My name is Kareen and I'm a single mum in Newham and a qualified teacher. I launched Brightstar Performing Arts School in January 2026 as performing arts is something myself and my 6year old are passionate about. As a teacher, dancer, singer, musician, and cheer coach I’ve seen firsthand how performing arts can transform children not just on stage but in confidence, teamwork, self-expression, and resilience.
I’ve also seen how expensive extracurricular activities can prevent talented children from accessing opportunities. Many families in our community cannot afford high theatre school fees and I didn’t want that to be a barrier. Brightstar was born to change that.
My goal is to create than a drama club. I wanted a space where every child feels seen, heard and celebrated, where shy children find their voice, energetic children find focus and all children discover joy and confidence through performance.
Brightstar is not just about children. It’s about community. I want to create opportunities for local mums to gain experience in backstage, costume and administrative roles, helping them develop skills and confidence while contributing to something meaningful.
Since launching we’ve welcomed our first students and already seen incredible transformations. My vision is for Brightstar to grow into a sustainable creative hub in Newham, a place where children thrive, parents can get involved and the community comes together to celebrate young talent. With your support we can expand productions, improve facilities, provide costumes and props and keep fees affordable so that no child misses out.
