Visiting Drama Specialists

Acting Specialists

Mabel Aitken
Lead Acting Tutor

Mabel trained at the RSAMD. Her MA in Performance Making and Methodology from Goldsmiths University sparked an interest in teaching and Actor training. She has taught at East 15 and still teaches at BADA. As an actress her extensive theatre career includes productions at The Young Vic, Donmar Warehouse and Southwark Playhouse as well as many regional reps.

Katie Bonna

Katie is a performance poet, actress and writer for stage and screen. Her one-woman show on the science of lying, All The Things I Lied About, won an OFFIE in the category of Most Promising New Playwright, as well as having been nominated for Best Female Performance.

Emma Callander

Co-Artistic Director of Theatre Uncut and Associate Artist of the Traverse Theatre. Teaches: Acting, Text

Liz Felton

Liz Felton is a specialist in devised theatre and works with the students to create new writing, self stories and performances for a family audience. She is Artistic Director of The Story Cellar and works across Bristol as a theatre Director and storyteller.

John Hartoch

Previous Head of Acting Courses at the Theatre School. During his early career John acted in repertory at Coventry, Birmingham, Lancaster and York. John has also written a musical, several original plays and a number of adaptations, all of which have been successfully staged. Teaches: Acting, Text, History of Theatre

Toby Hulse

(Pictured left) Theatre maker, director and playwright whose work, whether scripted, devised or improvised, always has its roots in theatrical play. Toby has created work for theatres and companies across the UK, touring nationally and internationally. Teaches: Improvisation, Clowning, Adapts and Directs the Theatre-In-Education Spring Tour

Hanna Lune

Hanna is an emerging director who has worked for a variety of youth and community theatres including Acta Cente and Travelling Light Theatre.

Nancy Medina

Originally from Brooklyn, NY Nancy is a Genesis Future Director Award winner. At the end of 2017 she directed Yellowman at the Young Vic, London. Previous credits include productions at the Tobacco Factory, Rondo Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe. Teaches: Acting, Text

Chinonyerem Odimba

A playwright who has been shortlisted for many prestigious awards, Chinonyerem won the Sonia Friedman Productions Award 2018 for How To Walk On The Moon, written in association with Talawa Theatre under the Channel 4 Playwrights’ Scheme. Chinonyerem is also a director and recently directed The Words Are Coming Now (Theatre503). Teaches: Text

James Peries

James is a Director, Producer, Writer & Deviser for Theatre, Radio & TV Drama. Alongside his freelance work since 2013 James has been the Literary Associate at Bristol Old Vic. Previously James has worked for the BBC (Reader, Producer, Development Editor) and as the New Writing Manager at Theatre Royal Stratford East. Teaches: Script Development, Radio

Jim Rastall

Jim is a regular guest teacher at BOVTS and is Artistic Director of The Playground Theatre Company, whose first show Shakespearience played The Ambassadors Theatre (West End) and The Underbelly Southbank Festival.

Teaches: Self-taping

George Richmond Scott

George originally trained as an actor and later as a voice coach, including an apprenticeship at the RSC. He holds an MFA in Theatre Directing at Birkbeck College. He was assistant (now associate) director on the multi-award-winning new musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie now at the Apollo Theatre, West End. He directed the NT Connections play Musical Differences in the Crucible Studio Theatre and co-directed ‘4×15’, an initiative to develop local playwrights’ work.

John Walton

Artistic Director of Fol Espoir, the company has toured work across the UK including Jermyn Street Theatre in London and the Edinburgh Fringe. John has also directed shows at Arts Centre Melbourne in Australia, Soho Theatre, Roundhouse London.Teaches: Acting, Text, Devising

Voice and Speech Specialists

Kate Firth

Kate had a career as an actor before training at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama as a voice coach. She has studied psychotherapy and applied linguistics; and also writes and performs her own poetry. For more than twenty years she has coached actors, broadcasters, and individuals and groups in organisations including the NHS and the corporate sector and in politics at the highest levels. Teaches: Voice and Dialect Coach

Gary Owston

Having been Senior Voice and Dialect Tutor at the School for 20 years we are glad Gary still works for us on a part-time basis and as well as teaching on our full-time acting courses he is Course Leader for our summer Foundation Course. He has taught in most of the top London Drama Schools, Southern Methodist University in Dallas and The Children’s Theatre in Minneapolis. He also teaches at Boomsatsuma and is Director of the Bristol Acting Academy. Teaches: Voice and Dialect Coach

Joel Trill

Joel (pictured left) worked as an actor (RSC, Shakespeare’s Globe, BBC) before training as a voice coach at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, where he gained an MFA in Voice Studies. Joel works regularly as a voice over artist in animation, corporate media and commercial projects. Teaches: Dialect Coach

Amanda Carr

Amanda is a freelance Speech and Language Therapist and presents our annual ‘Vocal Health and Sustainability’ lecture. Prior to setting up an independent practice Amanda was Clinical Lead for Voice Therapy Services at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust.

David Carey

Voice Coach Oregon Shakespeare Festival and founder of the post-graduate Voice Studies course at RCSSD.

Jeannette Nelson

Jeannette is Head of Voice at the Royal National Theatre.

Barbara Houseman

Voice and Dialect Coach and author of seminal book Finding Your Voice: A Step by Step Guide for Actors

Julia Moody

Fitzmaurice Voice practitioner

Christina Shewell

Speech and language therapist, voice coach and author of seminal book Voice Work: Art and Science in Changing Voices.

Edda Sharpe

Dialect Coach and author of seminal book How to Do Accents.

The following dialect coaches now also work with the acting students:

Joel Trill

(London based, pictured right)

Joel worked as an actor before training as a voice coach at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, where he gained an MFA in Voice Studies, and was awarded the Diversity Scholarship Award in 2015. He has worked as a facilitator and coach in business training and development, running one-to-one and group sessions with organisations including Disney, Marks & Spencer, FDA, Financial Times, G7 Global, Civil Service Live, Teach First, Merlin Entertainments Group, Southwark Council and The Advocacy Academy.

He regularly works as a voiceover artist and accent and dialect coach. He is also passionate about working within the educational sector on presentation and ownership skills, particularly with local authority staff, teachers, instructors and students.

Joy Lanceta Coronel

(New York based)

Joy is a voice and speech coach who holds an MFA in Voice Studies from  Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London. Joy has served as voice and speech faculty at American Academy of Dramatic Arts – NY Campus, University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music (CCM), College of Staten Island-CUNY, and internationally at University of Essex East 15 Acting School, Trinity Laban Conservatoire and St. Dominic’s Sixth Form College in England.

Hetal Varia

(Mumbai based)

Hetal is the resident voice teacher at The Drama School Mumbai. Alumnus of the Voice Studies MA at London’s leading drama school ‘Royal Central School of Speech and Drama’, she is a Singer, Actor and a Voice Coach. A member of VASTA and PAVA, she travels with her workshops globally. She was the only Indian invited to facilitate a Masterclass at the International Network of Voice 2018 at RCSSD. Her accolades includes ‘Charles Wallace India Trust Awards’ by British Council and Diversity Scholarship from VASTA.

Music and Singing Specialists

Maureen Scott

Starting her career as a singer/actress working in Musical Theatre, Maureen now works with musical theatre singers, rock and pop stars and talented beginners finding the voice qualities they need to enhance their artistry. Maureen has been a vocal coach on numerous musicals in the West End and on tour. Teaches: Vocal Technique (masterclasses)

Ben Goddard

Numerous musical credits in the West End, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and on Tour. Teaches: Musical Theatre (masterclasses)

Ian Good

Mark Meadows

Mark is an actor and former Musical Director of The Swingle Singers. In addition to his numerous acting credits on stage, screen and radio, he has various theatre and recording credits as composer and arranger. Teaches: Singing Coach and Repetiteur

John Telfer

An actor, musician and composer, John has toured across the UK and is notable for playing the Revd Alan Frank in The Archers on BBC Radio 4. He has composed for shows with Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory and Bristol Old Vic, as well as numerous BBC Radio 4 dramas, and on screen for the BBC and ITV. Teaches: Musical Director

Charlie Ingles

Musical Director, Pianist, Orchestrator and Arranger, Charlie trained at Goldsmiths College on the BMus Classical Course and with NYMT. His numerous MD credits include: Top Hat (Upstairs At The Gatehouse), Imaginary – The Musical (The Other Palace), Billy The Kid (Leicester Curve). Recent Assistant Musical Direction includes: Flashdance: The Musical (UK Tour), The Hired Man and Prodigy (St. James Theatre, London). Teaches: Repetiteur

Andy Sullivan

Andy has worked extensively as musical director, vocal coach, arranger and audition pianist. He has worked for commercial producers on West End shows and various UK Tours, as well as at top drama conservatories. Andy has also written new musicals and is an examiner in Musical Theatre. Teaches: Singing Coach and Repertoire

Derek Stuart-Clark

Derek trained at the Royal Academy of Music and is a freelance pianist. Teaches: Accompanist and Singing Coach

Theatre Directors

Bill Alexander

An award-winning freelance theatre director who began his career at Bristol Old Vic. Bill joined the RSC in 1977 and remained there until 1992 leaving as Associate Director. He was Artistic Director of Birmingham Rep 1992-2001.

Sarah Bedi

Sarah is a director and writer, having initially trained as an actor at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. As an actor she worked with Harold Pinter, Dominic Hill and Tim Carroll among others and credits included ETT, National Theatre and the Traverse. In 2012 Sarah moved into directing and writing, and became co-artistic director of BAZ Productions.

Cressida Brown

Cressida is a Freelance Director and Artistic Director of award-winning Offstage Theatre. She was Resident Director at the Royal National Theatre’s Studio from 2007 – 8

Since 2006 she has commissioned, developed and directed premieres with over 50 emerging and established playwrights including Caryl Churchill, Mark Ravenhill, Timberlake Wertenbaker, and April DeAngelis. Her work repeatedly makes nationwide headlines most notably with interviews on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row, BBC Radio 4’s Today’s Programme, Channel 4 News, ITN, BBC News, and multiple features in the Evening Standard, Independent, Guardian, Times, New York Times.

Katy Carmichael

Katy is an experienced actress, director and voice artist most known as Twist from the Bafta nominated Spaced, Lucy Barlow in Coronation Street and for
regular roles in Waterloo Road and Casualty. She has played opposite Steven Berkoff on the London stage, toured internationally with Kneehigh Theatre and performed leading roles at theatres throughout UK. She’s Artistic Director of Theatre Damfino and Table of Delights, whose award-wining productions have toured from Bristol Old Vic to New York.

Sally Cookson (pictured left)

An Olivier nominated Director, Sally is an Associate Artist at Bristol Old Vic, and a long-time collaborator with Travelling Light. Recent credits include: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (West Yorkshire Playhouse); Peter Pan, Jane Eyre (Bristol Old Vic, National Theatre).

Gemma Fairlie

During her career, as both Director & Associate Director, Gemma has worked for companies including: Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Court Theatre, New Vic Theatre and The Orange Tree Theatre. She is Associate Director of the Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

David Mercatali

Currently Associate Director at Sherman Theatre, Cardiff, David is an award-winning theatre director. Recent credits include: Insignificance by Terry Johnson (Arcola Theatre, first London revival in over 20 years), Blue Heart by Caryl Churchill (Tobacco Factory Theatre, Orange Tree Theatre).

Tom Morris

Artistic Director of Bristol Old Vic and Associate Director of the National Theatre since 2004. Tom was the Artistic Director of Battersea Arts Centre from 1995 to 2004. Directing credits include: The Grinning Man (Bristol Old Vic and West End); War Horse (National Theatre, UK & International Tours).

Donnacadh O’Briain

Olivier Award winning director, Donnacadh’s productions have played at the Royal Shakespeare Company, in the West End, and internationally. In 2016 he directed Always Orange by Fraser Grace for the RSC, which reopened the famous The Other Place Theatre.

Nik Partridge

Currently Staff Director at Theatre Royal Plymouth, Nik was previously Director in Residence at Tobacco Factory Theatres and a BBC Performing Arts Fellow. Nik has made work for companies including: Royal Court, Traverse, Òran Mór, the egg and Travelling Light.

Marcus Romer

Marcus Romer is a British director. Romer wrote and directed the 2014 feature film The Knife That Killed Me. He was the Artistic Director of Pilot Theatre in York, England from 1993 – 2016. He has been Associate Artist at Theatre Royal Stratford East 2016 – 2018, and Harrogate Theatre 2017-2019. He was interim Artistic Director at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds from July 2019 – June 2020. Here he directed Pride and Prejudice, Peter Pan and Shirley Valentine. His production of ‘Looking for JJ’ which he adapted from the novel by Anne Cassidy won the TMA award for best production for young people. Romer has played roles in several British television series.

Audrey Sheffield 

Audrey trained as a theatre director with Sam Kogan in London and Moscow, and through further directing programmes and invited workshops at the Young Vic, King’s Head, National Theatre Studio, RSC and with Peter Brook. She was Best Director Finalist for the Off-West End Awards 2017/2018 (The Dark Room, Theatre503), nominated for The Arts Foundation Awards 2018, and selected as an Old Vic 12 Director 2019. She is also a recipient of an MGCfutures bursary 2020.

Ed Viney

Artistic Director of Blue Brook Productions, Ed was previously Director in Residence at the National Theatre Studio and worked at Chichester Festival Theatre, Almeida Theatre, and Bush Theatre.

Drama Writing Specialists

April De Angelis (Jumpy/Playhouse Creatures)

Kieran Knowles Pictured left.
(Operation Crucible/31 Hours)

Steve Waters (Contingency Plan/Limehouse)

Jonquil Panting  (Former BBC Radio 4 Producer)

Film & Television Specialists

Lorna Laidlaw

Actress and Director, Lorna spent several years with Birmingham Rep and made her television debut in the 1990s. Lorna is known for her roles in BBC shows Doctors, Grandpa in My Pocket and Tikkabilla. Lorna has also directed multiple episodes of Doctors.

Megan Lynas

Hugely experienced Script Supervisor for film and TV. Megan’s recent credits include: Poldark (BBC), Trollied (Sky), Crazyhead (Netflix). Teaches: Script Supervision.

Bashart Malik

For over fifteen years Bashart has worked in commercials, music videos and features. Bashart is a Director of Photography and has recently been working on Channel 4 shorts.

Rupert Miles

BAFTA winning director and writer of critically-acclaimed drama and documentary programmes for all the major UK broadcasters and key international broadcasters. Before directing, Rupert worked creatively on iconic feature films and TV series as an editor, supervising sound editor and as an art director. Teaches: Acting to Camera

Tim Newton

An award-winning dramatist turned filmmaker with over twenty years’ experience writing, producing and directing film, television and theatre. Tim works with artists, performers and commissioning bodies across the UK, producing a wide range of work from documentary and TV commercials to independent art films, comedies and historical drama.

Vince Pellegrino

Trained actor and voice over artist. Vince has extensive stage and screen credits, including credits with Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory, Salisbury Playhouse, Bristol Old Vic and in the West End. Screen credits include: Three Girls, Casualty (BBC); Where the Heart Is (ITV), The Fifth Element. Teaches: Acting to Camera

Layla Pope

Layla is a Writer, Director and Producer.

Jack Price

A film and theatre maker, Jack directed his first short film at 21 starring Idris Elba, five years later he joined Ridley Scott Associates as a director. Jack’s career has seen him win numerous awards and short films screened at major festivals across the world. Teaches: Acting to Camera

Tiggi Trethowan

Tiggi has worked extensively in the TV industry for over 30 years, starting as a Stage Manager then Floor Manager she advanced quickly to Unit Manager/First Assistant Director. Notable credits include Man Vs Wild Bear Grylls taking her across the world. Teaches: First AD

Andrew Yarme

Andrew has over 20 years’ professional freelance experience working in Film/Video production as a sound recordist/mixer. Andrew has worked in over 85 countries in remote locations including jungles, deserts, and filming in both the North and South Pole. Teaches: Location Sound

Stuart Napier

Acting to Camera

Bruce Abrahams

Production Management

Louie Blystad Collins

Lighting for Film & TV

Masterclasses

Tom Morris

Artistic Director, Bristol Old Vic (pictured left)

Ali Robertson

Artistic Director, Tobacco Factory Theatres

Paul Crewes

Executive Director, Kneehigh

Max Jones

RSC Designer

Sarah Benkinsop

Freelance Designer

Janet Bird

Freelance Designer

Miranda Cromwell

BOV Young Company

David Woodhead

Freelance Designer/ Associate Designer MGC

Jemima Robinson

Freelance Designer

Bunny Christie

Designer

Sarah Hauldren

Art Director

Mark Rosenblatt

Director

Lucy Osborne

Designer

John McGrath

Artistic Director, Manchester International Festival

Jamie Allen

Director