Aida Foster Theatre School - Misplaced Pages

The Aida Foster Theatre School for drama, dance and education was founded by Aida Foster in 1929 as a hobby to teach dancing. It expanded over the years to become one of Britain's foremost stage schools.

Many stage and film personalities of the 20th century received their professional education and arranged their first employment through the school. Run by Aida, and later by her daughter Anita Foster, it catered for three different groups of students: those that undertook dance training only, younger pupils that had full education plus both dancing and drama training, and older students taking drama training only.

The Aida Foster School supplied many of the pantomime "babes" (children's choruses and parts) for the West End Christmas shows of the 1950s. They also obtained modelling contracts for many of the juveniles.

Foster had started a theatrical agency associated with the school in 1944. Following the death of her husband she closed the school in 1970 to concentrate on the agency with her daughter Anita.

The school was situated on Finchley Road in Golders Green, north London, just north of the junction with Golders Green Road.

Alumni

Notable alumni include:

film actress Jean Simmons
Carry On actress Barbara Windsor
actress Kate O'Mara
actress Vicki Michelle
actress Shirley Eaton
singer and actress Elaine Paige
singer and actress Marti Webb (who became Head Girl)
actress Dilys Laye
actress Moiya Kelly
artist Sara Leighton
actress Perlita Neilson
child actor and musician Paul Layton
actor Robin Davies
actresses Linda and Jane Hayden

References

^ Freeman, Ian (2 October 2007), "Anita Foster", The Stage
"Pantomime Chorus and Juveniles". its-behind-you.com. Archived from the original on 24 November 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
^ "Theatre school closes... 40 years on." Times 20 January 1970: 8. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 26 October 2013.
Editorial Staff (9 February 2004). "20 Questions With…Marti Webb". WhatsOnStage.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2014.
Cast list for Master Crooks, theatre programme for the Comedy Theatre (1951), The Glenn Christodoulou Theatre Collection
"pauls biog". thenewseekers.com. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
"Robin Davies: Actor who found fame alongside Wendy Craig and Catweazle". The Independent. London. 23 October 2011. Archived from the original on 7 October 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.

External links

BritishPathe Aida Foster School video newsreel film

v t e Schools and colleges in Barnet
Primary schools	Danegrove Primary School London Academy St Mary's and St John's CE School Wren Academy
Secondary schools	Ashmole Academy Bishop Douglass Catholic School Christ's College The Compton School Copthall School East Barnet School Finchley Catholic High School Friern Barnet School Hasmonean High School Hendon School Jewish Community Secondary School London Academy Mill Hill County High School Queen Elizabeth's School for Girls St Andrew the Apostle Greek Orthodox School St James' Catholic High School St Mary's and St John's Church of England School The Totteridge Academy Whitefield School Wren Academy
Grammar schools	Henrietta Barnett School Queen Elizabeth's School St Michael's Catholic Grammar School
Independent schools	Brampton College Dwight School Holland House School King Alfred School Mill Hill School Mount House School North London Grammar School Pardes House Grammar School Susi Earnshaw Theatre School
FE & sixth form colleges	Barnet and Southgate College Woodhouse College
Defunct schools	Aida Foster Theatre School Church Farm Industrial School for Boys Friern Barnet Grammar School The Mount School Woodhouse Grammar School

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