Storytime with Billy

⭐️ BOOKING NOW LIVE !⭐️

I've created an enquiry form for all those interested in my 1:1 performing arts coaching.

All you need to do is complete the form and I'll be in contact to organise your sessions!

I look forward to hearing from you and I can't wait to get started on supporting your theatrical journeys! 🎭

Billy Buckingham - Performing Arts Coach Enquiry Form Please complete the following form to let me know what you would like to get out of the coaching sessions, your availability for sessions and the length of sessions you would like. If you are under 16, this form should be completed by a parent/guardian. I will contact you directly upon receiving you...

Check out this very exciting opportunity for 1:1 performing arts coaching from yours truly! ❤️

⭐️ EXCITING NEWS ⭐️

After many years of experience in the performing arts combined with my passion for teaching both primary and drama, I am delighted to be offering my services as a performing arts coach.

This opportunity is open to ALL ages and abilities. Whether you are an experienced performer who wants to hone their skills in a particular area, a newcomer to theatre who longs to perform or just somebody who would like to build their confidence both on or off stage, there is something for everybody. All sessions are tailored to meet the needs of every individual to ensure that everybody reaches their personal goals.

At present, sessions will be offered on a 1:1 basis with prices beginning at £10 for half an hour and £15 an hour. Book 5 sessions and get your 6th free!

To find out more about what I can offer, please contact me directly via this page or via the email on the poster.

I am so excited to get started and I look forward to working with you on your theatrical journeys! 🎭

Head on over to Billy Buckingham and enter my competition for your chance to have ANY song performed and recorded! 🎤

Don't forget to like and share too! ❤️

Hello everyone!

Long time no see! I've been busier than ever and have recently set up a new page as a performer, entertainer and singer for hire and also to share my many years of experience on stage.

If you could like and share the page, I would really appreciate it.

Of course, I'm available as ever for storytelling and children's entertainment through Storytime with Billy too so feel free to get in touch to discuss your event.

Stay safe, keep smiling and remember to be kind ❤️

Billy Buckingham Singer, Performer and Entertainer available for events of all kinds.

For enquiries, message directly

'I may look like a satanic s*x god but that's not who I am anymore!'

Book your tickets now for a truly rocking show and who knows? Maybe Ned will unleash his inner rock star once again! 🤘🏻🎸

✨Meet our Cast✨
Today we’re introducing Billy Buckingham who is playing THE REAL Ned Schneebly 🎸

“ I've had a blast taking part in School of Rock and after the madness of playing Shrek, it's nice to take on a role that's the complete opposite in Ned!

I've always loved the original movie of SOR and I was lucky enough to see the original West End production too which was just awesome, especially how talented the young musicians were. Our young cast are very much West End standard and could easily rock out in their own concerts one day!

Having been a member of BMCDS for 14 years now, it's been amazing to take part in such a wide variety of productions over the years and SOR is no exception. Full of great songs, loads of laughs and all of your favourite iconic lines from the movie, you'd be a fool to miss out so book your tickets now and enjoy the magic of ROCK!”

Catch Billy in School of Rock: The Musical
1st-3rd June at Queen's Theatre Barnstaple 🎭

Get your tickets here:

https://www.queenstheatre-barnstaple.com/event/school-of-rock/

Photo by: Snooks Photography 📸

I'm also very happy to be a part of School of Rock with Barnstaple Musical Comedy & Dramatic Society (for whom I will be directing Nativity! The Musical later this year).

School of Rock opens at the Queen's Theatre, Barnstaple this June half term so get booking those tickets and prepare to rock! 🤘🏻🎸🎹🥁🎤

Our students at Centre Stage School are working so hard to bring this Shakespeare classic to life for Fringe TheatreFest this June so come along and support them if you can!

For more information on how your child can get involved with CSS, message the page directly for more details! 🎭

Today the teachers strikes continue and I am supporting them once again.

With these strikes, it always gives me time to reflect on myself as a teacher and the journey I've been on and continue to be on.

Those who know me well will know that I have often found it very difficult to believe in myself and my abilities. All too often people seem to think that because I exude a confidence on stage that I've got it all made for me and I feel invincible. However, I have always struggled with self-doubt and I am very much my harshest critic and with the challenging times we find ourselves in within education at present, this has increased tenfold.

I have always strived to be the best I can be as a teacher. I may not be as polished and perfect as some of the others. I may not be as experienced yet. But my focus has always been on the students and my greatest strength as a teacher has always been the relationships and understanding with them. It's paramount to everything else. If you can connect with your class, everything else is usually a little easier.

Teaching, as many know, can be (and should be) the best job in the world. Sadly there are times when the workload is so great, the demands of the curriculum are so high and every other 'tiny' job on your to-do-list tips those scales over and the joy is somewhat reduced. We are encouraged to be creative and think outside the box and yet still need to just cross off all the objectives for the year and cover all bases, often having to squeeze square pegs in round holes. We are already overworked as it is and yet need to write excessive lesson plans that all too often are too over complicated for their own good or use when a lot of the time, there are so amazing plans and resources out there that we can use and adapt but it still feels like we need to do everything from scratch despite already being under so much pressure. Anyone can have the most detailed plan in the world but it's the teachers themselves who make or break a lesson. And that's pressure. It's a big deal and you always want to do the best you can and make your lessons the most exciting and engaging they can be. That can be exhausting, especially when you already feel like you're overwhelmed and you're having to juggle a million other things.

I love being a teacher so much. I do. I love the teaching part and being with the students. That's the sole reason I wanted to be a teacher. I wanted to make a change and be as inspirational as the teachers I had growing up. We have the power to change lives. The people who've had the most impact on me, personally and professionally, did so because they were present. They understood me. They made the effort to know me and connect with me. Teaching is all about connections. Without that, you might as well just give all the children the information they need and let them get on with it. Teaching is about being in the moment with your students and focusing on them. If you can do that, you can do anything.

I am so lucky to have taught hundreds of students over the years and I still remember their names if I see them and have conversations, remembering moments and memories. That's what your students will recall in years to come when they talk about their school life. They remember the people who inspired them, who cared about them, who were there for them. So on those days where I feel like I'm not 'outstanding' or I feel like throwing in the towel, I think about the moments where students have achieved something and they've proudly come to tell me or the moments where we all laugh together and play silly games on the playground or when a student says 'Thank you, Mr B'...that will always be my reason for getting out the front door and stepping into the classroom. I will always be there for my students.

❤️

Today marks 4 years since I started teaching at Centre Stage School and what a ride its been!

Having initially taken on the role as a temporary cover for a few months, I never imagined I'd still be here all this time later but I wouldn't change it for the world.
Being able to combine my love of teaching with my passion for performing arts is a dream combo really and over the years, it has been a pleasure to work with hundreds of students and watch them grow in confidence as people and performers. Whilst it is amazing to see many of the students taking on roles in shows and continuing to shine as actors, the greatest pleasure for me is watching them grow in confidence and finding their voices as people. I've seen students arrive hardly able to say a word out loud to becoming able to deliver monologues in front of a crowd without batting an eyelid! It really is an honour to be a part of that.

CSS is always such great fun and I find myself laughing to the point of tears with the students every week! They know full well I get easily distracted and we always end up discussing the most random things before we focus and carry on with the learning. Teaching multiples groups across the week makes things much more interesting as each group brings their own flair and personality and keeps me on my toes as a teacher. I have one group who scream 'BILLYYYYYYY!' everytime I walk into the room which results in much hilarity and fear from me! 🙈

I love sharing my love of theatre with the students and telling them my own stories from the stage. One message I'm always eager to get across is how to bounce back from defeat, particularly in regards to auditions. I always want to instil that sense of determination in my students that even if they don't succeed and they are knocked down several times, that doesn't mean they aren't good enough. It's how you come back from defeat that defines you and with enough determination, you will reach your goals.

So what does the future hold?
We're currently working on A Midsummer Night's Dream to be performed at Fringe TheatreFest this June so please come along and support our students as they take this classic and make it their own!

However I long I continue at CSS, I am so grateful to have been a part of the team and to have supported so many students in their theatrical ambitions and in finding their voices.

Centre Stage School Centre Stage School offers singing, acting and dancing sessions for 2 to 16 years in Barnstaple.

I think most people know by now but I am thrilled to announce that I will be directing Nativity! The Musical for Barnstaple Musical Comedy & Dramatic Society this December!

A musical about a primary school putting on a nativity...I think I can relate to that!

I can't wait to Sparkle and Shine and see what the auditions bring! 🎄✨️🎁

🎄🎅🏻👼🏼🌟

SAVE THE DATE:

Nativity! The Musical - AUDITIONS!

Sunday 10th September 2023

The VENUE, Barnstaple

More information coming soon, stay tuned…

Got all dressed up for storytelling at Croyde Bay Holiday Resort...turns out it's tomorrow! 🙈

Either way, very excited to be back doing what I love!

Stay safe, keep smiling and be kind ❤️

I've wondered whether or not to say anything about the strike action today. I think what speaks the loudest volumes is the sheer number of people who have taken part and I think that says exactly what it needs to.

Having been a qualified teacher for nearly 5 years now and having worked in education for longer still, I have seen so many wonderful practitioners sadly leave the profession not because they don't love what they do profusely. This isn't a job you take on lightly by any measure. Most teachers leave because it just isn't the job they fell in love with.

Unmanageable workloads and expectations despite the best efforts of SLT to alleviate this, the hours we ACTUALLY work not reflective of the pay we recieve and this is even worse for TAs who are without doubt the true heroes of the classroom in my eyes, not enough staff to manage the number of children who provide additional intervention and care to ensure their needs are met which breaks my heart daily to name but a few reasons.

Most of you who know me will know that being a teacher is the greatest passion of my life and I would give the world for my students. I really would. But despite that, there are some days I wake up overwhelmed and unmotivated because of the sheer number of other factors that impact on making what is supposed to be my passion an absolute nightmare. I've cried more times than I can count for fear of not being good enough for my students or letting them down. I've been anxious to step into the classroom for worries of what the day will bring or whether I will have the energy or motivation to get through the day. Some days, we lack simple resources for basic classroom activities and we have to scrabble to use what we have and most of the time, like so many teachers, I will pay for resources out of my own pocket to ensure we have what we need and that isn't right.

I love being a teacher and I want to be the best teacher I can be. I aspire to follow in the footsteps of my idols and be THAT teacher who my students remember in years to come and say I made difference. But in order to do that, so much has to change and educational professionals deserve the funding and support essential so that we can help grow the people of tomorrow who will eventually shape our world. And we need our teachers to be supported to avoid damage to our mental health and wellbeing. It is VITAL.

I stand with all the teachers who are striking and together, we will make a difference and make our profession the joyous career that it was and should be.

Many in education would probably call me crazy to carry on teaching on a Saturday (and Tuesday for that matter!) but my weekends wouldn't be the same without the madness, chaos and hilarity that comes with teaching at Centre Stage School!
After being here for nearly 4 years now, (crazy, right?!), I've been privileged to work and teach 100s of students from 5 up to 16 in a subject that I am truly passionate about. The students always make me belly laugh every week and I'd like to think I've helped them to grow as both performers and people. Testament to this is when I see my students past and present appearing in shows or going out for auditions and constantly challenging themselves to improve. Proud doesn't truly cover how I feel about them all.
Each session is more different and more crazy than the last but watching the students grow in confidence or have the guts to step in front of the group and speak aloud is what it's all about. As much as Drama is about developing future performers, it's also about giving people a voice and the ability to stand in front of others and express themselves without fear. That's what makes me beam more than anything.
I love this role and long may it continue!

Best wishes to everybody in education who is starting again tomorrow!

As much as we all feel that heavy weight of the holidays ending and the January blues that like to show their face, all of that will quickly wash away with the smiles and happy faces of our students who will have so much to tell us about their holidays and maybe even have missed being at school. I always keep in mind that not all children will have had the same experiences over the holidays and that we as teachers and practitioners might be the shining light they need after a tough time. Be patient, be kind and embrace the madness of the first day back. We can never underestimate the importance of our actions and words for our students.

I can't wait to reunite with my class tomorrow and spend some quality time catching up with them before jumping back into learning!

I have a feeling 2023 is going to be an incredible year.

Stay safe, keep smiling and remember to be kind.

❤️

2022:

What a long and mad year that was, right?!
So much has happened and even now as I write this, I'm wracking my brain to recount it all. I've had highs, lows and everything in between which sounds like a fairly normal year!

Theatrically, I've been busier than ever and have been so thrilled to have performed on stage with both SMALL POND PRODUCTIONS and Barnstaple Musical Comedy & Dramatic Society in such fabulous shows. It's been wonderful to work with old friends and meet so many news ones. I think the highlight would definitely have to be Shrek which has turned out to be one of my performance highlights and a show week I will treasure forever and ever.
I've been so lucky to have continued teaching Drama for Centre Stage School, a role that brings me so much joy and laughter every week. I was so proud of all our students in their 10th Anniversary Showcase and I was honoured to have directed the debut production for the Centre Stage School Youth Theatre Company, Aladdin Jr, which I will always remember fondly.

Career wise, teaching is still as mad and crazy as its ever been and long may it continue. I still find myself learning each day and my students continue to impress me with their ingenuity, empathy, imagination and determination. I'll never forget their performance of Spaceman at our Arts Festival and watching their confidence bloom and grow. The wonder of watching your students achieve so much and grow as academics and humans is a feeling that I will never tire of. Teaching has and continues to be the greatest honour of my life.

Personally, I've reached many milestones this year. I'm now a proud homeowner which has been a huge learning curve. I am forever grateful to my wonderful family, particularly Mum and Dad for their constant support, encouragement and advice. Even when times have been tough, they've stood by me and never let me fall. I love you from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you to all of my friends who have made me laugh, smile or have been there in any way for me this year. It means the world.

I think one of the greatest lessons I've learnt this year is to stop being afraid and to follow my heart. We spend so much time wondering 'what if' or 'I wish I'd done that' and life is far too short. If you have a dream, pursue it. If you want something, go out and get it. Don't let your doubts and fears stop you from being happy or achieving your goals. This year, I have felt braver and more confident in myself than ever before and I intend to go into 2023 with the same determination to be the best I can be and follow my heart. Go out there and be who you want to be. Explore new places, find out who you are, audition for that show, jump out of a plane...just do what makes you happy and you'll always be the best you can be.

Wishing all of you a happy and prosperous 2023. Stay safe, keep smiling and remember to be kind.
❤️

As mentioned in my video, I've made a donation to The Trussell Trust this Christmas to support those who need help at this time of year and beyond.

Follow the link below and please give what you can, if you can, to help others have a more merry Christmas.

Thank you 💚

The Trussell Trust - Stop UK Hunger The Trussell Trust is working to stop UK hunger and poverty. Our network of foodbanks provides emergency food and support to people in crisis.

Who's up for another concert next week?
Let me know below and what songs you might like to hear ❤️

I will ALWAYS strive to be this for my students, both at school and Centre Stage School.
❤️

2023 goals.

Thank you so much to everybody who tuned in for my Christmas concert. I hope you all enjoyed it and are feeling a little more festive 🎄

It certainly brought a big smile to my face and a warm glow in my heart seeing all your lovely comments and support so thank you endlessly.

Stay safe, keep smiling and remember to be kind ❤️

Don't forget to join me LIVE tonight at 6pm for an hour of Christmas songs and more!
I will be taking requests so do send them in and I'll see what I can do!
🎅🏻⛄️🎄

Don't forget to join me LIVE tomorrow at 6pm for an evening of Christmas songs and fun!

What songs would you like to hear?
Are you going to be tuning in?
Let me know below!
🎅🏻⛄️🎄

THURSDAY 22ND DECEMBER,
6PM,
Join me for a LIVE Christmas concert and singalong!
Spread the word and get into the festive spirit!
🎅🏻⛄️🎄

So...

Who'd like to see the return of my Christmas concerts and singalong?

🎄🎅🏻