The Whittaker Dance and Drama Centre was founded in February 1952 by Beryl Johnson Whittaker and 18 years on from Beryl's death, its's still in the same family, with husband Jack still involved, their daughter Sheila the principal.

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Beryl was trained at Blackpool Theatre Arts and later performed at the Tower Circus where she was a leading dancer, and many Northern Theatres as well as appearing in the Royal Command Performance of 1948 at the London Palladium with Danny Kaye and Julie Andrews.

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Hundreds if not thousands of pupils have passed through the Whittaker's ranks over the years, among them Richard Darbourne who is now the Centre's is honorary Patron, Richard is a freelance theatre producer that has been recently honoured with a BAFA Award for The Best New Musical 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'.

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In 1981 Whittaker’s was the first amateur company to perform at the then recently-saved Grand Theatre Blackpool, staging My Fair Lady with Sheila as Eliza Doolittle - and 44 years, the Whittaker's pupils will be performing their show World At Your Feet at the Grand in 2026 from March 5 to 8 as a celebration of the Centre's 74th Anniversary.

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Sheila is deeply proud of the Centre's longevity, the enduring family connection and hopes that daughter Sinead, 23, will follow in her footsteps to take it into a third generation.