(CAT) was founded on 14th September 2019 by actor Ayden Callaghan and presenter and West End performer Sarah-Jane Honeywell with the aim of bringing high-quality professional performing arts training and opportunities to young people in Lincolnshire.

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Originally launched as The Curious Theatre School, CAT has continued to grow into a vibrant creative hub offering training in musical theatre, acting, singing, dance, performance, and creative development for children and young people of all ages and backgrounds.

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Both Sarah-Jane and Ayden come from working-class backgrounds themselves and understand the barriers many families face when trying to access performing arts opportunities — whether financial, geographical, or simply through not having connections within the industry. Their vision has always been to help bridge that gap by providing professional-level training, mentorship, industry insight, and genuine opportunities for young performers living outside major cities.

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Today, CAT operates as a , allowing the organisation to continue expanding opportunities for young people through community-led projects, outreach, creative education, and future grant-funded initiatives.

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Alongside the academy, CAT also supports young performers through , a registered charity dedicated to helping disadvantaged children and young people access performing arts training, dancewear, examinations, casting opportunities, and creative experiences regardless of financial circumstances.

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CAT has also expanded into talent representation through Curious Talent, supporting young performers with professional castings, self-tapes, auditions, and industry preparation for opportunities within television, theatre, film, commercials, and musical theatre.

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As the organisation continues to grow, CAT is also developing Alternative Provision (AP) programmes designed to support young people who may benefit from creative, therapeutic, and confidence-building educational environments outside of mainstream settings.

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In 2025, CAT secured a five-year lease on the Performing Arts Building at following the closure of their Performing Arts course. This exciting new creative hub will provide space for rehearsals, productions, workshops, recording, self-taping, outreach projects, qualifications, and future educational partnerships.

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CAT continues to build strong industry connections and opportunities for its students through links with organisations including , drama schools, professional agents, and working industry creatives.

The academy has welcomed a wide range of respected industry professionals for workshops, talks, and masterclasses, including:

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• John Partridge

• Bill Deamer

• Bruce Guthrie

• Catherine Jayes

• Charlie Wernham

• Emma Kenny

• Ben Richards

• Richard Dempsey

• Joanna Forest

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At the heart of CAT remains the same mission it began with — creating opportunities, building confidence, nurturing creativity, and helping young people believe that their background should never limit their potential.