Speaking at the press launch of Mayflower Theatre’s 2024 Panto, Jack and the Beanstalk, Diversity’s Ashley Banjo talked about the possibility of the dance group opening up Diversity Studios in Southampton.
Voice FM’s breakfast show presenter Xan Phillips was very excited about this happening.
“There are many famous people who have come from Southampton, people we celebrate and love, but if a unit as world famous as Diversity could come to Southampton, show faith in the city and its youth, sprinkle not only some stardust, but also their professionalism and dedication to their art, it would be a great boost in confidence for the city. Voice FM is fully behind it.”
As excited as he was, Xan might have misheard what was being said, as Diversity are still looking at locations around the UK, but this is how the conversation went.
Xan Phillips: ”It's brilliant that you've got the studios coming to Southampton. Can you give us an idea of what will be involved in it and how they will develop the youngsters in the area?”
Ashley Banjo “Good question. So we've been meaning to do, we've been meaning to sort of like roll out for a little while basically and take our studios elsewhere Essex.
It's where we're actually rehearsing for actually for this production. Um, we converted an old church building and I think now we've got about 400 students in that, in that branch. We did our first production with them recently, and the idea of taking around, like, our little, sort of, um, diversity ecosystem, if you like, sort of, it's not like, sort of, us drafting other teachers and putting our name on the door.
We actually, sort of, tour between studios and locations, and we all teach between the group. We put on productions with everyone that we work with. So we're, sort of, looking to do, like, a really limited number. It's not a franchise or anything. If the idea is to genuinely, um, pop up, sort of, like, outposts in, like, selected places around the country.
And just almost like, find the next generation of diversity sort of organically. You know, rather than through some sort of a show or a process. It's sort of like a real genuine thing that we want to do and connect with people. But just outside of our area, because obviously we're nationwide now. So it felt odd just to only have one studio in one place.
We wanted to try and give the opportunity to others too. So yeah, hopefully, fingers crossed. Southampton is one of those places.
Xan Phillips “It'd be brilliant if you do. Fantastic.”
In 2023 panto tickets sold out in October so this year make sure you book early from Jack and The Beanstalk at the Mayflower Theatre
Find out more about Diversity Studios here
