Debs lives locally in Rowley Regis and with a background in education, she has always been very passionate about nurturing children and young people and ensuring that all talents are recognised and developed – whatever those talents may be. Alongside education, she has always had a passion for the performing arts. She loved performing from an early age, playing Dorothy in a school production of “The Wizard of Oz” when aged 6 and continued performing in school plays and musicals throughout her own education.
Aged 16, she joined Bilston Operatic Company in Wolverhampton (her mother, Brenda Arnold, is now Chair of this company) and Debs was heavily involved in the Save The Grand Theatre Campaign in Wolverhampton as her late father, Michael Jennings, was the Chair of the Save the Grand Committee. So, theatre has always been in her blood!
At 18, Debs went to Birmingham University to study Music, Drama and Dance. Having attained her degree, she completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and became a Primary School Teacher. Debs moved into Primary Headship roles from 2004-2015. For a while, from 2015-2019, she ran her own Performing Arts Company, ‘Inspire’ in Wolverhampton but she is currently enjoying working back in the classroom as a supply teacher in Birmingham Primary Schools, as well as privately tutoring a number of pupils in education and drama: preparing pupils for their LAMDA examinations.
Debs started directing whilst in sixth form and then directed 2 musicals at Birmingham University, when she and a couple of friends founded the Guild Musical Theatre Group – which is still very active today. Debs was the Administrator and Director of BMOS Youtheatre from 1989-2002 but then founded Youth Onstage with three of the current committee members. Since 1989, she has directed two youth theatre shows a year and 2 shows for the Solihull Theatre Group. She was thrilled to be awarded the Love Midlands Theatre Award for her Outstanding Contribution to West Midlands Theatre in April 2019.
Debs loves watching the young people she works with grow in all aspects of theatre: singing, dancing, acting and technical aspects of the performances. She has loved every show she has directed, with some definite highlights being “Les Misérables”, “Legally Blonde”, “Kipps” and “Little Shop of Horrors.” It is her ambition to see as many Youth Onstage alumni performing in the West End or touring professionally as possible! She then tries to continue to support them – despite the expense – and has seen previous members performing leading roles in “Hamilton”, “The Lion King”, “Priscilla – Queen of the Desert” and many pantomimes across the country. Many performers also work on various cruise ships visiting so many wonderful places in the world and Debs still keeps in touch with them. Members have also had the opportunity to work as part of the production team at Youth Onstage, musically directing and choreographing. These members have then gone on to become Directors, Musical Directors and Choreographers in their own right and one previous member, Suzy Petty, has even opened her own Stage Schools across the Birmingham area, The Theatre Workshop. Others have gone on to teach Drama, including working abroad.
Debs stated, “I found out about the British Empire Medal (BEM) at the beginning of December through a letter from the cabinet office which arrived in a very scary looking envelope. I was amazed to find out that a group of 9 people, including Youth Onstage committee members and youth theatre members from both BMOS Youtheatre and Youth Onstage, had been sneakily working behind the scenes for the last 2 years to try and organise this wonderful recognition for my work across the West Midlands in the performing arts – a role which I cherish every day, despite the amount of work involved as Chair and Director of Youth Onstage. To be rewarded with a medal for something you love doing is simply marvellous. However, I would never be able to achieve the fabulous standard of our performances without the amazing team of people who work with me, including my husband, behind the scenes and, of course, our awesome members.”
Youth Onstage is currently recruiting new members for their next musical, the fabulous “High School Musical”, so Debs would be very keen to hear from any young people, aged 9-25, who would like to develop their own skills and talents. She can be contacted via email at: [email protected] but hurry, as rehearsals start soon, so get in touch by Sunday 12 January 2025!
