Hustle and Juggle With Rachel Crouch
Name:
Rachel Crouch
Website:
Email:
Epsom@stagecoach.co.uk
Facebook:
Twitter:
How long have you been doing the Hustle and Juggle?
14 years and counting….
What is the Juggle to your Hustle?
Juggling my three children, one in the movies (always off for castings sometimes 3 times a week plus filming days) one in Matilda in the West End (3 months rehearsals plus 5 shows a week) one who has an extra chromosome (Down’s syndrome) so is amazing but often has extra appointments. Plus I run the empire that is Stagecoach Epsom with almost 500 students coming to train with us per week.
Tell me more about your business?
I run Stagecoach Theatre Arts Epsom. I’ve been owner of the schools for 2 years now and I really feel we have the best theatre school in the area. I give my schools my heart and soul and give the students everything I possibly can. We run 5 mains schools around Epsom (6-16 years) 8 early stages classes (4-6 years) plus a very popular Further Stages for 16-19 years). We have students who attend for fun, confidence and life skills but equally we have students who attend who have been in west end shows, films, commercials and TV dramas. We have links to many top west end agencies and casting directors. Overall our ethos is “creative courage for life” meaning all children whenever their life goals, will benefit from our classes. I just love my business it’s not a job at all!
What is your Hustle and Juggle story?
I think our hustle and juggle happens on a weekly basis! Often we will have out week planned (so we think and all feel calm in the Crouch household) then the phone rings it’s a casting for Amelia in London after school Thursday! Oh crumbs, right let’s sort out some childcare for Ava then James can take Amelia up and I can run stagecoach ( as I leave at 3.30 most days). Oh wait Ollie has a Matilda show so we can’t do that!! Ok so James you take Ollie up to Matilda and I will ask Mum to have Ava so I can go to work. Call Mum, Mums working late helping my sisters boys (she runs Sutton stagecoach so has the same hustle problems)! Ok Mums not free try Clare ( our amazing when the you know what hits the fan) yes Clare is free! Ok Ava to Clare’s after school (I drop off on the way to work) James take Ollie to Matilda! Phew! Wait no! No one is free to take Amelia to the casting…. Ok let’s call the in laws!!!! This is pretty much a weekly sometimes twice weekly hustle and juggle for our family. Don’t even ask what we do on show weeks at stagecoach…. Full time nannies might be required!
What’s your message to anyone reading this to inspire them to keep going and remain visible?
Even though often I just want to get off the constant wheel of chaos, I wouldn’t change a thing! Running my own amazing business which fills me with inspiration and passion every day is the best thing we did. James and I have been running our own business since our eldest was a baby so almost 13 years. This works better around our kids lives and gives us some free time in the school holidays with them. Everything we do on a hustle and juggle each week is for them. I’m hoping one day I can look back and be retired with James somewhere hot on a beach, with kids who have succeeded in life, working in careers they also feel passionate about, and James and I can relax….until the grandchildren start to arrive…. Then here we go again!!!!
If like Rachel you are Hustling & Juggling and would like to share your story with others please find out how you can do so here. I would love to hear from you, these interviews really are inspiring others.
Love, Dee
xx
