Penarth Nub News aims to support our community, promoting shops, businesses, charities, clubs and sports groups.

We will be profiling some of these businesses and organisations in a feature called 'Up Close in Penarth'.

This week we spoke to Sian Griffin about Class Act Company and the joy that acting can bring to young children.

The chance to Act, Sing and Dance can bring joy to young children – boosting their confidence and teaching them new skills during a formative time of life.

Sian Griffin runs Class Act Company, tutoring children aged 6-12 in acting for stage and camera. Classes will re-open on Monday 3 May at the Sea Cadets Hall in Penarth and Thursday 13 May at the St. Francis Millennium Centre in Barry.

After an unexpected and unprecedented year, Sian is encouraging young children to join in with the arts as an escape from the challenges of the pandemic.

"Covid will have had such an effect on our children" Sian told Nub News.

"I want to boost and nurture their confidence to help them dive into a world that isn't exactly what we're going through now.

"It's about becoming a different character, having loads of fun with likeminded individuals."

That was Sian's intention when she started Class Act Company in January 2019.

"I've had kids come to us here and they didn't want to step foot through the door, but their parents have thought this is the best thing for them," she said.

"They need this push, so they've come here for the class and by the end of it, they absolutely love it and sign up for more."

Sian knows first-hand what impact drama classes can have – she began dance classes at a young age and then joined musical theatre group Stage Struck.

"That pushed me in the right direction, I knew exactly what I wanted to do then. I loved performing on stage as different characters," said Sian.

"I was awarded a three-year acting scholarship to London drama school ALRA (The Academy of Live & Recorded Arts), covering stage and TV work, stage fight and intermediate singing."

After a successful career in the industry, Sian described a "big gap" when she got married and started a family.

"You have to go for the 'normal' job, which was an estate agent for me at the time, luckily I went work part-time for Hamptons in Penarth town centre whom I've supported for six years and thoroughly enjoyed."

It was Sian's daughter Sienna who inspired Class Act Company.

"I am in no way a pushy mummy, and I don't want to think of myself as that.

"I've always said to her 'do whatever makes you happy in this life, you do what you want to do'.

"She just sings of her own accord, she can do different characters, different accents. She's a fantastic dancer.

"She joined a different musical theatre group in Barry and I accepted the role of acting director with the CAST, (Children's Academy Of Stage Training.) in Cardiff which I enjoyed but I thought to myself 'why don't I have my own classes?'"

With Sienna as the driving force, Class Act Company was born.

In their first year the Class Actors worked on material from Matilda, drawing from both the musical and film.

For many of the children it was their first experience studying a script, learning lines and creating an ensemble performance.

"We invited family and friends to come and watch them, just so there was a friendly face in the audience, something that would make them feel confident and wasn't too intimidating," said Sian.

"It was a real occasion!"

Then with December approaching, Class Act worked on a festive show 'The Christmas List', exploring elements of physical theatre.

"It was lovely. Family and friends came to watch and we had mulled wine, mince pies and a raffle with prizes from local businesses," said Sian.

As well as these performances, Class Actors have also auditioned for C.itv and one has also filmed several episodes of Yakka Dee CBeebies, putting the skills taught by Sian into practise in the industry.

Of course, the pandemic has somewhat halted classes, with sessions taking place via Zoom where necessary.

"It's fantastic to see all their lovely little faces and they get out of it what they need to get out of it," said Sian.