Gemma Payne is one of our experienced Area Partners and Producers who has been running Perform holiday courses for close to 15 years. She shares what children and parents can expect at this summer's thrilling and highly anticipated Alice in Wonderland course.

With the summer holidays just around the corner, I'm getting excited to find out how many children I'll be taking on an exciting adventure in Wonderland.

Holiday courses are so fun and rewarding to teach and after only a handful of days, you can see a real transformation in the children. It's always a highlight of the summer for both the Perform staff and the children!

Getting started

Before any course begins, all of us course leaders attend a central training session where we immerse ourselves in the script, songs and dances for that theme.

We talk through every part of the course in detail, from making sure every child has a role and a chance to shine on stage, to introducing the story of Alice, teaching the songs and planning the Alice-themed games we'll play.

At this training session, we also cover health and safety protocols and how to care for every child's individual needs.

After training, we pick up the vibrant costumes, script packs and all of the creative resources from Perform HQ in London in anticipation of an action-packed few days!

Day one introductions

As the children arrive, some are bursting with excitement and a few are a little tentative. We greet them with warmth and enthusiasm and have a quick chat with the parent and child to make sure everyone feels relaxed entering the class.

From the moment they enter the room, the children are swept away in a whirlwind of excitement as we begin our Introductory games. These lighthearted and easy-to-follow games encourage socialisation and you don't have to be familiar with Perform to get stuck in!

One of my favourite ice-breaker games is "People 2 People", where the children have to meet a number of different partners within the game in a really fun way and they might work with five or six different children in the game, getting to know all of the new faces.

Have a go moment

I usually introduce what we call the "have a go" moment early on, as this provides an encouraging platform for a child to try something new and build up their confidence.

Once everyone is comfortable in the class and has learnt the first song, we encourage each child to stand up, say their name and sing a few solo lines.

The children get a huge amount of praise and encouragement from the rest of the group once they've done it, which makes them feel so proud!

Across the day

The mornings are full of lively warm-ups, high-energy drama games, learning catchy songs, fun choreography and diving into scenes from the show they'll perform at the end of the week.

After lunch, things slow down just a little with arts and crafts. Children might be making masks for the show or even invitations for their families to come and see their performance. For those who need a little extra support, the teachers are on standby to assist.

After a relaxing craft session, the children might split into different age groups to read the story of Alice in Wonderland and dive into the magic of the plot and characters. We make this age appropriate so the exercises are relevant for the children.

Then, it's time for one of the highlights of the afternoon - improvisation!

The teachers become characters in the world of Wonderland and the children join in an interactive adventure, helping shape the story as it unfolds. We stop on a cliffhanger, ready to pick up the story the next day. They love it.

Making new friends

Perform teachers are fantastic at making all children feel included and encouraging the children to form friendships in a natural way.

This could be empowering the children to talk to each other in the first morning break and looking out for those who might need a buddy or a gentle introduction to other children.

Building skills

As the week moves on, we'll work through the Alice in Wonderland script while playing a range of skill-building games.

Each day has a daily focus, such as introductions, eye contact, articulation or projection, and we'll tailor our games to reflect this focus and work on the 4 Cs across the week.

To get the mind sparking with creativity, we'll play a game where we tumble down the rabbit hole and land in magical lands like under the sea, outer space or in a fairytale forest. The children then bring this narrative to life through different characters.

Another adventure in Wonderland sees us drinking from the imaginary Drink Me bottle, but each child experiences a different taste. Will it be strawberry milkshake, apple juice or a magical potion? In this exciting game, the children don't realise they are practising improvisation, taking turns and listening skills!

We'll also explore physical boundaries and I'll incorporate dance moves in readiness for our show routine. The children won't know it's about coordination or expanding their movement range, they'll just think they're having loads of fun.

Show day

Show day is really exciting and there's always a buzz in the morning when the children arrive.

As the show begins, the parents look very proud and the children's faces are bursting with grins from ear to ear.

Throughout the show, the teachers are in the wings and on the action lines to help the children remember their lines and where to go on the stage.

However, the goal is to help the children feel independent, so they can experience a sense of pride and accomplishment by the end of the show.

Seeing the children shine

It's so rewarding to see a child who was too nervous on the first day to say hello be able to stand up and confidently deliver their lines to a room full of adults.

I always look over at their parents and am filled with joy seeing their proud smiles. It's wonderful to know we've made a real difference for that child and family going forward. Even though it's only been over a few days, you can really see a transformation.

If a child comes to the holiday course already confident with performing, singing and dancing, it's a pleasure to see them shine during the show. Watching them do what they love is just as deeply rewarding because you know you've helped create a special memory they'll carry with them forever.