What Parents Say

  • We just heard today that Sash got offered a place in the NSW Arts Unit Year 6 Drama Ensemble. She will be so happy when she finds out. She discovered her love for performing at KUF - you run a great fun program and your staff are excellent as well. Regards Annabelle Annabelle
  • Your classes have been so good for both of my very different boys - giving Rupert lots more confidence and instilling such a love of performance and the arts in Max. Thank you so much! I thought you might like this story! **Sydney Morning Herald 19 November 2018** “Let the lion roar again!” The cry rang out through the theatre, loud and passionate – but not from any actor on stage. This was 11-year-old audience member Max Perry, spontaneously joining in with a professional theatre production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Thanks once again for all these years - they really do love it and it has truly been great for them! Kate Perry
  • How glad we are that we found your drama camps. Our 9 year old daughter was struggling to settle into her new school and had lost her 'zing' as a result... After sending Keira to one of your camps she really regained her confidence. She also had a really great time and made a lovely new friend. She returned to school with a stronger sense of self and as a result finally settled at her new school. Thank you to your wonderful staff who are always caring and enthusiastic in their approach to the kids! Priscilla McCorriston Dulwich Hill
  • We have been involved with Kids Up Front at Pymble Public for many year’s (our older son Riley participated from yr 1 to yr 6). We cannot stress enough just how much both Riley & Jessica have loved their years’ with both Gay & Felicity. From a parents point of view, we have seen how the drama has helped with self confidence & the attitude of “having a go” with both children. In particular, Riley has gone onto high school and continues to be very actively involved in the drama department. Cathy Tapp
  • Following yet another hugely wonderful Kids Up Front performance at the Zenith Theatre, Vikram and I would love to say a BIG Thank You and Congratulations!Our daughter Eshvari (Roseville seniors) has thoroughly enjoyed & grown through her drama experiences in KUF classes and camps over the past three years.Heather has been a wonderful teacher and I do feel that she has really drawn out the children's creativity, culminating in a great Roseville performance to end the year! Sheevalee Patel Puttaswamy
  • My daughter (age 7), was never one to perform but since starting drama she has become much more confident when speaking in front of a group, and comments from her teacher indicate that her news presentations are always very well doneI have no recommendation in recommending Kids Up Front. It is a wonderful opportunity for kids to learn life skills in a fun and exciting environment. Janelle Lewis
  • Our daughter attended Karin Clifford’s Drama classes for almost two years. The classes improved her clarity of her thinking –After only one school term she was able to give articulate and confident class presentations at school and this newfound ability continued to improve her performance as a debater and school leader. Lee Hilton
  • Having recently attended my daughter Emma’s last Kids Up Front Drama concert it caused me to reflect on her first concert 6 years ago and the changes in her that have taken place.Emma has gone from a 6 year old who was nervous standing before her classmates for “show & tell” to a confident 12 year old who was awarded House Captain at her school this year. Beth Markos
  • Since she joined the Monday night drama class, Jessica has enjoyed every minute of her time, and her confidence level has been amazing, and has helped her adjust from primary to high school. I hope she will be allowed to continue her classes for some time to come. Karen Hill
  • My children, are having "the best time of their life" as they have told me each day. On the first day they were reluctant to go. A bit apprehensive I guess - the fear of the unknown. Now they can't get out of the door fast enough - they absolutely love it 🙂It has been such a confidence booster and has taught them that even if you're a little nervous about trying something new, you should try it because you may just love it. Margie Harmey
  • We have been so delighted with the drama group and Isabel has said that Thursdays has been her favourite day of the week as she has had drama in the afternoon.She has been going since she was little and quite shy and her older step-sister, Astrid, also attended. I am been so impressed how both of them blossomed out of their shyness from attending the classes and the discipline and joy that they received in the classes. I am happily recommending the classes to anyone else.Once again, thank you Karin for the drama lessons over the past few years. Katie Vandine
  • My daughter is doing the camp for the first time (Lola Lunaro) and she came home last night saying she had "epic fun"! She loves it ... thank you. Looking forward to Friday's performance. Laura
  • A big thank you to you and your team. Both girls really enjoyed themselves, I'm almost certain I am going to face disappointment from Mimi tomorrow as she remembers the camp is over. The show was fabulous - I don't know how they do it in one week, and everyone getting a part and being special.Just wonderful! Sarah Gullotta
  • One day last week he and his cousins decided to put on a show, but were having a few disagreements about how they should do it. I overheard him saying to them "When I was at Kids Up front doing the show, we all had to work together as a team and we made a fantastic show, and if we all work together as a team now we can make it even fantastic-er." It seemed to work, they cooperated a bit better and produced something pretty coherent! Helen Dakin
  • I was concerned my daughter was doing too many after-school activities, so suggested we stop one. She replied that she definitely couldn't stop drama classes. When I asked why not, she said "Because drama classes make me feel brave". We'll definitely be continuing! Lisa
  • Both Andre and Ayden Vahldieck have enjoyed your classes and the boys have definitely benefited massively from these classes in terms of their public speaking range and confidence and self esteem. I recommend your classes to everyone. They have been fun and educational. My eldest son Andre, has developed a passion to learn drama at high school as a core subject at Marist College North Sydney. He has become a competent and great speaker at his school performance where he impersonated Nelson Mandela for his school project. Ayden has grown more confident from being a very shy public person to develop strong diversity into his self expression that has flowed onto other less creative subjects like maths and science, where he is now confident enough to voice his answers and compete with his colleagues overtly. We thank you very much for these talents you have emerged from our children, gifts they will take with them forever in their future pursuits. Jenny McKinley-Vahldieck
  • My children, Thomas and Samantha Onions left Kids up Front 3 years ago because we relocated. I just wanted to let you know they still talk frequently about their experiences with such passion and joy. Your holiday camps were fantastic and we were scheduling our holidays around the camp dates. Great to see 'Kids Up Front' is still growing and thank you for helping my children grow into strong, confident individuals. Sharon Onions
  • I am very pleased to let you know that Justin Boerst has been accepted into the selective drama strand at Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School for year 7 2015.I would like to thank you, Erica and the Kids Upfront team. He has truly thrived with the help of drama and I am beside myself with pride over this recent achievement. He could not have done it without you guys and we will always be grateful for the input you have had to his development.I don't think Justin thought he was good enough to make it into the school until the day of the audition when he met the other kids who auditioned along with him. His confidence is at an all time high and you have all helped to make a little boys year, perhaps his entire life. He can't wait to get to the school because he really enjoyed the day he had with the other boys because they are all like him, they love drama and they all enjoyed speaking and performing together on the day.Just to let you know, his application had to include details of work he has done, his last school report, his NAPLAN year 5 results, Erica's amazing reference and a reference from his primary school. He then had to perform a 1.5 minute monologue, a 1 hour drama class with all applicants and a scenario that the kids were presented with and given 2 minutes to prepare for. The scenario was titled "Romance at Mcdonalds" and he had to perform it with a little girl. They decided to fall in love with their food rather than each other and it sounded like it was very funny indeed. Kids Upfront has given him the skills to perform as he did on that day and for that we will be eternally grateful. This opportunity will give Justin the kind of highschool experience that he really needs. He is a creative little boy and for him to be able to go to a school where he can do drama, tumbling, gymnastics and trapeze, some as electives that will contribute to his HSC mark, is extraordinary. He has developed the ability to write very well too, a skill which did not come easy to him, and I really think that the process ofcontributing to their own script for the end of year performances has contributed to developing this skill too. His school has always told me that his ideas are like those of an adult but he always found it hard to get it down on paper until the beginning of last year when it all came together for him with your help and the help of his amazing school teachers. Justin hasbeen a work in progress from the day he entered school and you have helped to give him the skills to shine right now.We have known since last week but I have not been allowed to email our thanks because Justin wanted to tell Erica himself.You have all done an amazing thing here, Thank You from the bottom of my heart. Kirstie Boerst
  • Gali can`t wait for another Kids up Front camp! Its become the one thing she is looking forward every school holiday, and she done it for the last 3 years...!She loves the show, the team, the kids... So I just wanted to say well done and thank you for bringing such a great experience to our kids. Inbal
  • I was utterly blown away by the production of Robin Hood. I've loved all your productions but somehow this raised the bar even higher. I may have even cried in the Coldplay song. Your staff are exceptional and talented but most of all, kind. Libby Millington Craft It Up
  • My children took part in the holiday camp at Pymble Public School this recent holidays and absolutely loved it! Jane was brilliant with the children and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves and didn't want it to end. I was very impressed with what the fantastic group of teachers put together in just one week -- not only did they work with the children to develop characters, songs and dances for the show, but they also had them creating the set! My children are already looking forward to returning next holidays. Louise Pymble