Ex-teacher’s venture helps dreams come true

Jun 26 2009 by Chris Knox, The Journal

A FORMER teacher has set up her own talent agency in order to help some of the region’s future stars secure their big break on the stage and screen.

Lisa Laidler, 33, has launched NE8 Castings with the support of Gateshead Council’s Dragons Den project, which matched her up with business mentor Karen Carr, who is marketing manager at the MetroCentre shopping mall in Gateshead.

Laidler, who is also based in Gateshead, worked as a teacher after giving birth to her four sons, while also running a dance, drama and singing group called Young Starz in Dunston Community Centre.

She had always intended to start her own business but was halted by the death of her grandmother in 2007 before being persuaded to pursue her ambitions once again following a Dragon’s Den event at her local library.

The Dragon’s Den project was launched in early 2008 to offer people living in the Dunston and Teams area of Gateshead the backing they need to set up a successful business of their own including free legal advice, marketing, important business contacts and long-term mentoring.

Laidler said: “I had put the idea of running a business at the back of my mind following the death of my grandmother, to whom I was very close.

“However, chatting with the team behind Dragon’s Den convinced me that I should put forward my business proposal, which they believed had a lot of potential.”

The business, which works with adults as well as children, has already seen a number of its clients find TV work, including a number of reconstructions on Crimewatch UK, as well as a range of TV commercials.

She also supplied actors for the grand opening of the new City Library in Newcastle, who dressed as a number of storybook characters including Peter Rabbit and The Gruffalo.

Laidler has also recently partnered with a photographic studio in Gateshead. She said: “I don’t think I would have set the business up if it wasn’t for the help Gateshead Council. However, I always knew there was a market for it in the North East and was determined to allow people to go into acting without having to go to London.”