example, one parent asked if we do stage combat,” Rachel said. “We explained that we don’t right now, but that we have an older student who is trained in stage combat — acting fight scenes, so we have plenty of connections to different arts through our students.”

Mark added: “We always say we’ll look into it. I don’t think there should be barriers. We find so many different skills within our students, and if we see someone who is struggling, we try to come up with a solution.”

“It’s just a passion,” Rachel said. “It’s really hard work, but I wouldn’t have it any different.”

Launceston’s community spirit and support allows Mark and Rachel to continue in their passion for providing and teaching the arts to their students. Mark said: “Launceston is a very friendly place. It’s very supportive and you often hear about people helping others. It’s a good environment to be in.”

Students are supported no matter their abilities or personal goals. Rachel said: “Kids with behavioural problems, when they’ve got direction and somebody who believes in them, it totally changes their outlook. I think (teaching the arts) is vital, but we do need a lot of investment.”

“It’s a chore going for funding, but look at what it’s providing,” Mark said. “We’re continuing to grow. Once we outgrow this building, we’ll go onto the next place and keep going on.”

McQueen’s are on a ‘recycle budget’, with costumes for productions being made from recycled and donated materials. Rachel and Mark are always happy to accept old materials and items that can be cut up and stitched by Rachel and her team of willing volunteers to be made into dazzling costumes for performances.

Rachel and Mark are also taking on home education students. Rachel said: “We will have various things, because not everybody wants to sing and dance. They can come to get the social aspect that they miss from school, but not a school environment.”

As the year goes on, McQueen’s hope to gain more funding throughout 2020 for new projects, as well as continue to spread the word about their classes, facilities and making the arts accessible for all.

Mark said: “There’s always something that can be done or got, but you’ve just got to think positively.”

Rachel added: “It’s all about investment and providing.”

For more information about McQueen’s Dance and Theatre School CIC, their performances and events, visit their Facebook page.