Product Launch

RNS Number:0071Q
Stagecoach Theatre Arts PLC 
22 September 2003

Stagecoach Theatre Arts plc

Launch of a new business initiative:

Mini Stages - musical fun to share for tiny tots.

Stagecoach Theatre Arts plc, which operates the UK's largest network of
part-time performing arts schools for young people, announces today that, after
six months of development, it has launched its new educational concept: Mini
Stages for babies and toddlers aged between six months and five years.

Following a successful pilot operation the group intends to offer Mini Stages
franchises throughout the UK. Stagecoach Theatre Arts already operates 456 stage
schools throughout the UK, attended by more than 26,200 students. Since it
started franchising in 1994 Stagecoach Theatre Arts has enjoyed a 100 per cent
franchisee success rate.

The Mini Stages pilot was introduced in three venues in Walton-on-Thames, Epsom
and Wimbledon, with two of these venues being fully enrolled from launch. The
new concept offers an adventure in music for babies and toddlers. Accompanied by
parent or guardian, the little one (and adult) listen, beat time, march to
rhythms, sing songs, play with instruments and develop creativity, co-ordination
and confidence. A selection of props and soft toy animals are used to animate
the songs and create sessions packed with "structured fun".

Mini Stages complements Stagecoach Theatre Arts' existing business of teaching
the performing arts to children and young people aged four to sixteen years,
where they are able to learn valuable skills for life.

Mini Stages is part of the groups planned expansion program. It follows the
recent launch of SportsCoach, which opened its first six franchises in April
2003. SportsCoach now has 13 franchisees operating 18 schools, with already 642
students.

Stagecoach Theatre Arts plc is to pay its maiden dividend as a public company of
2 pence per share on 27th November 2003 (ex-dividend date being 7th November
2003) following the approval by its shareholders at the AGM on 10th September
2003.

Stagecoach Theatre Arts plc recently released its final results for year ending
31st May 2003, reporting a 25% increase in its franchise network turnover to
#15.6m and a 14% increase in Group profit before tax to #0.81m. Schools and
students numbers for the Autumn Term 2003 will be announced at the end of
November.

ENDS

For further enquiries, please contact:

Richard Dawson, Finance Director and Investor Relations

Stagecoach Theatre Arts plc 01932 254 333

John Burley, John Burley PR 01629 825 777

Tom Price, Henry Turcan, Financial Adviser

Evolution Beeson Gregory Limited 0207 071 4300


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