A THEATRE school which has a Downton Abbey star among its alumni is selling its premises due to the Covid pandemic.

Footsteps Theatre School in Idle was established in 1992 and has trained thousands of children in performing arts. Past pupils include Sophie McShera, who played Daisy the kitchen maid in every series and the hit film of Downton Abbey, and Verity Rushworth, who was Donna Windsor in Emmerdale and is currently in BBC soap Doctors.

The theatre school, in a converted chapel on Westfield Lane, is on the market for offers in the region of £695,000.

Footsteps principal Hiedi Stoakes, who founded the theatre school when she was 19 and owns the property, said that having to temporarily close the theatre school due to Covid restrictions and during lockdown means she can no longer afford to keep the building.

“Unfortunately, the current situation has meant the overheads are now unsustainable,” said Hiedi, adding that she plans to look for alternative premises. “We won’t be closing or moving far. After 28 years, we don’t give up that easily.

“We have a fantastic set of parents who have supported us through these challenging times, so I feel very lucky to still be in business.”

The property was converted last year to include a six-bedroom house. It has been put on the market by estate agent Hamilton Bower, which describes it as a “stunning former church conversion”.

The former theatre school is on the ground floor and above it is the residential part of the property, described by Hamilton Bower as a family home which has “stunning open plan living with spectacular high ceilings and a large mezzanine living space”.

Says the description: “The commercial element offers a large commercial area at ground floor level currently occupied by Footsteps Theatre School providing a gross floor area of around 788 sqm which includes a reception area, two large dance studios, a cafeteria area, offices meeting and storage rooms.” A car parking area has spaces for up to 12 cars.

Hiedi, who lives in the property, started dancing as a child and aged 14 she landed a scholarship for the Legat School of Russian Ballet in Tunbridge Wells, followed by a three-year scholarship at the Northern Ballet School, where she gained a teaching qualification and was awarded the NBS Choreographic Award.

Hiedi has appeared in TV dramas, commercials and pop videos, and Footsteps has produced successful performers and teachers. Said Hiedi: “More than 50 students have left with full scholarships to vocational schools, and past pupils have performed all over the world on stage and screen. Verity Rushworth joined Emmerdale at the age of 12 and has starred in numerous musicals including Hairspray and playing Maria in the UK tour of The Sound of Music. Sophie McShera starred in Downton Abbey, Waterloo Road and the Disney film Cinderella, to name a few. We had a number of students in touring productions, pre Covid.

“We have a lovely relationship with past pupils and it’s wonderful when they keep you updated on their career. We now have the children of past pupils attending, which is wonderful.”