A JOURNEY that began as a young student has come full circle for Essex resident Lil Bell, who has recently become principal of her local Stagecoach Performing Arts school in Saffron Walden – the very school where her own son discovered his passion for the arts.

Lil attended Stagecoach as a child, and following a quick stint in New York and Yorkshire, returned to teach to children who enjoyed dance as much as she did. When her family relocated to Essex, she discovered a Stagecoach Performing Arts school in her village, which her son expressed interest in attending.

What started as a casual conversation with the principal quickly evolved into a three-year teaching job with Lil working with both Mini Stages and the Drama Classes and when the opportunity to become principal of the school arose, Lil jumped at the chance.

Lil Bell said:

“I attended Stagecoach as a child and loved every minute. It was the highlight of my week, and I made some great friends there. I am so privileged to have become Principal and call it my school. My son attending is a bonus, and I can’t wait to get stuck in.

“We are lucky to have the school in the village. It’s so important to keep performing arts accessible within the community and I’m so glad that I get to be a part of it.”

As Lil steps into her new role as principal, she brings not only professional experience but also the perspective of a former student, a parent, and a teacher who has witnessed firsthand the transformative power of performing arts education.

With a network of over 60,000 students and more than 3,000 extra-curricular Performing Arts Schools worldwide, Stagecoach aims to make a difference in its students’ lives by teaching Creative Courage for Life and many children have gone on to study and work in Performing Arts from blockbuster films to countless roles in local theatre productions.

For more information about Stagecoach Saffron Walden email [email protected], visit www.stagecoach.co.uk/saffronwalden or call Principal Lil Bell on 07723 040 396.