Annemarie Lewis Thomas, Principal
Originally from Swansea, Annemarie trained At Middlesex Polytechnic, graduating with an honours degree in Performing Arts.
As the Musical Director for the award winning Steam Industry she was the MD/Arranger for shows such as the London stage premiere of Calamity Jane, The King and I, The Sound of Music, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers all at BAC. Other MD/arrranging credits include: UK No 1 tours of Annie, Totally Frocked Up, Stage Stars and Spirit of the Musicals, the Irish premiere of Rent; Martin Charnin’s 9 And a Half Quid Revue at the King’s Head; the UK premieres of Victor/Victoria, The Ultimate Man and Reefer Madness all at the Bridewell: the UK premiere of Naked Boys Singing at Madame JoJos: Pendragon for the NYMT on tour in Japan, Funeral Games, Dick Daredevil, South Pacific and more recently Kiss and Tell at the Drill Hall, London, for which she also composed the music. She works regularly with Perfect Pitch most recently MD’ing’ From Up Here in their West End Showcase.
Her composing credits include: Dangerous Nights at Jermyn Street; Mulan, Island of Clowns and Back to Front all the NYMT; CCTV, The Open Door, Girl In The Ashes, Sunnyville, Great Expectations, Fool’s Gold all for the YMT:UK. She composed the music for Bryony Lavery’s play Her Aching Heart for Drill Hall and La Pucelle at the Oval House. She also wrote the music for The Roaring Girl and Man is Man both at the Finborough. In collaboration with Phil Willmott Annemarie wrote the music to Around the World in 80 Days, (published by Samuel French), which has been performed both in the UK and Germany. Uncle Ebenezer commissioned by BAC and The Wolf Boys commissioned by the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre. Since 2007 Annemarie has written several pieces for the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds inc: the score for Black Eyed Susan (which reopened the Theatre after its major refurbishment), plus the music/lyrics for the critically acclaimed pantomimes Cinderella and the Glass Slipper(2007) and Puss in Boots (2008). Jack and the Beanstalk (2009)
As a lecturer Annemarie spent 18 years at the Hertfordshire Theatre School writing and running the Musical Theatre component of the course. She has also worked at Middlesex University where she ran the module Singer As Entertainer, as well as writing a Musical Theatre module for the then Performing Arts degree. In FE Annemarie worked at the Hertford Regional College helping them to make the transition from A Level to BTEC and contributing to the creation of the course. She works freelance as an audition consultant/workshop facilitator.
Annemarie also regularly contributes as a journalist to several publications on the subject of Musical Theatre.
Recent credits inc: Musical Supervisor for Robin Hood (Cambridge Touring Theatre) & Around The World in 80 Days (Scoop Theatre, London), West End Backwards (Kings Head) She has just finished recording a demo and MD’ing’ a workshop of new musical Playback (currently in development)
Full details can be found at www.annemarielewisthomas.co.uk
Carly Hainsby AISTD, Vice-Principal and Head of Dance
Carly trained at the Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts where she graduated with her ISTD teaching qualifications and a national diploma in Musical Theatre.
Most recently, Carly has worked extensively for “Chicago” and has performed in productions in Istanbul, Rio and Marrakech as well as numerous events in the UK.
Theatre Credits include The Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Annie in which she played the role of Lily St Regis, Crazy for you in which she played the role of Patsy, Arms and the Cow for Opera North, Calamity Jane, Anything Goes, La Traviata for Grange Park Opera, Chess in which she played the role of The White Queen and The Wiz.
She was also a featured singer and dancer for the Jean Ann Ryan company onboard the Norwegian Wind and a member of the Moulin Rouge Company both in Paris and for their touring productions all over the world.
Her choreographic credits include Pimpinone for the Buxton festival, “Carmen” for London Opera Vocal, pieces for “Broadway then and now” and “Burlesque and other distractions” for Bird College and “Something Old, Something New” and “Dangerous Daughters” at The MTA.
Carly teaches at many Performing Arts Colleges and schools and runs her own company providing theatre workshops and masterclasses.
Nick Crossley, Deputy Head of Dance
Recent credits inc: Ensemble in Love Never Dies (Adelphi) Oliver(Palladium), ‘the Spirit of Fosse’ Chicago (Cambridge Theatre), prior to this he toured the UK with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang . Nick’s other theatre credits include Starlight Express, Fame, We Will Rock You, West Side Story and Cats
Nick has also appeared on television in The Bill for ITV and the Period Drama Byron for BBC 2.
Recordings include the original cast recording of We Will Rock You.
Nick continues to teach and give workshops in colleges and schools across the country and is currently studying towards his Masters Degree with the Open University.
Nia Lynn, Head of Vocal Studies
Nia has a broad base of experience and works in a variety of situations. Her initial training was at The Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, specialising in Voice and Jazz Music. Her performance history is on a national and international scale, ranging from international music festivals, gigs at Ronnie Scots and the South Bank Centre to solo performances at the Albert Hall. She has also released two successful albums with 33Jazz Records and has a flourishing song-writing career, writing music for Children’s books to iTunes download of the week.
She has facilitated numerous workshops, again both on a national and international basis. One of her recent projects saw her lead a choir of 80 adults as part of the London Jazz Festival programme at the South Bank Centre. To continue her studies and teaching practice Nia completed a two-year Masters programme at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, specialising in leadership skills, fully rounding herself as a portfolio musician and workshop leader.
Last year she joined the Jazz Faculty staff at The Trinity College of Music (Greenwich) where she took up the post of Principal Study Singing Teacher. This compliments her role as singing teacher and choir leader at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (Cardiff).
As well as working in music education and being a professional performer, Nia has always had great interest in the theatrical process and its connection with the voice. She has performed as an actor/musician for many companies including a singing role with The Royal Shakespeare Company.
Recently Nia has completed a second Masters course, specialising in Voice Studies at the Central School of Speech & Drama. Fellow alumni include Cicely Berry, Patsy Rodenburg and Barbara Housman. She is a keen educationalist with a passion and drive to integrate the singing voice with the speaking voice and the whole voice into the theatrical process.
Nia is also an Astanga Yoga Practitioner and has a holistic approach to working with the voice through the body. She has travelled extensively and draws influences from many traditions as well as recognising the heritage of voice work in the U.K.
Helen Evans, Head of Acting
Helen trained at Bretton Hall achieving a First Class BA (Hons) degree in Acting, and at Central School of Speech and Drama achieving an MA (with distinction) in Performance Practices and Research. As recipient of the Central School Research Bursary, Helen is currently pursuing her practice-based PhD titled Interactive Performance: Democracy under Surveillance? She has also worked in a variety of performance environments as an Actor/Performer, Director, Facilitator and Lecturer.
Theatre credits include: Multi-roles in The Shakespeare Revue (The Cochrane and Uk and French tours); Alumni Choir in Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert (o2); Woman in A Woman Alone (Horse, Waterloo); Miss Dinsmore in Singin’ in the Rain (UK Tour); Sole performer in Sonnet Apples (forming part of an installation at The Centre Pompidou, Paris); Choreographer for Romeo and Juliet (Jermyn Street Theatre – for Antic Disposition); Jen in John and Jen (Premier, Finborough Theatre); Various characters in A Memory A Monologue, A Rant and a Prayer (Eve Ensler Premier); Creator/director/Performer in Sanctity of Hair (London Institute of Contemporary Arts); Eve in Amapola (Battersea Arts Centre); Leading Lady/Fan in Inside Out-A Portrait of Ivor Novello, (Premier and UK Tour); Nellie Forbush in South Pacific – Concert, (Singapore); Swing in Les Miserables (National Tour); Isabella in various Commedia dell’ Arte productions; Elizabeth in Paradise (Moray House Theatre, Edinburgh); various other plays, musical cabarets and voice-overs.
Television credits include: Edith Pretty and Cleopatra in BBC’s BAFTA award winning RELIC: Guardians of the Museum; Librarian Mutternot in Trapped Ever After; Madame Deux Visage and Librarian Mutternot in CBBC’s TRAPPED (series 2 and 3); Ethelena in TRAPPED (series1); Self in Ivor Novello (BBC Wales documentary); various commercials.
As both Visiting Lecturer and Director, Helen has also worked with Central School of Speech and Drama’s BA (Hons) Applied Drama and Education and BA (Hons) Theatre Practices courses; The University of Chichester’s BA (Hons) Performance Arts; Bretton Hall University College’s BA (Hons) Acting. Productions directed include Zombie Prom, Epsom Downs, Company, The Beggar’s Opera and various devised works.
Sarah-Jane McElhatton P.A & Company Stage Manager
Sarah-Jane graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in a Two Year Technical Theatre and Stage Management course in 2010 with a Distinction and has a 2:1 in BA Hons Drama from the University of Lincoln School of Performing Arts.
She grew up in Coventry and moved to London after finishing University in order to further her passion for technical theatre.
Her recent stage management credits include Grimm & Grimmer with Gonzo Moose Theatre Company as DSM, Jerwood Opera writing programme with Aldeburgh Music as ASM, Die Dreigroschenoper with the Royal Academy of Music as DSM, The Three Pintos with UCL as DSM, Luck Wright’s Cynical Ballads at the Leicester Square Theatre as SM, Spring Awakening with The English Theatre Frankfurt Company as ASM, and Jack & the Beanstalk at the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds as ASM. Sarah-Jane has also Stage Managed five Miniaturists shows which consisted of performing five new plays at the Arcola Theatre in one day.
She has also Stage Managed six of The MTA shows which include Celebs Anon, Something Old & Something New, Zombie Prom, Cinderella, Epson Downs and Dangerous Daughters.
This position is supported by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation
Angie Peake RN (Adult) RN (Mental Health) DipHE, PGDip, MSc (distinction), Health & Welfare Consultant
Angie is a dual registered nurse with an extensive background working with young people. She is currently a lead nurse in Adolescent Acute Mental Health Services. She has a Masters Degree in Systemic Management, Coaching and Consultation. Angie has worked as a youth centric counsellor for several years and is an experienced Solution Focussed Therapist.
As the Consultant for The MTA Angie will be supporting staff by providing consultation and advice on all health and welfare issues. Students will also be able to access Angie’s services should the need arise.
The MTA prides itself on its holistic approach to training.
Wilma Kirsten – Consultant Nutritionist
Wilma Kirsten is a Harley Street nutrition expert who specialises in gut disorders and female hormonal health. Her honours degree in Nutritional Therapy, masters diploma in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and extensive clinical experience means that the students are privy to advice from a true expert in the field.
Wilma fundamentally believes that we are what we eat and that the power of good nutrition should not be underestimated. She advocates eating to sustain a good quality of life not merely ingesting food for the sake of it. Wilma understands that we are all unique individuals with different lifestyles and incorporates that knowledge in guiding her patients to experience the benefits of well chosen food options. She never loses sight of the goals that the patient sets at the onset of a consultation and offers support throughout this unique adventure which focuses on eating well for life.
As well as her busy clinical practice, Wilma is also an expert columnist on Nutrition for Positive Health Online Magazine and is completing her second science degree in Biological Psychology through the Open University.
For more information visit http://www.wilmakirsten.com/
Voice Staff
Colin Farquharson
Colin Farquharson trained as an actor in South Africa. He appeared in various Shakespearean productions including, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Lysander); Much Ado About Nothing (Benedick); and The Merchant Of Venice (Lorenzo) before making his musical theatre debut in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Simion)at the State Theatre in Pretoria. In the UK Colin has continued working on stage appearing as Murkor in Bink and the Riddle of the Sphinx (People’s Theatre Company) and Sobad in The Magic Toybox (Chaplin’s Theatre Company). Recently, Colin has focused more on film work and has appeared in several award winning short films including Tarrot (DEATH), Working Late (TIM) , Crass Transit (Businessman) and The Endless Game (Man in Black).
Colin worked in the theatre and film industry for 10 years before returning to study and completing his MA in Voice Studies at Central School of Speech and Drama. Colin now works as a freelance voice teacher focusing on the connection between the voice and body and has taught for many institutions including Central School of Speech and Drama, Guildford School of Acting, East 15, Gloucester University, HULT Business School, to name but a few. He has also run workshops internationally, in Austria, South Africa and Botswana.
Corin Mellinger
Corin has worked in theatre, TV/film, voiceover and numerous commercials for over twenty years. He trained as an actor at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and subsequently on the MA Voice course at the Central School of Speech and Drama.
Theatre credits as an actor include Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet and Macduff in Macbeth for the English Shakespeare Company, Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the Salisbury Playhouse as well as TV/film appearances in Kavanagh QC, Hardmen and Poppy’s Present. Corin has also worked as a postproduction voice artist on numerous major film productions including Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Corpse Bride and the Walt Disney production Valiant.
His work as a Voice, Dialect and Acting coach has included teaching drama students at The University of South Florida in the U.S.A, Rose Bruford College, A.C.T in Brighton and the Central School of Speech and Drama. Voice and Acting coaching for theatre companies includes work with the Southwark Playhouse, the Gothenburg English Speaking Theatre Company and Redcape Theatre.
Corin also coaches actors privately in accent/dialect, acting and text work.
Acting Staff
Tilly Vosburgh
Tilly has worked extensively as an actress in TV, film, radio and theatre. Film credits include Meantime and Vera Drake, (with Mike Leigh) Will You Love Me Tomorrow, and The Pirates of Penzance. TV credits include 18 months on Eastenders, Murder Prevention, The Smoking Room, Waking the Dead, Tipping The Velvet, Holding On, Teenage Health Freak, A Touch Of Frost, Poirot, etc. She is about to film 6 episodes of Holby City to be screened in the spring. On stage, she appeared in Drag On at the Royal Court, The Pitchfork Disney at the Bush, My Sister In This House at Hampstead, The Threepenny Opera at the Bloomsbury, and Raspberry at the Soho Poly ( also on TV.) She has just completed a radio series, When The Dog Dies, soon to be aired on Radio 4.
Alongside acting, Tilly has been teaching drama at the London School of Musical Theatre since 2001, and at CPA College in Romford since 2006. She is also a director and a writer.
Hattie Ladbury
Hattie graduated from the 3 year acting training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama having been awarded the 1996 gold medal for her work and a first class BA (hons) in acting.
Theatre credits include Catherine in The Winslow Boy (Salisbury Playhouse), Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, Lady Be Good (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) Amanda in Private Lives, Ruth in The Norman Conquests (Wolsey Theatre), Marlene in Top Girls (Oxford Stage Company tour & West End), Mother & Stella in After Mrs Rochester (West End & Shared Experience tour), Gwendoline in The Importance of Being Ernest (Bath Theatre Royal & tour), The Spanish Lawyer in Tejas Verdes (The Gate), Candida (Oxford Stage Company tour), The Comedy of Errors (Sheffield Crucible), Romeo & Juliet (tour), Tess in Tess of the D’Urbevilles and The Mayor of Casterbridge (tour) The Lion The Witch & the Wardrobe (RSC) Absent Friends (Harrogate Theatre).
TV and film credits include Eastenders, Holby City, Doctors, Midsomer Murders, The Worst Week Of My Life, Mrs Brown and Casualty 1906.
Hattie is a trained singer and plays the violin and piano. She has a special interest in theatre movement and period dance and teaches Swing, jive and other authentic dances from the 30’s & 40’s.
Giles Taylor
Giles is an actor and singer with a wide range of experience spanning the last twenty years. He has worked for the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and extensively for the New Shakespeare Company at the Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, as well as at numerous repertory theatres around the country, including Birmingham Rep, the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Salisbury Playhouse, the Watermill Theatre, Newbury, and with Sir Alan Ayckbourn at Scarborough. His most recent theatre credits include After The Dance at the NT, The Secret Garden and The Wizard of Oz at both Birmingham Rep and the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Sam West’s acclaimed revival of Waste at the Almeida Theatre, The Music Man at the Chichester Festival Theatre, and Macbeth and Lady Be Good at the Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park. On television he has been seen most recently in the latest series of Foyle’s War on ITV, the acclaimed Stuart: a Life Backwards and Stephen Poliakoff’s Friends and Crocodiles, both for the BBC. As a teacher Giles works as a Shakespeare Consultant both for drama schools and individual productions – most recently for the West Yorkshire Playhouse’s production of As You Like It, the Manchester Royal Exchange’s production of The Comedy of Errors, Shakespeare’s Globe on their 2008 tour of Romeo and Juliet, and for the Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park’s recent productions of Pericles, Much Ado About Nothing, The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet. He also teaches regularly at The Actors’ Centre, is an Associate Artiste of the National Youth Theatre, and is regularly involved as an actor, director, writer and dramaturg with Scene and Heard, a mentoring project for inner-city kids, which has recently won a Queen’s Award.
Dance Staff
Please note that it is The MTA policy for all staff to be currently working in the industry, therefore teachers are likely to change subject to professional commitments.
Richard Reynard
Richard trained at Laine Theatre Arts making his stage debut in the 1 st UK tour of Fame The Musical and has just finished playing Eddie in Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre in the West End.
Other West End credits include: Cats (New London); Chicago (Adelphi); the original cast of The Witches Of Eastwick (Drury Lane and Prince of Wales); My Fair Lady (Drury Lane) and Pepper in Mamma Mia! (Prince Edward)
With a season at Chichester Festival Theatre in My One And Only, Richard has also appeared at the Open Air Theatre, Regents Park playing Mustarseed in Midsummer Night’s Dream , Prince John of Lancaster in Henry IV, part 1 , Lord of Camelot in Camelot and Franklin in The Babysitte r.
More recently Richard played Jimmy Smith in the UK tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie , Cosmo Brown in Singing In The Rain (Courtyard Theatre, Hereford) and Albert Tufnell in the 1950′s play Sailor Beware! (Stevenage, Eastbourne, and Worthing.)
Last summer Richard returned to Regents Park to play the lead role of Tony in The Boyfriend .
Other theatre credits include: Vocalist in Marti Webbs Magic Of The Musicals (Demark); Eugene in Grease(Scandinavian tour); Billy Shears in Beatlemania (Gothenburg); Jamie in My Fair Lady (Cyprus and Malaysia)
Richard has been teaching for over 10 years at various prestigious schools and colleges including Laine Theatre Arts, Arts Educational, Tring Park and Urdang passing on his experience to many students.
For more information on Richard visit his website www.richardreynard.com.
Helen Rymer
Theatre and Choreography credits: Choreographer for Peter Pan, Grand canal Theatre, Dublin, and Southampton Mayflower, 2011. U.K Associate Choreographer for white Christmas, U.K tour 2011/2012. Associate Choreographer/Dance Captain for the workshop of Monkee Business, studio theatre, Dominion, 2011. U.K Associate choreographer for White Christmas, Sunderland Empire, 2010. Associate choreographer/Dance Captain for Aladdin, Southampton Mayflower, 2010. Associate Choreographer for Santa Claus and the return of Jack Frost, Southampton Mayflower, 2009. U.K Assistant Choreographer for White Christmas, Plymouth Theatre Royal, and Salford Lowry Theatre, 2009. Assistant Choreographer and Resident Choreographer for Chitty Chitty bang Bang 2009/2010 U.K tour. Associate choreographer/ Dance captain for Cinderella the musical Pantomime at Southampton Mayflower Theatre, 2008. Dance captain in Hello Dolly, U.K tour, 2008. Dance Captain/Swing in white Christmas Edinburgh playhouse and Cardiff Millennium Centre, 2007. Dance Captain in Annie, U.K tour, 2007. Dancer in Follies in Concert at the London Palladium, 2007. Dance Captain/ swing in white christmas Plymouth Theatre Royal, 2006. Santa Claus the Musical, 2005. Dance Captain onboard oriana P&O Cruise line, 2005. Dance ensemble in Tanz der vampire, Apollo theatre, stuttgart,2003, and various pantomimes.
Television credits: Ednaette in Dame Edna treatment, ITV. Gabriella in odeon High School Musical promotion, disney. Dancer in the Paul O’Grady show, Olga TV channel 4. Featured Dancer in It’s Now or Never, ITV. Actress in ‘Womes’s Talk’ documentary, Sky, UK Living.
Helen has taught and choreographed at Various Colleges and Schools.
Lucy Banfield
Lucy trained at The Royal Ballet School, The English National Ballet School and Laine Theatre Arts.
She is currently appearing as Hunyak in Chicago in the West End, and recently took part in the Peter and the Wolf workshop for Adam Cooper.
Her other theatre credits include; White Christmas, understudying Judy Haynes, Adam Cooper’s Shall We Dance at Sadlers Wells understudying Sarah Wildor, Ensemble/Dance Captain in Desperately Seeking Susan (Original London Cast, Novello Theatre), Dirty Dancing (Original London Cast, Aldwych Theatre), Understudy to the Lead role of Brenda in Movin’ Out (Original London Cast, Apollo Victoria), Assistant Dance Captain in Chicago (European Tour), On Your Toes (Royal Festival Hall), Susan Stroman’s Contact (Original London Cast, Queen’s Theatre), Maria & Understudy Connie and Shirley in Saturday Night Fever (West End, UK Tour and Musical Dome, Cologne, Germany), Tiger Lily in Peter Pan (Milton Keynes).
Lucy has toured the UK, Australia and Hong Kong with The English National Ballet Compan, and was a dancer on the Katherine Jenkins ‘Believe’ Arena tour.
Lucy’s Television credits include; Featured Dancer in the Dance X TV Promo and Credits (BBC TV), Dancing in the Streets (BBC TV), Strictly Dance Fever (BBC TV), The Royal Variety Performance,
Principal Dancer at the Shall We Dance? Film Premier, Foley Artist in Centre Stage (Feature Film).
Lucy has appeared in numerous music videos and commercials and is a regular teacher and guest teacher at many dance schools and colleges.
LUKE JACKSON
Luke originally from Leicester, furthered his training at Laine Theatre Arts.
His most recent credit was to appear on the second series of BBC’s “So You Think You Can Dance” finishing runner up. Other Credits include (swing) Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, Palace Theatre. (Dance Captian swing) Grease, Picadilly Theatre. Macavity, Cats Uk tour,
Saturday Night Fever in Koln, Germany where he understudied the role’s of Bobby C and Chester. Copacabana, Danish tour, directed by Craig Revel Horward.
The Phantom Of The Opera (Slavemaster) Her Majesty’s Theatre and The “Producers” at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane…
Pantomimes include Peter Pan for E & B Productions Woking/Stoke/Milton Keynes and Cinderella at the Hackney Empire.
Film; The Phantom Of The Opera and Finding Neverland.
Luke has appeared in various music videos, trade and fashion shows.
LISA DONMALL-REEVE
Lisa trained at Bridget Espinosa’s London Studio Centre,Martha Graham and Alvin Ailey School New York.
Currently Lisa is assisting Mitch Sebastian on the workshops for the revival of the musical ‘Pippin’
Other Theatre Credits include :Velma Kelly in Chicago (Cambridge Theatre,London) Velma Kelly in ‘Chicago’ ( TIM ,Istanbul)Lead Dancer / Dance Captain ‘The Opera Show’ ( Kilworth House Theatre); Anytime Annie, understudy Dorothy Brock and Assistant choreographer in ‘42nd Street’ ( Chichester Festival Theatre ) ; Assistant Choreographer on ‘A Night of 1000 Voices’ (Royal Albert Hall) ; Lead Dancer /Assistant Choreographer in ‘The Opera Show’ ( US and International Tours) ; ‘The Rat Pack’ (US Tour) ; Bombalurina/Assistant Choreographer in ‘Cats’ (Beau Sejour,Guernsey and Fort Regent,Jersey) ; Irene/Assistant Choreographer in ‘Crazy For You’ (Kilworth House Theatre) ; ‘The Opera Show’ (Kilworth House Theatre) ; Velma Kelly in ‘Chicago The Musical’ (KLCC Kuala Lumpur) ; ‘The Rat Pack’ (National and International Tour) ; Velma Kelly in ‘Chicago’ (Cambridge Theatre London,UK and International Tour) ; Phyllis Fontaine in ‘Once in a Lifetime’ (National Theatre) ; understudy and played Ulla in ‘The Producers’ (Theatre Royal,Drury Lane) ; Bombalurina in ‘Cats’ (UK Tour) ; ‘My Fair Lady’ (National Theatre and Drury Lane) ; ‘Anything Goes’ and ‘La Traviata’ (Grange Park ) ; ‘Stars of the Musicals’ (Kuala Lumpur Stadium) ; Swing,Undertudy and played Roxie Hart in ‘Chicago’ (Adelphi Theatre) ; Elaine,understudy and played Nicky in ‘Sweet Charity’ ( Victoria Palace) ; Understudy and played Polly Baker in ‘Crazy For You’ (UK Tour) ; ‘A Handful of Keys’ (Prince Edward Theatre) ; ‘Crazy For You’ (Prince Edward Theatre) ; ‘The Snowman’(Birmingham Rep and Peacock Theatre)
Lisa has also produced and performed her own ‘One Woman Show’ at The Bridewell Theatre,Leicester Square Theatre and The Delfont Bar at The Prince of Wales Theatre.
Television and Film include ; The Snowman, The Clothes Show, The Big Breakfast,The Big E-Special feature,Talking Telephone Numbers,Challenge Anneka,The Brit Awards.
Choreography; ‘Carousel’ (Bernie Grant Arts Centre) ; ‘Zombie Prom’ (The Drill Hall Theatre)
For more information www.lisadonmall.com
BEN TRIBE
Ben started dancing at Salisbury Dance Studios prior to training at the Doreen Bird college of Performing Arts. His theatre credits include Swing/Dance Captain, The Producers (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane) Ha’Penny Bridge (Dublin) Beautiful And Damned (Lyric, Shaftesbury Avenue) Swing and 2nd cover Munkustrap, Cats U.K. Tour, Ted Vanderpool in Babes In Arms (Cardiff New Theatre, for the international music festival. My One And Only (Chichester Festival Theatre and Piccadilly Theatre, London) Dance Captain Magic of The Musicals (U.K. Tour) Dance Captain Jane McDonald Summer Spectacular (B.I.C. Bournemouth) Principal Dancer Lido La Tournee (European Tour) Soloist Koblenz State Theatre (Germany) World of Classical Ballet, starring Wayne Sleep (U.K. Tour). Ben has also performed in numerous Pantomime Seasons including five seasons as Dance Captain on Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, starring Lily Savage. Television credits include; The Generation Game (supporting Bonnie Langford) The Brit Awards 1999 (for Robbie Williams) The Man Who Knew Too Little, starring Bill Murray (film) La Passione starring Shirley Bassey (film) Wayne Sleep’s 50th Birthday Celebration (Channel 4) and The Late, Late Show (Dublin) Ben Also works as a free lance choreographer. Recent credits include, numerous productions of Cinderella and Peter Pan, Ruthless (Stratford circus) Dial M For Martini (Warehouse Croydon) Currently Ben teaches Classical Ballet at Bird College and Performers College.
Helen Siveter
Training:
Linda Butler School of Dance and Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts
Theatre Credits:
Helen is currently Swing/Cover Ali in Mamma Mia (Prince of Wales Theatre). Other theatre credits inc: Swing in We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre), Ali in Mamma Mia! (International Tour), Swing and u/s Miss Bell in Fame (Aldwych Theatre), Ensemble, Dance Captain and u/s Mimi and Joanne in RENT (English Theatre, Frankfurt), Lambchops and u/s Carmen and Mabel in Fame (UK Tour), Rosalie and u/s Shirley and Connie inSaturday Night Fever (UK Tour), Ela Delahay in Charleys Aunt directed by Simon Williams, Ensemble in The Wiz(Hackney Empire), Gloria u/s Brandy in Oh! What a Night (UK Tour) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Bristol Hippodrome), Peter Pan (Reading Hexagon), Mother Goose (Oxford Playhouse), Dance Captain on P&Os Aurorawhere she performed in a variety of shows including Grease, Elvis, Half a Sixpence and Jolson.
Television Credits:
The Buzz (Channel 4), The Fame School Graduates (Meridian).
Choreographic Credits:
RENT (Garrick Theatre)
Teaching:
Helen has been teaching for 10 years and is currently part of the Tap faculty at Arts Educational Schools. She has taught for Doreen Bird College, Bodyworks, Stagecoach, Pineapple Performing Arts, The Professionals and many other dance schools and colleges.
Alec Mann
Alec was born in Canterbury, but grew up in Perth, Australia. Returning to the UK to further his dance training at Doreen Bird College.
In his final year, Alec successfully auditioned for Saturday Night Fever at the London Palladium and then onto Notre Dame De Paris (swing and dance captain) at the Dominion Theatre, London.
During Notre Dame he was asked to audition for Kylie Minogues Can’t Get You Out Of My Head video. This led to Alec working with Kylie as her dance partner for the entire Fever album promotion including the videos In Your Eyes, Love At First Sight (which he co-choreographed with Rafael Bonachella) and I Believe In You, culminating in the world tour of KYLIEFEVER2002. Alec worked with Kylie again in 2008 for her European promotion of the singles In My Arms and Wow at 2008′s BRIT awards.
Alec has been teaching for 5 years and is currently part of the Tap faculty at Bird College. He has taught at Stella Mann College and London Studio Centre aswell as numerous workshops and summer schools across the country.
Other credits include:
Choreography: Love At First Sight USA TV performances (Tonight Show with Jay Leno,MTV TRL,Carson Daly, Regis and Kelly) , Cybertronica tap For KYLIEFEVER2002, Let’s Dance for Comic Relief (assistant choreographer), La Variete at The Hackney Empire (assistant choreographer) Mara Galeazzi Gala Sadlers Wells (tap choreographer).
Videos: Maybe and Downtown (Emma Bunton) You Give Me Something (Jamiroquai), Come Up and See Me (Erasure), Shine (Bootyluv) and Get The Party Started (Shirley Bassey).
Theatre: Viva La Diva (with Darcey Bussell and Katherine Jenkins), West Side Story (Bregenz Festival,Austria), Tap Dogs (Geneva/London), Gadaffi (ENO), Carmen (Royal Albert Hall).
Film: Phantom Of The Opera (Joel Schumacher), Beyond The Sea (Kevin Spacey), Inkheart (Iain Softley), Gullivers Travels (Rob Letterman).
Television/Commercial: Take That (Brit Awards 2011),Katherine Jenkins (Ryder Cup Concert 2010), Lily Allen (Brit Awards 2010), Scissor Sisters (Brit Awards 2007), Will Young (19 Concert), Tom Jones (Brit Awards), Jamelia (MOBO Awards 2004) , An Audience With Kylie, Girls Aloud (Royal Variety), MTV Awards (Kylie Minogue 2001).
Karl Stevens
Trained in all aspects of dance and musical theatre at the Hammond School, Chester, Karl graduated as a qualified teacher for the Royal Academy of Dancing.
Since leaving college Karl’s professional engagements include Spamalot at the Palace Theatre Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium, the original UK tours of Thoroughly Modern Millie and Sunset Boulevard, the original German cast of Saturday Night Fever, understudying and playing the roles of Gus and Joey as well as singing on the original German cast recording.
Karl performed in Adam Cooper’s On your Toes, understudying and playing the part of Phil Dolan II on its Japanese tour, and also in an original and alternative production of West Side Story at the Bregenz festival in Austria, dancing on a floating theatre in the middle of Lake Constance.
He also toured with Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, understudying and playing the roles of Frank, Ephraim and Gideon and also with Calamity Jane, which also played a season at Sadler’s Wells Theatre.
Karl played the role of Aladdin in Disney’s Magical Moments, performing in London, Paris and Rome. He has appeared in pantomimes throughout the UK, including LWT’s production of Jack and the Beanstalk with Julie Walters.
As a choreographer Karl’s work includes Mother Goose at the Churchill Theatre , Bromley, Celtic Journey at the Marlow Theatre, Canterbury, and U.K. tour, Dick Whittington at the Richmond theatre, Aladdin at the New Victoria Theatre; Woking, Peter Pan and La Belle Helene at the Chester Gateway theatre. He also choreographed a production of Return to the Forbidden Planet in Belfast Oliver in East London, and excerpts from Wild Party and Pajama Game for Arts Educational School. Karl works as a choreographer and teacher at most of the vocational dance training colleges around the country. He choreographed Echoes of the Mystic at the Peacock Theatre, In Vetriano’s World and Last Tango at Wimbledon Theatre for London Studio Centre and The Legend of the Fisher King at Leicester Haymarket. He has also helped coach the young stars of the West End’s highly acclaimed Billy Elliot.
Karl’s classical credits include Mr Fezziwig in Christopher Hampson’s production of A Christmas Carol at the Royal Festival Hall, Swan Lake (English National Ballet). He has also danced the roles of Franz in Coppelia, The Blue Bird in Sleeping Beauty and the Sugar Plum Fairy’s Cavalier in The Nutcracker.
Karl has also danced for Martine Mc Cutcheon in Martine Sings the Musicals (Carlton TV). His film and television credits include Kinky Boots, The Little Prince, Proms in the Park and various commercials including Samsung, T.Mobile, and Rover.
Alan Birkett
Alan was born in Canterbury and started his dance training at the Deborah Capon School where he won All England Tap Dancer of the Year.
He went on to graduate from Performers College.
Theatre includes : ‘Singing in The Rain’ (Chichester Festival Theatre),Featured Artist in ‘Ol Blue Eyes’ ( Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline),Andy Lee in ’42nd Street’ (Chichester Festival Theatre),The Prince in Adam Coopers’ ‘Shall We Dance’ (Sadlers Wells Theatre),’CATS’ ( Understudy Rum Tum Tugger and Munkqstrap – German Tour),Featured Artist in ‘Viva La Diva’ ( UK Arena Tour and DVD Release),’We Will Rock You’ (Dominion Theatre, London),’Movin’ Out’(Understudy Tony – The Apollo Victoria Theatre , London),’Crazy For You’ (Understudy Bobby Child – UK Tour), ‘One Touch Of Venus’ (Opera North – UK tour and Sadlers Wells),’The Ha’penny Bridge’ (The Point, Dublin),’Santa Claus The Musical’ ( The Mayflower Theatre, Southampton),’Children Will Listen’ (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), and Tap Soloist in’Sondheims 75th Birthday Celebrations’ ( Hackney Empire / BBC Radio).
Television and Commercial includes : ‘How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?’, ‘Dancing In The Streets’,'Children In Need’, and ‘Blue Peter’ (BBC), ‘An Audience With Kylie Minogue’ ITV) and Assistant Choreographer for ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ 2011. (BBC)
Damien Delaney
Damien trained at the The London Studio Centre.
Choreography Credits Include: Asst Choreographer – Alexander The Great, Dance Overture (London Studio Centre), The Revue (Lipa), The Matchgirls (Chichester University), Oklahoma (Trinity College Of Music), On The Town (Chichester University) Cinderella (Theatre Royal Brighton), Cabaret (Chichester University), Honk (Chichester University), Cinderella (Trinity/Laban), Whispering Woods (West Sussex Council), and Cinderella this Xmas at The Opera House, Manchester.
As a performer his West End credits include: Cats (New London Theatre), Hard Times (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Tonight’s The Night (Victoria Palace Theatre) and the original cast of Billy Elliot The Musical as well as the Children’s Dance Captain (Victoria Palace Theatre). Other theatre credits include Jack Tinker In Review (London Palladium), Half A Sixpence (West Yorkshire Playhouse), the National Theatre’s production of Singin’ In The Rain (West Yorkshire Playhouse and UK Tour); Babes In The Wood (Churchill Theatre); Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (New Victoria Theatre); The Wizard of Oz (Cork opera House); Dance Overture (Sadlers Wells); Sweet Charity (Peacock Theatre).
Television: Victoria Wood Xmas Special 2009 (BBC); Hangar 17; The Prince’s Trust Gala with Claire Sweeney; Showtime at the Stadium; The Sound of Musicals (BBC); The Brit Awards; International Indian Film Awards (ITV). TV Commercials include Ericsson, More Magazine and Super Noodles.
Film: Phantom Of The Opera directed by Joel Schumacher and choreographed by Peter Darling; Alexander The Great (as assistant choreographer directed by Oliver Stone); Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gham (Bombay, India); Wind In The Willows (directed by Terry Jones & choreographed by Arlene Phillips).
Damien has lectured for the IDTA at the Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House and has taught at The Place, Bird College, Mountview, London Studio Centre, Millenium, LIPA, Italia Conti, Reynolds Performing Arts, Midland’s Academy of Dance & Drama, Stella Mann, C.P.A. and South East Dance.
Damien has just recently finished a 4 year run in Billy Elliot The Musical in the West End. Damien is currently an Associate Lecturer at the University of Chichester and also teaches at Reynolds Performing Arts and Trinity Laban.
Emily Anderson
Emily trained at Central School of Ballet in London and also with Royal Ballet School Associates
Theatre credits include: Cats Italian Tour as Swing, Chicago UK Tour- roles of Liz & Hunyak (understudy Roxie Hart), Cats UK Tour- role of Victoria- White Cat, Romeo and Juliet with English National Ballet (Royal Albert Hall), the roles of Cinderella and Fairy Godmother with European Ballet (UK Tour), Swan Lake with English National Ballet (Royal Albert Hall), Ballet Captain and understudy lead dancer in the National Dance Company Of Ireland’s Rhythm Of The Dance (World Tour), British Gas Ballet Central (UK Tour)
Emily is also a qualified Pilates Instructor having gained her certificate with Stott Pilates. She teaches Matwork and Reformer classes in studios, healthclubs and privately all over London.
Ebony Molina
Ebony trained at Doreen Bird College graduating in 2001. Since leaving college Ebony appeared in the West End worked in the commercial Industry and has worked in London and toured extensively around Europe, USA, Japan and the UK with Matthew Bournes company New Adventures.
Theatre Credits Include: Chess (Denmark), My One and Only (Picadilly Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (Picadilly Theatre), Les Demoiselle de Rochefort (Paris), On Your Toes (Japan) Beauty and the Beast (RSC) Chicago(Adelphi theatre) Original west end cast of Sinatra (London Palladium), West Side Story ( Bregenz Festival), On the Town (Paris), Original cast of Shall We Dance (Saddlers Wells)
Ebony has also appeared in Edward Scissorhands, The Carman, Nutcracker and Original Cast of Dorian Gray all for Matthew Bourne New Adventures.
Commerically Ebony has appeared on MTV, Brit Awards for Pink and 50 Cent, Top of the Pops , Disney Channel, Live and Kicking, CDUK , With various Artists and has also done corporate work for GHD and Loreal Opel Car Launch and Ocean Village Launch.
Ebony has taken part in the workshops for the Little Mermaid with Steven Mear, The Carman and DesperatelySeeking Susan.
Ebony has taught classes and workshops for various schools and Courses and teaches workshops on Matthew Bournes work for Re Bourne.
Sophie Richards
Sophie trained at Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts, graduating with both her teaching qualifications and Performing Arts Diploma. From college her first job was as first cast Meg Giry in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s, The Phantom of the Opera which premiered in Antwerp, Belgium. Sophie then continued on further with Phantom by joining the Hamburg cast again in the role of Meg as well as ballet girl. She then went on to tour Europe and Asia with Spirit of the Dance , and performed in one off performances in the UK.
More recently Sophie was a company member of Chrysalis Dance Company in Ireland. Here she worked in the project phase creating material and collaborating with others to make Chrysalis’s first ever piece ‘ Strings’ ; which was performed in Dublin and toured Ireland. Sophie also toured Ireland with Chrysalis’s ‘ Wishes and Waves’ . Over the years that she worked as a dancer, she also became Ballet Mistress, Workshop co-ordinator and promoted to Assistant Director. Sophie currently runs a successful school with her sister and has guested in a variety of full time schools and colleges for workshops and classical ballet.
Kevin Doody
Kevin is currently appearing in the West End production of Mamma Mia as Swing/Cover Eddie. He trained at the London studio centre.
Theatre includes: The Olivier Awards 2009 and Children in Need 2008 , ensemble in MAMMA MIA! (International Tour), swing and understudy Mary Sunshine in Chicago (UK tour), A Tribute to Dirty Dancing (Kenwood House and Marble Hill), ensemble and appearing as Shane and understudying Dallas, Wolf and Larry in Sex, Chips and Rock and Roll , swing in Kiss Me, Kate (UK tour), Bailiff, Court Clerk and Mary Sunshine in Chicago (European tour), Bishop Hogan in Fat Men in Skirts (Cockpit), Sailors Quartet in Anything Goes (Landor) and understudy Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk (ExtravaganzaProductions).
Other work includes: featured dancer in It’s Now or Never (Thames TV), Bill Symons in The Bill – Tour of Duty (Thames TV) and dancer in the video for Paul McCartney’s ‘Brown Eyed Handsome Man’.
Matthew Clark
Matthew trained at the Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts.
Theatre credits include; Assistant Dance Captain in Oliver! (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) Spirit of Fosse in Chicago (Cambridge Theatre and UK tour), Pep in The Boy Friend (Regent’s Park Open Air), We Will Rock You ( Dominion Theatre), West Side Story (Bregenz Festival), understudy Bobby C in Saturday Night Fever (UK tour and Koln, Germany), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (London Palladium), understudy Doddy and Eugene in Grease (Victoria Palace and Scandinavian arena tour), Dirk and understudying Sal and Stretch in Oh! What a Night (Manchester Palace and UK tour), understudying Nick, Shlomo and Goody in Fame (UK tour) and 42nd Street (UK tour), Ensemble in Shoes (Peacock Theatre)
Ross Sands
Ross graduated from the London Studio Centre in 2008. Since then Ross has worked with artists such as: Kylie Minogue, Beyonce, Take That, The Wanted, Pixie Lott, The Saturdays, Alexandra Burke, Alesha Dixon, Jedward and Joe McElderry. Credits include: Take That Progress tour 2011, X factor tour 2008, Beijing Olympics handover ceremonies, Thriller Live, Into the Hoods, Blaze the show, X factor live shows, Capital FM Summertime Ball, MTV European Music Awards, National Television Awards, Germany’s Next Top Model, m6 fete de la musique, Brit Awards, Royal Variety Show, Britains Got Talent, T4 Live, This Morning and MTV VIVA.
Ross is currently in rehearsals for The Saturdays ‘All Fired Up’ UK Tour.
Leanne Hainsby
Leanne is a professional commercial dancer who graduated from Performers College in July 2007. Leanne has worked with many artists including Kylie Minogue, Paul McCartney, Scissor Sisters, Boyzone, Lily Allen, Professor Green, Tinie Tempah, Leona Lewis, Kesha, The Wanted, The Saturdays, Blue, Sophie Ellis-Bexter, Goldfrapp, Claire Maguire and The Hurts.
Some of her dancing credits include Boyzone ‘Brother tour’ 2011, Clothes Show Live, X Factor, Royal Variety Show, National TV Awards, Capital FM Summertime Ball, So You Think You Can Dance (guest act), Britains Got Talent (resident dancer), Tonight’s The Night – John Barrowman BBC show, Eurovision, Glastonbury, Radio 1 Big Weekender, Brit Awards, Born To Shine (ITV SHOW), MOS ‘PUMP IT UP’ workout DVD 2011, and and many more. Leanne has also appeared in various TV commercials and modelled for brands such as Ann Summers,Boux Avenue, UGG, PUMA and Agent Provocateur.
Visiting Dance Staff Inc:
Jayde Westaby
Nikki O Hara
Joanna Taylor Goodwin
James Bennett
Soeli Parry
Debbie Jenkins
Bennett Andrews
Sergio Priftis
Musical Theatre Staff
Please note that it is The MTA policy for all staff to be currently working in the industry, therefore teachers are likely to change subject to professional commitments.
Alasdair Harvey
Alasdair has worked extensively both in Theatre and Television. Theatre credits include: Forbidden Broadway (Menier Chocolate Factory), Frankie Harris in the Ray Davies award winning musical COME DANCING (Theatre Royal Stratford East), SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM (The Venue), Boatman/Dennis in the multi award winning production of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (Chocolate Factory/Wyndhams), PUTTING IT TOGETHER, (Harrogate Theatre), Wild Bill Hickok in CALAMITY JANE (National Tour), Bill Cracker in Happy End (Thursty Dog), Sky Masterson in GUYS AND DOLLS (Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh), Pirate King, PIRATES OF PENZANCE (Bromley Open Air), Alec D’Urberville in TESS OF THE D’URBERVILLES (Savoy Theatre), the Original Beast in Disneys BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Dominion Theatre), Raoul in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (Her Majesties Theatre), Grantaire/Marius/Enjorlas in LES MISERABLES (Palace Theatre), RNT production of CAROUSEL (Shaftesbury Theatre), Cliff in SUNSET BOULEVARD (Adelphi Theatre), ASPECTS OF LOVE (National Tour), Fiddler on the Roof (West Yorkshire Playhouse), MY FAIR LADY (National Tour) BLITZ! (Tyne Theatre)
Television credits. Harry Shaw in TAGGART, Bruce Malcolm in THE BILL, Ewan Patterson in RIVER CITY, Dave Schoffield in CASUALTY, Mr. Connors in HOLBY CITY and P.C. Robertson in BIRDS OF A FEATHER.
Alasdair has worked extensively as a concert artist both on radio and internationally, working with some of the worlds leading Symphony Orchestra including Halle, Orchestra of Scottish Opera, Schenzen Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Concert Orchestra.
As a director Alasdair has previously directed Two and Shirley Valentine and most recently Ladies Day all at the Garrick Rep in Lichfield.
IAIN VINCE-GATT
Iain trained at the Guildhall School of Music.
Musical Theatre credits include: Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Into The Woods, Alvaro’s Balcony, I Love You Because (Best Musical off West End Award Winner 2008), Daddy Cool The Musical, Dancing In The Streets, Bat Boy The Musical, Chicago, Sweet Charity, Boys From Syracuse, Jesus Christ Superstar, City Of Angels, Little Shop Of Horrors, When Harry Met Barry, Tonight at 8.30, The Sound Of Music. La Cage Aux Folles, Elegies, Cabaret. Return To The Forbidden Planet, Spend Spend Spend, Kat And The Kings, They’re Playing Our Song, Footloose (European Premiers).
Iain has also been the Musical Supervisor for the Whatsonstage Awards for the past three years. Along with this, he has just finished as Musical Supervisor on the new musical “Wolf Boy”. He was also Musical Supervisor for “Daddy Cool the Musical” (World Tour), “Dancing in the Streets” (West End) and “Bat Boy” (Shaftesbury Theatre). In Europe he was Musical Supervisor for “Footloose” and the Pearl Anniversary tour of “The Rocky Horror Show” in Europe, UK and West End. He has also supervised workshops for the new musicals of “The Realness” (Only Connect), “Super Alice Smith” (Perfect Pitch), “The Diary of Ann Frank”, “A Girl Called Dusty” (David Ian Productions), “Robin and the Seven Hoods” and “When Harry Met Barry”.
Iain has also been Assistant Conductor for both the Scottish Opera and Ballet Companies. He has been the Musical Director for many popular performers including Alison Moyet, Mary Wilson, Rita Coolidge, Ben E. King, The Nolans, The Crystals, The Platters and The Drifters, and has recently worked with The Saturdays. Television Credits include Late Edition (STV), Dana’s Festival (STV), Road to the Isles (STV), and Stars in Your Eyes (BBC SCOTLAND), ZDF, RTL Germany. He has also made many broadcasts for Radio Scotland and Radio Clyde, as well as in Europe. Producer and Arranger for Klub Records. Compositions include “Cloud”, “A Cantata for Xmas”, and “Decades”. Concerts include H.R.H. Prince Edward and Tribute to Sir Harry Lauder (Jimmy Logan).
Iain is also a well established West End vocal coach, and has lectured in various colleges throughout his career which include Napier University, Glasgow University, Conservatoire of Music in Berlin, Italia Conti, Notre Dame School Of Music, RSAMD and he was recently involved in the development of the new BA in Musical Theatre course at Trinity College, London.
Specialist Skills Practitioners
Please note that it is The MTA policy for all staff to be currently working in the industry, therefore teachers are likely to change subject to professional commitments.
Gerry Flanagan, Commedia Del Arte
Gerry Flanagan is renowned as a performer/director/clown practitioner. He is Artistic Director of Shifting Sands Theatre. He has performed with many companies including the David Glass Ensemble and Bubble Theatre.
In 1998 he founded Shifting Sands to create stimulating, accessible theatre that is both comic and moving. Shows include: Faustus – A Devilish Comedy, Romeo & Juliet, Great Expectations, The Deadline and The Devil’s Doctor. He has performed in all the Shifting Sands shows. Gerry has taught clown and related subjects for the last twenty two years.
“that wonderful, bewildered clown, Gerry Flanagan”
Time Out
www.shiftingsandstheatre.co.uk
Marcello Walton Marascalchi, Combat Teacher
Acting credits include: TV/Film inc: The Bill (Talkback), The Last Detective, Murder in Suburbia(both Granada), Intimacy(Telema), First Knight (First Knight Productions), My Hero (BBC). Theatre inc: Captain Jerry Jackson in The Wicked Lady (New Vic, Stoke), Abraham in Romeo and Juliet (Regents Park), Trevill/Buckingham in 3 Musketeers (Bristol Old Vic), Jem Merlyn in Jamaica Inn (Salisbury), Tony in Beautiful Thing (York Theatre Royal) A Chorus of Disapproval (Bristol Old Vic), Georgie in A Clockwork Orange (Northern Stage), Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Arts Theatre) and The Pirates of Penzance (West Yorkshire Playhouse)
As a Fight Arranger Marcello has assisted in over 10 productions at Covent Garden Opera House inc: Tales of Hoffman, The Rosenkavalier, Romeo and Juliet, Aida. At Glydebourne he worked as assistant to Nick Hall on Otello directed by Sir Peter Hall and Julio Cesare directed by David McVicar.
As a fight director credits inc: Bella and the Boys (BBC) The Quest (BBC) Life and Death in Rome (Sky) Treasure Island (The Scoop) Saucy Jack and the Space Vixen (The Venue) Showboat (Royal Albert Hall) Bad Girls the Musical (Garrick) Liberty (The Globe) Romeo and Juliet (Oxford Shakespeare Company) Worlds End (Trafalgar Studios)
Marcello is a Committee Member for the British Academy of Dramatic Combat.
Haruka Kuroda, Actor/ Stage Combat Instructor
Haruka Kuroda trained at the Guildford School of Acting. Her theatre credits include The Paper Washi Wish (Manchester Exchange studio); The Nightingale (Polka Theatre and tour), Ali Baba and Forty Thieves (Illyria), Around the World in 80 Days (Liverpool Playhouse and tour), for TV: Chaos Laboratories, Ideal (in which she plays one of the regular characters and has been in all 6 series), Hiroshima, Broken News, Grass, Jonathan Creek, (all for the BBC) and The Bill (ITV); for film: I Like London In the Rain (NFTS), Foster, Swinging with the Finckels (both with Kintop Pictures), Iris (Fox), One Minute past Midnight which won the Best Short Film at Chicago Film Festival in 2005 and for Radio: After the Quake, A Pale View of Hill (Both for BBC Radio 4). Haruka is much sought after voice over artist and she has been the voice of Noodle, the international pop band Gorillaz since 2000. She is also a qualified Stage Combat Instructor (British Academy of Dramatic Combat).
Patrons
George Stiles (Music) and Anthony Drewe (Lyrics), Creative Patrons
This year, award-winning songwriters George Stiles and Anthony Drewe celebrated 25 years of writing together.
During this time their musicals include the internationally acclaimed hit Honk! which won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 2000, and has since been seen by over 6 million people around the world; Mary Poppins, currently playing on Broadway and touring the UK, for which they wrote the new songs; Just So, which won the first ever Vivian Ellis Prize, and has subsequently been produced by Cameron Mackintosh; Tutankhamun and Peter Pan, winner of two major awards at the 1996 International Musical Of The Year, which began it’s life in the UK in 2001 as a concert at the Royal Festival Hall for the BBC, starring John Thaw and Sheila Hancock. They have also written numerous cabaret songs which have been performed in TV, radio and theatre shows.
Stiles and Drewe are currently working on three new shows; A Private Function, based on the film by Alan Bennett, Soapdish and Soho Cinders. An all-star concert celebrating their 25 years together was staged earlier this year at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London, entitled A Spoonful Of Stiles And Drewe, the CD of which has just been released.
With lyricist Paul Leigh, George has also written the scores for Moll Flanders, Tom Jones and The Three Musketeers. He composed the music for Sam Mendes’ productions of Twelfth Night, Uncle Vanya and Habeas Corpus at The Donmar Warehouse, and was Dame Edna Everage’s musical director for a year.
With composer Tony Hatch, Anthony wrote lyrics for The Card and, with Singaporean composer Dick Lee, the lyrics for A Twist of Fate. His work as a director includes Snoopy (Watermill Theatre), Honk! (South Africa, Chicago, Tokyo and Singapore), Just So (North Shore Music Theatre, Massachussetts, and Chichester Festival Theatre) and The Thing About Men (King’s Head). As a performer recent work includes Rogues to Riches (Watermill Theatre), The Three Musketeers (Danish tour) and A Twist of Fate (Singapore).
Stiles and Drewe are founding Board members of Mercury Musical Developments, a charitable organisation that promotes new musical theatre writing in the UK.
Diane Langton, Performer Patron
Diane trained at the Corona Academy and started her professional career as a dancer, touring with ballet companies throughout Europe, followed by appearances on That Was The Week That Was and the London Palladium.
In 1968 Diane won the part of Jeanie in Hair. She later worked with Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop, and twice appeared at the Royal Court Theatre in Tooth of Crime andTee Zee. Her many West End Musicals inc: Jesus Christ Superstar, Two Gentlemen of Verona , Petra in A Little Night Music (directed by Hal Prince); Fastrada in Pippin (directed by Bob Fosse), Diana in A Chorus Line (directed by Michael Bennett) Angel in The Rink , Heather in I’m Getting My Act Together , Molly Molloy in Windy City , Silvia in Stepping Out ; Side by Side by Sondheim; How Lucky CanYou Get; Songbook ; Vi in Nell Dunn’s Steaming ; Grizabella in Cats (New London); Mama Morton inChicago (Adelphi); Carlotta in Follies (Royal Festival Hall) and the Birdlady in Mary Poppins (Prince Edward)
Other theatre credits inc: The Courtesan in The Comedy of Errors (National and Worldwide tours for the RSC);Pearl Lamont in Johnny On A Spot and Miss Lucie in Sweet Bird of Youth; Guys and Dolls (all National Theatre). She also developed a biographical musical What I Did For Love (RNT Studio), which as showcased to great acclaim.
On TV Diane achieved national recognition for her part as Kathy Roberts in two hit series of The Rag Trade , and more recently as Nana McQueen in Hollyoaks ; Bev , Cindy Beale’s mother in Eastenders (BBC); Ruby Rowan , Nick Berry’s mother in Heartbeat and Junie , Del’s girlfriend in Only Fools and Horses. Her many other TV appearances inc: Alas Smith and Jones; Bergerac; Minder; Streets Apart; Boon; Starburst; Carry On Laughing; How To Be A Little Sod; Tonight at 8:30pm; The Bill; Doctors; Holby City; The Best of the Royal Variety Show and her own TV special Let There Be Langton.
Diane’s recording credits inc : I Can Talk To You (EMI); Climbin (PYE) and many cast recordings. The Best of Andrew Lloyd Webber ; Bianca in a new recording of Cole Porter’s Kiss Me Kate (TER). She was invited by Marvin Hamlisch in 1978 to appear with him in concert at The Royal Albert Hall with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. In the same year Diane was given the honour of being invited to appear in the first of two Royal Variety Performances in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen Mother, the second being in 1982. She has had much success with her one-woman show with appearances at The Green Room and Pizza On The Park.
Lara Pulver, Performer Patron
Lara has just completed filming the new female lead in the BBC Primetime show Spooks
Lara received a 2008 Laurence Olivier Award Nomination for Best Actress in a Musical and a Theatregoers Choice Award Nomination for her portrayal of Lucille Frank in Parade at The Donmar Warehouse. Critics praised the production, saying:
‘Completing the cast is Lara Pulver, who follows her quite stunning performance in Jason Robert Brown‘s The Last Five Years at the Menier Chocolate Factory last year with another outstanding portrayal as Lucille Frank. She has now surely established herself as one of the finest musical theatre performers in the UK.’
Lara’s theatre work includes: Sarah Goldman in The UK Premiere of Beau Jest at The Hackney Empire; Lucille Frank in Parade at The Donmar Warehouse directed by Rob Ashford; Into The Woods at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; Cathy in the UK Premiere of Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years at The Menier Chocolate Factory; Ellen in Miss Saigon for Cameron Mackintosh Ltd; Henrietta in The Royal National Theatre’s production of Honk! directed by Julia McKenzie; Dinah Lord in High Society directed by Ian Talbot; Bebe in A Chorus Line at the Sheffield Crucible Theatre directed by Nikolai Foster; Maisie in the 50th Anniversary production of The Boy Friend at the Theatre Royal Windsor and UK tour; Chicago original UK tour; Peggy Sawyerin 42nd Street UK tour; Grease at the Victoria Palace Theatre, West End; Dorothy in The Wizard of OZ at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre and Primrose Larkin in The Darling Buds of May UK tour.
As a teenager, Lara worked extensively with the National Youth Music Theatre appearing in numerous productions including Pendragon at The Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith and The City Center Theater, New York.
Concert work includes: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 50th Birthday Celebration at The Royal Albert Hall; Jason Robert Brown in Concert at The Royal Festival Hall; An Evening with Lauren Kennedy at The Menier Chocolate Factory; Gypsy & S’Wonderful with The Welsh National Orchestra at St David’s Hall.
Board of Advisors
Jack Gunn, Choreographer/Director/Teacher/Performer
Honorary Member IDTA (International Dance Teachers Association)
Former Accreditor with NCDTE (National Council Dance Training and Education)
Resident/Dance Captain/Director for many years in West End, including Dance Captain of original British Company of A Chorus Line.
Choreographer Director of major National Tours and International Productions
Choreographed 20 musicals for The London Studio Centre
For many years regular member of Judges Panel for “The All England Dance Competition”
Debbie O’Brien, Casting Director
West End productions include: The Harder They Come (Playhouse), Grease (Piccadilly and Victoria Palace), Showboat (Royal Albert Hall), Dancing in the Streets (Playhouse), The Rat Pack Live from Las Vegas (Savoy), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Palladium), Saturday Night Fever (Apollo Victoria), The Snowman (Peacock), Fame (Aldwych), Peter Pan and The Pirates of Penzance (Savoy), Mum’s the Word (Albery), Daisy Pulls It Off (Lyric), The King and I (Palladium), Napoleon (Shaftesbury), Madame Melville (Vaudeville), Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Playhouse), La Cava (Piccadilly). Smokey Joe’s Café (Prince of Wales), The Rocky Horror Show (Queen’s, Piccadilly, Duke of Yorks, Victoria Palace), Soul Train (Victoria Palace), Rent (Shaftesbury), Always (Victoria Palace), Steaming (Piccadilly), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Apollo), Disgracefully Yours (Comedy).
UK tours include: Thriller Live, Defending the Caveman, Dancing in the Streets, The Rat Pack Live From Las Vegas, Mahabharata, Bratz Passion for Fashion, Sweet Soul Music, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Starlight Express, Anything Goes, Grease, Saturday Night Fever, What a Feeling, Dirty Dusting, Mack and Mabel, Fame, Mum’s the Word, The King and I, The Misanthrope, The Threepenny Opera, A Chorus Line, A Tribute to the Blues Brothers, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, The Rocky Horror Show, Soul Train, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Othello, Trafford Tanzi. Wild Animus (UK/European Tour/Site Specific/Multi Media Project)
Overseas productions include: Vagina Monologues, At Peace, Talking to Terrorists, Rent, The Rat Pack Live from Las Vegas, Fame, Magical Rhythms of Ireland, Starlight Express, An Immaculate Misconception, Footloose, A Tribute to the Blues Brothers, Steaming, The Rocky Horror Show, Private Lives, Fire of Dance, Musical Starlight, Yehenara, I Have Before Me A Remarkable Document.
Regional productions include : Cinderella (Southampton), Little Shop of Horrors (Ipswich), Oklahoma! (Kilworth House), Laurel and Hardy (Ipswich), Jack and the Beanstalk (Stafford and Wakefield), Beauty and the Beast (Ipswich), Blues in the Night (Ipswich), The Pirates of Penzance (Kilworth House), White Christmas (Edinburgh, Cardiff, Plymouth and Southampton), Cinderella (Wakefield), The Snowman (Salford, Birmingham and Edinburgh), Side by Side by Sondheim (Stevenage), Santa Claus, the Musical (Birmingham, Liverpool and Southampton), Only You Can Save Mankind and 100% Sex Therapy (Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Around the World in 80 Days, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, They’re Playing Our Song, Stepping Out, Mephistopheles Smith, An Inspector Calls, Romeo and Juliet.
Other productions include : The Harder They Come (Barbican), Amadeus (Wilton’s Music Hall), Poison and Ain’t Misbehavin’, both at the Tricycle Theatre; Dick Whittington at Sadler’s Wells; the workshops of Grim, Artie, Gwen and Lance, Time’s Up, In the Red, Only You Can Save Mankind, Nelson, Mahabharata and Little Women; The Mikado. Specialist casting on Eugene Onegin (English National Opera) and La Boheme (Royal Albert Hall).
Recorded media: Waybulloo (RDF/BBC), Grandpa In My Pocket (Adastra/Cbeebies), What’s Your News? (TT Animation/Nickolodeon), Grease is the Word (Talkback Thames), Upbeat, Mobile, Sky, Success! and Challenges (Pearson Education), How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? (BBC), Amahl and the Night Visitors (BBC); Planet Cook (BBC/Platinum Films), Energy (Max Media/Pearson).
Stuart Piper
Stuart is Managing Director of Cole Kitchenn Personal Management Ltd and represents their select list of actors and creatives. Their client list includes West-End stars including Kerry Ellis, Daniel Boys, Frances Ruffelle, Caroline O’Connor, Hannah Jane Fox, Robyn North and Siobhan McCarthy, recording artists Tulisa, Javine, Jonathan Ansell and Jamelia, and screen talent Amy Nuttall (Downton Abbey), Michelle Collins (Coronation Street), Dani Harmer (Tracey Beaker) and Rita Simons & Sid Owen (Eastenders) to name just a few. In 2010 the agency became part of The ROAR Group led by Chairman Jonathan Shalit.
As a producer, Stuart’s productions have included Nicholas Hoult in New Boy, Phill Jupitus in Lifecoach (both Trafalgar Studios), Howard Goodall’s Days of Hope (Kings Head), Snoopy The Musical (New Players Theatre/Jermyn St) and the annual Whatsonstage Awards. With Cole Kitchenn he general managed Death of a Salesman (Lyric) with Brian Dennehy and Clare Higgins, The Countess (Criterion) with Nick Moran and the Tony & Pulitzer Prize winning I Am My Own Wife (Duke of Yorks).
For more info visit www.colekitchenn.com
Chris Grady
Chris Grady is a freelance arts management and project developer specialising in working with emerging artistic practitioners, writers, composers and producers in Musical Theatre. He chairs the producers network MTM:UK (Musical Theatre Matters). He is artistic programmer for the new festival of musicals within the Edinburgh Festival Fringe entitled Musical Theatre @ George Square, as well as being a consultant for IT&M Publishing and Production looking at the development of their international licensing division, a judge on the annual New York Festival of new Musicals created by NAMT, and developing a range of writer collaboration/mentoring programmes for the UK and Korean markets.
He continues to run courses on arts marketing, fundraising, event management and festival management variously at Rose Bruford and for the Federation of Scottish Theatre. Based in Suffolk, Chris is also, slowly, developing the Quest Foundation with his wife actress/director Kath Burlinson, for the support of creative artists in association with Kath’s Authentic Artist mentoring programme.
For more information visit www.chrisgrady.org
Alexandra McLean-William – Theatrical Agent & Producer
Alexandra founded McLean-Williams Management in 2001 in response to demand from a growing number of respected actors for a more dedicated and personal style of representation.
Prior to that, Alexandra was a highly influential public relations consultant in the entertainment industry, handling personal press, publicity and promotional requirements of numerous high caliber actors and theatre productions.
Alexandra has also worked on the launch of two entertainment magazines one for the highly successful “Time Out Group” and the other for “Express Newspapers”.
She was also notably, on the launch team of “Classic FM”, the first commercial classical radio station in the UK. The highly successful launch helped to establish the station as one of the most popular in the UK.
Most recently, Alexandra and Robin Cousins, MBE, who have worked together on a number of projects, have now set up their own theatre production company MWC Theatrical. They are hoping to stage their first West End production in 2011/12 in partnership with ACT Productions.
Outside of her working life Alexandra has been closely involved with a number of prestigious charities helping their fundraising efforts.
McLean-Williams Management is a member of The PMA (Personal Managers Association) and Women in Film & Television.
For more information see the agency website at:-
ANDY BARNES
Andy Barnes is an independent theatre producer based in London.
Andy originally trained as a Detective with the Metropolitan Police, a career he pursued for 14 years before his first production, a modern revival of the classic soul, funk musical, The Wiz. The production at the Hackney Empire was described as “seriously funky entertainment” by the Evening Standard and “sheer pizzazz” by Time Out, and was back at the same venue, by request, a year later.
Leaving the doors of Scotland Yard for the steps of the Central School of Speech & Drama, Andy completed an MA in Advanced Theatre Practice. Following this he attended the New Producers Workshop run by S.O.L.T and started producing full-time. Andy received the prestigious Society of London Theatre Producers Bursary in 2006.
A number of productions have followed; Departure Lounge at The Arts Theatre, Edinburgh Festival, Royal George Chicago and recently at Waterloo East Theatre where it was nominated for Best New Musical in the Whatsonstage.com Awards.
Other productions include; As Producer: Through the Door at Trafalgar Studios starring Paul Keating & Julie Atherton; Days of Hope at the Kings Head starring David Burt and Siobhan McCarthy; Dr. Foster at the Menier Chocolate Factory, produced in association with the RSC Fringe, starring Zubin Varla & Rachel Pickup; Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me at the Gene Frankel Theatre, New York and Dreams Come Out to Play at Birmingham Rep and Tour. As Associate Producer; When Harry Met Sally (UK Tour) starring Rupert Hill & Sarah Jayne Dunn and the forthcoming UK Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tell Me on a Sunday starring Claire Sweeney.
Andy is Executive Producer of Perfect Pitch Musicals Ltd, a company he created for the development and showcasing of new British musical theatre which has lead to several productions, notably The Go-Between by David Wood OBE & Richard Taylor which will premiere at West Yorkshire Playhouse in September before a regional tour. Established in 2006, the company recently produced a concert of songs from new musicals starring West End leading lady Kerry Ellis, and has published the “Perfect Pitch Songbook” containing 16 brand new songs by new composers, from the works they have developed.