August 23, 2019 11.40 am This story is over 56 months old

Former CBeebies presenter and soap star opening Lincoln theatre school

The school opens next month
Professional actors Sarah Jane Honeywell and Ayden Callaghan will open a theatre school in Lincoln in September 2019.

A former CBeebies presenter and a soap star instantly fell in love with Lincoln and recently moved to the city, where they will open a theatre school next month.

Sarah Jane Honeywell and Ayden Callaghan will open The Curious Theatre School, which will operate from the Bailgate Methodist Church Hall in Lincoln.

It will be less about traditional teaching methods and more about going on a journey with the children, with classes starting on September 14.

The Curious Theatre School co-owners Sarah Jane Honeywell and Ayden Callaghan.

Sarah, 45, is best known for her work on CBeebies but has also done lots of other television and film work including recently being the body of one of the Skeksis on the Netflix series Dark Crystal.

She was also an extra in the final Harry Potter film along with the lead singer of the Kaiser Chiefs.

Her husband Ayden, 38, is best known for his roles as Miles De Souza in Emmerdale and Joe Roscoe in Hollyoaks. He’s currently developing a script for a television show, which is being kept under wraps.

Sarah, who grew up in Retford, told The Lincolnite the couple recently moved to Lincoln with their boys Phoenix and Indiana and are doing up an old house in the Bailgate area.

She said: “We love it here and the people. What’s lovely here is everyone thinks outside the box as well as being straight down the middle, it is a great mix in a fabulous inclusive city.

Sarah is a professional motivational speaker.

“We wanted to start a school where people can access the industry. We can add knowing more about the industry and bring a bit of London to Lincoln and I understand children better than any adults I’ve ever met.

“It is frustrating that children this side of the M25 don’t get that many chances.

“The nature of the industry is if you are working or middle class it can be harder in all aspects of the industry on and off screen, but not impossible. I want to pay it forward rather than moan about it, see what we can do about it and open some doors for people.”

Professional actors Sarah Jane Honeywell and Ayden Callaghan will open a theatre school in Lincoln in September 2019.

Sarah added that they will have guest actors/actresses coming in and will take pupils to shows so they can see more of the industry.

The classes will be open to all ages from Curious Imps (ages 2-6) and upwards.

The main classes are priced at £20 for three hours, including drama, singing and dance. They will take place every Saturday from 10am-1pm.

Prices vary for other classes, including acrobatic circus, drama confidence and street dance, as well as directing and script writing.

Sarah and Ayden met on an Irish film called The Best Years filmed in South-East London in 2012.

Sarah added: “I think performance and the arts is just as much a discovery and loving who you are, as it is pretending to be someone else.

“I hope that I’ll have a set of kids and adults with a thirst for the knowledge of it and to see that there are opportunities.”

For more information about the school and the classes click here or email [email protected].