Oppidan Backstage

Oppidan Backstage is a dedicated programme of 1:1 tutoring and mentoring for child actors, covering every subject and every schedule so education doesn’t stops when production starts.

What they say

What is Oppidan Backstage?

Oppidan Backstage is a dedicated service for child actors: a programme of 1:1 tutoring and mentoring built around the realities of life on set. Our mentors work around early calls, late wraps and non-traditional schedules so education never takes a back seat to production.

They cover every subject, in every setting – on set, at home or online. And after every session, families and schools receive a detailed written report. When production wraps, kids transition back into school without missing a step.

Why choose Oppidan Backstage

The entertainment industry asks a lot of young people. Oppidan Backstage means their education is in good hands, wherever the job takes them.

Mentors who understand the industry

Many of our mentors are creatives with firsthand experience in production. They don't just deliver content – they connect with young people who are navigating something genuinely unusual.

Flexible by design

Our mentors are experienced at working around non-traditional schedules. Early mornings, late evenings, location changes: we adapt to the production, not the other way around.

Every subject, every setting

From core curriculum to extracurriculars, our mentors cover it all – on set, at home or online. Wherever the child actor is, learning keeps going.

Nothing falls through the cracks

Every session ends with a written report, shared with family and school. Progress is tracked and visible to everyone who needs it. When production wraps, the transition back to school is seamless.

Timeline

How it works

Step 1

Meet your mentor

We'll introduce you to a shortlist of mentors. Families choose the right fit, and in more complex productions, we can pair a child with more than one specialist.

Step 2

Develop the brief

Before the first session, the mentor is briefed by family, school and production team on curriculum, timelines and shooting schedules. They arrive ready to contribute from day one.

Step 3

Sessions and reports

Sessions run around the production schedule, wherever the child is. After every session, the mentor submits a written report – shared with family and school – so progress is always visible.

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a black embroidered top with floral designs, smiling and holding a pen and notebook during a conversation with a man in an indoor office setting with large green plants, a yellow desk lamp, a laptop, and a coffee mug.
A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a black embroidered top with floral designs, smiling and holding a pen and notebook during a conversation with a man in an indoor office setting with large green plants, a yellow desk lamp, a laptop, and a coffee mug.

Step 4

Weekly check-ins

Our client managers check in weekly with the mentor and child's team to keep the programme responsive as productions evolve.

Meet our mentors

Our team of mentors is central to everything we do – a dynamic network of teachers, therapists and counsellors as well as civil servants, journalists and screenwriters. We onboard them through a two-step interview process and once they’re working, we run weekly training sessions to ensure they stay at the top of their game.

View all mentors

Oppidan Backstage FAQs

  • Oppidan Backstage is for child actors on professional productions – film, television, streaming and stage – who need continuity of education during filming. It's available in the UK, US and internationally.

  • Our mentors are briefed on the shooting schedule before they start. They work around early calls and late wraps, and adapt as schedules change. The programme is built for unpredictability.

  • Sessions can take place on set, at home or online – wherever your child is. We work across time zones for international productions.

  • Mentors submit a written report after every session, which is shared with both family and school. Schools receive the same visibility they would expect during a normal term.

  • Because every session is documented and shared with the child's school, the return to full-time education is smooth. No gaps, no catch-up panic.

  • Absolutely. Many families continue with Oppidan's broader mentoring programmes – Character, Skills, Communication or Academic – once filming is over. The relationship often carries on long after the credits roll.

  • Get in touch with our team using the form below. We'll discuss your child's needs, their school and the production schedule, and take it from there.

Speak to the team about Oppidan Backstage