Our Story

Our Story

The Story

Kids Up Front Drama Academy was founded in 1999 by Karin Clifford to provide a creative and fun afterschool drama program designed to develop children’s confidence and self-esteem. Since then thousands of children have benefited from the classes and the program itself has been developed over the years with a collaboration of experience from a dedicated team of teachers.

The drama classes are fun and dynamic and children learn skills of improvising, working as part of a team and devising theatre. Each year around 28 groups in Sydney prepare for their performance at the Zenith Theatre in our Annual Shows.

In 2009 the hugely popular ‘Performing Arts Holiday Camps’ were launched offering children the opportunity to Sing, Act and Dance and work throughout a week with specialist teachers to produce a fabulous musical show.

Every school holidays hundreds of children participate in the themed camps in Sydney, Auckland and Melbourne.

With limited places and extended hours (which are a huge plus for working parents!) they are hugely popular and often fill up, so please book early to avoid disappointment!

Our Mission

What drives Karin is her passion for developing children’s confidence, communication skills and self esteem through having fun and working as part of a team.

These life skills are as important now as a child in the classroom and playground to the young adult entering the workforce and beyond.

Kids Up Front’s drama classes and holiday camps aim to help build children’s performance skills and confidence daily. Every child participates and develops at their own level. It is never a competition and our objective is for everyone to have 100% fun and be proud of their achievements.

Our Point of Difference

We are not linked to any talent agencies with a hidden agenda. Our drama classes, holiday camps and annual shows are for all children who want to have FUN and grow and develop.

We endeavour to extend the program to all children without discrimination and we have had blind, deaf and disabled children participate. (Please note if your child has a disability we do need to trial them in the class to see if it will be a good fit). Any child with behavioural issues who disrupts the classes will not be allowed to continue.

Children have the opportunity to contribute to the content in both the drama classes and the camps.

Every child who is involved has a part to play. We ensure that each child has their turn to shine in their own unique way and we celebrate their input.