Staff
Principal: | Mrs Sylvia Young OBE |
Head of Music: | Mr Ray Lamb BA LGSM |
Artistic Director: | Mr Steven Baker |
Vocational Manager | Mr Sam Luffman |
Administrator: | Michelle Lakey |
Administrator: | Martin Rumble |
Reception: | Farah Ishaq |
First Aid: | Ylva karlsjo-Matanovic |
Bobbi Jo Dwight
Dance
Dance assistant.
Studying and performing dance has been my priority for many years, and I am thrilled to share my skills and passion. My favourite styles of dance includes Street, Jazz and Musical Theatre.
Bryn Williams
Drama
Bryn is recognised as an innovative and motivational drama practitioner whose career has spanned four decades and three continents. A direct descendant of Shakespeare’s family through William’s sister Joan; he has had an extensive and varied career in the Performing Arts as a child actor then actor and director before branching into teaching. As director and youth theatre facilitator he has produced or directed over 300 productions including Medea, Trojan Women, Hamlet, Othello, Salome, Wizard of Oz, Bugsy Malone, Evita and Shattered Dreams. His work has seen him conduct master classes in the USA, Hong Kong, Shanghai and the UK as well as his native Australia. Artistic Directorships include that of Araluen Youth Theatre, Centre Stage Theatre, Rock Eisteddfod, Croc Eisteddfod and the annual Concourse d’elegance. He was an associate director for the Yeperenye Festival in Central Australia and ‘Romeo & Juliet’ at the Royal Albert Hall, London. As a Drama teacher he has taught throughout Australia, most notably as Head of Performing arts for OLSH College.
He is the workshop facilitator for Delfont Mackintosh Theatres where he has conceived and conducted West End workshops for les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia, Avenue Q, Enron, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Oliver, Miss Saigon and Spring Awakening. As director in London he has directed ‘Romeo and Juliet’. ‘Total Eclipse’, ‘Head Rot Holiday’, ‘Conference of the Birds’, ‘Lord of the Flies’ in addition to drama coaching. Bryn’s achievements have been recognised with the awards of Centralian of the Year and twice finalist in the Australian of the Year, Australia Remembers Playwright and state finalist in Australian Teacher of the Year.
Charlotte Gale
Dance
Charlotte has worked and performed in theatre for over 10 years both in the west end and on various tours.
Her west end credits include the original London cast of Top Hat (Aldwych Theatre), Elf the Musical (Dominion Theatre) and Carousel (Arcola Theatre). She has more recently become assistant choreographer to Lee Proud on shows such as Elf (Copenhagen) and Allegro (Southwark). Whilst performing Charlotte has taught at many colleges including Arts Educational, Urdang and London Studio Centre.
Daisy Boyles
Dance
Daisy trained at Sylvia young theatre school and Laine Theatre Arts.
Her theatre work includes ‘Annie’ UK and Ireland tour (swing/cover Grace), Thursford Christmas Spectacular, Oklahoma (ensemble), Top Hat (ensemble), 42nd Street (ensemble) and a number of pantomimes.
Her film work includes Beauty and the beast (Debutant), Harry Potter and the half blood Prince (student) and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (student).
Daniel Brady
Singing
Daniel trained at the University of Manchester and Royal Northern College of Music where he studied piano and composition.
His music and session playing (piano/keyboard), writing and arrangement has been recorded by a variety of artists in commercial music as part of several songwriting collaborations, reaching the UK Independent Singles and online charts.
He has directed and produced music for television and stage, both nationally and internationally and has a broad musical background in both commercial music and musical theatre. He draws upon this experience as a teacher at SYTS, where he specialises in singing.
Darren Massey
Dance
Darren trained with the Jackie Palmer Stage School and Agency, where he qualifying as an IDTA teacher.
During this time Darren was fortunate to be given the opportunity of not only performing in many theatre, TV and film productions, but also later in his career chaperoning children in a richly diverse number of high profile productions. This provided him with a valuable insight into the high standards required to achieve success in the industry, knowledge that he in turn passes onto his students.
Despite enjoying performing, Darren found his main talent and passion resided in teaching.
Since qualifying as a teacher, Darren has devoted his time to improving his skills as a teacher in order to provide his students with the very best in dance education. Several students have received nominations for the IDTA National Awards with many continuing to pursue professional careers in the industry.Debbie Taylor
Dance
Primary Tap & Jazz
Debbie trained at Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts from the age of 5 and continued to study the three year teachers/performers course.
She has worked as a freelance choreographer as well as a jazz, tap, street dance and musical theatre teacher.
Professional engagements include with the original cast of 42nd Street (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), Zelda in Singin' in the Rain (The Palladium) and Mrs Potipher in Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (UK Tour).
Gareth Heale
Singing
Gareth is a trained classical singer who consolidated an interest in vocal technique in 2017, graduating from The Voice College in the top 5% with an Advanced Professional Diploma in Teaching Contemporary Singing.
While training and since graduating, Gareth has taught masterclasses at The BRIT School and City Academy London, as well as being an established private vocal coach with students in the West End and on tour.
Georgia Fitch
Drama
Georgia has a degree in drama from John Moores University - Liverpool, and also trained as an actress at the East 15 drama school.
She has worked as an actress, and then as a writer, for over twenty years. Work includes, productions at the the National Theatre, collaborations with the RSC, and many radio plays produced for the BBC. She has also worked in film and television.
Georgia's specialism is devised work.
Harry Ashley
Drama
Recently graduated from the BA Hons Acting Course at the Arts Educational Schools London after completing their three year degree split directly in half stage and half screen.
Prior to this, Harry Studied full time at RADA on their foundation course in Acting studying all aspect of acting technique , text analysis as well as acting in plays from Greek , Shakespearian and all the way up to contemporary play wrights. Harry trained full time as student at The Sylvia young Theatre School in his early years and is very passionate about aiding other people passion in this industry.
Since graduating, He has worked as an actor in voice, radio and commercials and undertaken a variety of comedy based short films as well as directing in various plays and musicals at different theatre's . Harry enjoys stand up comedy a lot and dabbles in that too.Jane Lamacraft
Drama
Qualifications: BA (Hons) English Literature: LONDON UNIVERSITY. MA Text & Performance Studies: LONDON UNIVERSITY/RADA – Bursary winner. Acting Training: MOUNTVIEW - Dame Judi Dench Scholarship winner.
Having worked as an actor in the West End, Film, TV & Radio, Jane started writing comedy and is now a regular writer for BBC Radio 4 for shows such as: THE NOW SHOW, THE NEWS QUIZ amongst many others and has also written for the likes of ARMSTRONG & MILLER, SMACK THE PONY, NEVER MIND THE BUZZCOCKS, JASON BYRNE, RORY BREMNER, ALISTAIR MCGOWAN and recently performed her own work at SOHO THEATRE.
Joe Partridge
Singing
Joe is a singer, actor and composer graduating from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 2019.
Recent credits for Joe have included work for the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company, Thursford Christmas Spectacular, Best of Rock Musicals (Eventim Apollo), Guys & Dolls in Concert with the London Philharmonia and in Katherine Jenkins Guiding Light and Cinema Paradiso (Decca).
Joe continues to enjoy performing across the UK and overseas and is delighted to be joining the Sylvia Young team.Leah O'Conner
Dance
Leah works professionally as a performer, choreographer and dance teacher in London, and Ireland.
Trained at Laine Theatre Arts. Leah has worked as a commercial dancer and vocalist. Across tv, stage and screen. Leah's credits include Netflix dance show Dance 100. Disneys Disenchanted, Strictly Come dancing. The Voice of Ireland. Loose women. Xfactor Iran, ITV This morning , Alan Carr, Al Murray Christmas Special.
She has worked with artists including Mc Fly, Jess Glynn, Martin Garrix, Sara Alto, Sinitta and Rebecca Ferguson.
Leah has also appeared in adverts for various campaigns including Marks and Spencer’s, Liverpool One, National Lottery, Vodafone and Sharp.
Along side this, Leah has worked in theatre as a dancer, vocalist, and choreographer on shows including Whiskey in the jar the musical, High School Musical. Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, Beauty and the beast, Buddha Bar Marrakech and Snow White, Move it, Flight before Christmas, Swords Castle Creepy crawl, The late late toy show.Michael Palmer
Drama
Michael trained at the Webber Douglas Academy, London.
He has also lectured in US universities (Notre Dame, Vassar, Wellesley) as well as running
BTEC courses at FE level in UK. He also maintains an acting career. Triggered at the White Bear (2022) which won an OffWestEnd award. Previous credits include:
All Creatures Great and Small; The Butterfly Lion, both national tours with Bill Kenwright Productions. Friend or Foe (Colchester Mercury Theatre and tour).
He has toured in musicals such as The Wedding Singer (original UK cast, No. 1 tour), Footloose (No 1 tour), Company (Greenwich Theatre); and Singalonga
Abba (West End and No.1 tour). He has also acted in around twenty Shakespeare productions both in the UK and the US. He played the title role in Macbeth with Actors From the London Stage which toured US. Also Malvolio in Twelfth Night, and Shylock in The Merchant of Venice (AFTLS). He was Claudius in Hamlet (Changeling TC); Eisenstein in Eisenstein in Action (Riverside studios); and he also performed a one man show Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde for Creation TC in Oxford (six week run). He then played the Duke in The Duke in Darkness at the Tabard Theatre. Theatre for young people: The Scarecrow’s Wedding (West End and national tour); Lost Toys Big Christmas Adventure, The Right Royal Rumpus (Underwired TC). TV/film credits: Reel Life which is on general release. How Not to Live Your Life, Casualty, Waking the Dead, Wish Me Luck, plus around ten commercials.Pearce Barron
Dance
Pearce is originally from Swindon, moving to London to attend Sylvia Young Theatre School, and graduating ArtsEd with a First Class BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre in 2019.
Since graduating, he has performed in the Jersey Boys, London cast, THE PIRATE QUEEN at the London Coliseum, playing IQ in the West End revival of
Olivier Award-winning musical HAIRSPRAY.Ray Lamb
Singing
Ray studied for his LGSM in piano performance and arranging under Neil Butterworth in Edinburgh before going on to a BA in music, specialising in composition and conducting with Anthony Hedges.
While at university he started working as an MD on musicals and pantomimes locally and after graduating, moved to London where he continued to work in these areas whilst becoming more involved in commercial music. Writing and playing with several bands he co-founded a recording studio in Hammersmith where he learned sound engineering and production with a variety of artists as well as arranging and writing for TV and commercial radio.
Initially hired to do some arranging for SYTS, Ray enjoyed working with the talented youngsters and over the years dedicated more of his time to education, eventually taking on the role of Musical Director putting together innumerable concerts, television, radio performances and recordings.
Ray and his partner Nicola have four children.
Rob Hitchmough
Drama
Rob spent twenty five years working on the stand-up and impro’ circuit, he took a break in the early nineties to go to drama school.
Acting credits include: Spooks, Watching (sit-com), EastEnders, Brookside, The Bill (twice), Absent (Woman's Hour series on Radio 4) and about 10 short films. He qualified as a drama teacher at The City Lit, where he now teaches, stand up, impro’, sketch writing, sight reading and audition technique; he is also a senior tutor at The Actors Centre (a drama school for professional actors).
Rob also teaches a workshop called ‘Improvisation for Doctors’ on GP training schemes. Writing credits include: Children’s television dramas: ‘Billy & Layla’ and ‘Time Travel’ Stage Plays: ‘Campsite’ & ‘One Step Ahead’ (which was shortlisted for The Liverpool Hope Playwriting Prize.)
Rob Thomas
Dance
He was awarded a scholarship to train at the Sylvia Young Theatre School as a full time student. Following this he also secured a 3 year performing arts scholarship at London Studio Centre.
Rob had a continuous influx of jobs and toured worldwide with recording artists such as Atomic Kitten, Spice Girls, Beverly Knight, Stooshe, MTV Asia Awards and X Factor as a backing dancer.
Rob started teaching Street Dance classes 10yrs ago and has a passion to see the next generation well equipped with solid foundations.
Ryan Bennett
Drama
Ryan Bennett is a New Zealand born actor who trained at Actors Centre Australia and then completed a Master of Arts at Guildford School of Acting.
He’s been in indie features (e.g. Zoe; Misplaced, Our Little Haven), bit parts on telly back in Aussie (e.g. Home and Away) and was in his first web series when he was 16 (But no chance you’re getting the name of that one)! He's starred on stage as Bob Crewe in Jersey Boys (Selladoor Worldwide) from Dubai to China, played Dromio of Ephesus in Comedy of Errors and Angus/Lennox in Macbeth for Pop-Up Globe (NZ/Australia), he's played the Sydney Opera House in Nightbook, and toured New Zealand, Australia and parts of the U.K. with The Factory - a new musical, in the male lead role (Edward). He also writes and produces his own award-winning short films and theatre that has screened/been staged in London and all over the world.Since graduating in 2012, Ryan has taught acting for numerous schools such as NIDA, Sylvia Young Theatre School, Guildford School of Acting, CCMT, and many more. He specialises in teaching script analysis, auditioning, screen performance and acting through song - but has been known to comfortably cover all manner of material and concerns to the new/developing actor.
Ryan's passion for teaching matches that of his passion for performance, directing and writing.
Selena Kelly
Drama
Irish-born, London-based, I’m a theatre maker who directs, writes and facilitates workshops. I’ve directed large-scale ensemble pieces, youth theatre, children’s theatre and more intimate new writing pieces that explore stories of the underrepresented, the misunderstood and the disenfranchised. I enjoy collaborating on devised pieces and I have a passion for breathing new life into contemporary plays and overlooked classics.
I’ve just completed work on August Wilson’s Jitney, directed by Tinuke Craig, where I was hired as creative support and drama coach on behalf of Dayo Koleosho who is a member of Access All Areas.Simon Rawlings
Drama
Simon trained at Mountview Theatre School.
He directed the major revival of A Chorus Line at the Lowry Theatre, Salford; The Wizard of Oz at the Wales Millennium Centre and the Lowry (with Judy Garland’s daughter, Lorna Luft); the new musical Pilgrim, which he also co-wrote; and numerous 'big-name' pantomimes for UK Productions. Acting work includes national tours and West End productions of ‘Allo ‘Allo (as Herr Flick with the original cast), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Don’t Dress for Dinner, The Demon Headmaster and Whose Life is it Anyway? Also, The Great British Musicals (Royal Albert Hall), French Paste (Shaw Theatre, London), The Merry Widow (Opera Holland Park), Overture (Lyric, Hammersmith), A Christmas Carol (English Theatre of Stockholm) and They’re Playing Our Song (Far East Tour). T.V. includes Crimewatch UK, Rift and commercials for BT and Boots.
Tessa Stannard
Dance
Early training SYTS full time and then Masters Performing Arts studying all forms of performance tap, Jazz, commercial and singing
Musical Theatre has always been my true passion. As a trained professional and performer I have taught multiple classes and theatre workshops inspiring my students and watching their confidence grow.