The Face Behind the Franchise - Khara from Footlights Old Trafford

What led you to take on a Footlights franchise?

I was fresh out of university when I was introduced to Footlights for the first time. I wasn't just encouraged by Jo Fisher, the franchise owner; she believed in me. After completing a domestic violence show tour, I started teaching at the new Flixton school and saw what the school had to offer. I fell in love with the company and wanted to open my own franchise in my area. Jo had just started her franchise venture, and I seized the opportunity because I wished more people had access to the arts, a privilege I never had. I wanted to create a safe space for all types of children to come and experience the arts.

What does your typical Footlights Saturday morning look like?

My typical day at Footlights begins on a high note. I love getting up to do what I do because of the children and my passionate staff. I start each day by sending out a good morning broadcast to the families, along with a welcoming post. This sets a positive tone for the day.

After that, we head over to Stretford Grammar to set up all the classrooms, which involves moving the tables and chairs back into place and organising the front desk. I take the opportunity to catch up with the teachers, checking in on how they are doing and discussing the day ahead.

It's not all furniture-moving risk assessments! I love the buzz in each classroom, seeing the children at work while we post all the action to our social media story, and it’s the smiles, the laughter, and the personal relationships you develop with each child. It’s seeing the youngest students run into the classroom beaming, ready to go with lots of energy!

What do you enjoy most about running a Footlights franchise?

I love meeting new children and watching them develop, whether that be in confidence, performance in their craft, or making friends. I also love seeing their incredible shows and the look on all the parents' faces when they see how much their child has accomplished over the academic year.

I always look forward to greeting every child as they walk in. I know all their names and what they have been getting up to over the week. I love getting to know the parents and families individually. They are all wonderful people. We have such a loving community over at old Trafford that I am extremely fond of – such a vibrant bunch of people.

I adore holiday schools. I get to do the thing I love day to day, meet a broader range of children from all walks of life and have them for a whole week, sometimes multiple weeks, over the summer period. Creating and seeing the children's happiness each week is a massive highlight for me! Seeing the joy on the parents faces when they see what we have managed to pull together in a week with sometimes numbers such as 60 children per week is so rewarding. We are always tuckered out by the end of it but wouldn’t change a thing.

What is your funniest/most memorable moment at Footlights?

Wow, I have so many fond and funny memories at Footlights, how can I start? I would say that hosting birthday parties and creating some of the most bizarre and outrageous characters to entertain children is my passion. Let's just say I’ve had multiple costume fails; being Batman was one of them. I couldn't see a thing; the pants legs were too long being the short woman that I am, but I continued to do the voice while sliding around a packed room filled with hyper children buzzing off sweets. It felt like blind man's bluff, as I couldn’t really see a thing let alone breath, but I pulled it off, and the children loved it! The show must go on! I love it.

If you could only choose one, would it be acting, dancing, or singing?

Acting, of course. I trained for three years, at the Arden school of theatre – it’s my first love. But there’s nothing quite like picking up a script, becoming someone different, and fully immersing yourself in a role.

What are your personal performance highlights?

I always reflect on ‘And Then You Kissed Me.’ Although I have participated in various performances, from Japanese plays to traditional war shows, nothing compares to the excitement and sense of accomplishment I felt after doing that show. The stage shows with the students are incredible. When they performed Grease the musical – wow the students blew me away they always do. They were just fantastic.

The person you would most like to meet (dead or alive) and why?

That's a great question! I would love to meet Angela Bassett or Keke Palmer. They both exemplify greatness and are icons in the acting industry. I would love to pick their brains about their experiences as Black women in the industry, especially since I feel that diversity has come a long way nowadays.

What are your favourite things to do when you’re not running Footlights?

Spending time with my son and family is the most important thing to me, as it creates memories I can look back on. I enjoy meeting with friends, hosting dinner parties, and organising activity days with my close girlfriends. Who doesn’t love a sip and paint or decorating plant pots and candles? I also have a passion for drawing, painting, and cooking. Being creative is truly fulfilling for me. Additionally, I love getting out into nature whenever I can to reset and ground myself.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of becoming a Footlights franchisee?

DO IT! And don’t look back. Reflect on what unique contributions you bring to your school and community. Truly love what you do, embracing both the highs and the lows, because the results will always be worthwhile. Be open and always believe in yourself and the approach you’ve chosen. You’ve got this!

What are your ambitions for the future?

I would love to open a school on a weekday and get to know more children that I don’t get a chance to meet on Saturday mornings and Friday evenings at the dance school. I would love to write a play and put it on tour and direct it. In terms of enrichment, I want to have more classes and do more in the community. The small things make me happy. It would get away with my son more and just enjoy everything I have worked for.

How can children join your Footlights family?

They can contact me directly via our email address at [email protected] or give me a call at 07389838910 to book a free session with us.

If you see me out in the community, feel free to come over and say “Hi”. I will be wearing my Footlights uniform and would be happy to give you a business card so we can connect further.