Alumni
Bethany Mooring
“I started Little Gems from a young age and I have the most amazing memories! It is hard to pick a favourite however I loved all the acting games we played and also having the freedom to be creative when creating drama pieces and shows! However personally the best part is meeting people with the same hobbies and interests who will become friends for life - I am still friends with with lots of people from my group now and keep in contact with them often! I learnt a lot from it but what I believe I took most from the group is confidence. Little Gems allowed me to step out of my comfort zone as the group always made you feel comfortable and at ease when I wasn’t used to performing in front of a crowd! I am currently training to be a solicitor and the experiences and confidence I got from the group really allowed me to grow in my career and day to day life! Here is a picture of me and my best friends Mathew and Charlotte at Little Gems and us now!”
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Picture below is Bethany, Mathew and Charlotte in 2011
Charlotte Cooper
I looked forward to Little Gems every Monday! It was an hour where we could just be ourselves and be accepted doing something we all loved; performing. Playing all the funny games was entertaining but I used to love coming up with ideas for our performances. We put on a few shows and if I remember correctly one was a ‘Little Gems panto’ which was very funny, with unique characters and our own songs. Being part of Little Gems helped me with my confidence and encouraged me to believe in myself. This helped me later on in life when I went to university to study modern languages and move abroad to teach English alone. This is something I never thought I could do! I didn’t realise at the time how much this group shaped me as a person and I’m grateful for it. Here’s a picture of me in my Little Gems hoodie with my best friend then and now, Beth.
Rosie Weatherill
“I absolutely loved my time at Little Gems and have so many happy memories. It was a huge part of my teen years and helped me grow my confidence, creativity, and gave me a love of drama that I get to use every day.
At Little Gems I made some of the best friends I have ever had, they’re still my best friends today, and we often talk about the happy times we had at Little Gems when we were younger. One of my favourite memories is playing “Mosher Romeo” in our modernised version of ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Gems was such a great way to meet likeminded people and have so much fun while learning new skills and expressing ourselves. I also had the pleasure of helping out with the younger groups when we got a bit older which definitely showed me how much I love to teach.
I will always be grateful for the fond memories and for the skills I learnt from Gemma who inspired me to follow my dreams and pursue a career in the performing arts. I studied Musical Theatre at University and spent a number of years working as an entertainer and performer, I also traveled to Singapore to teach Musical Theatre in 2019. Today I am a secondary school Drama Teacher and regularly find myself playing the drama games I learnt at Little Gems with my own students. Thanks, Gem, for everything! X
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Picture below is Rosie wearing her Little Gems hoodie back in 2012
Martha Gosnold
I always look back on my time at Little Gems with very fond memories. It was a place filled with laughter, friendship and unwavering support. Throughout my time as a little gem I felt my confidence grow hugely. The encouragement I got not only from Gemma but from my peers also was fantastic and really allowed me to let loose and discover a freedom within myself that I had kept hidden in other aspects of my life.
Little Gems not only gave me the skills and confidence to pursue my passions but it also gave me an extended (completely bonkers 🤪) family for life. A network
of uniquely beautiful people that I know will be in my life forever.
Gemma is inspiring, encouraging and creates a truly safe environment for you to explore your capabilities and I would encourage anyone looking for a place to thrive to join!
