The Staff

All staff employed by The Academy have professional working experience within their area of expertise.

By using professional artists, Academy students are able to draw on a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise unsurpassed by any other part-time drama school.

Our staff have worked at some of the United Kingdom’s most respected and influential theatre companies and will be able to pass on their knowledge to the students.

Also, for your peace of mind and the students safety, the teachers are CRB police checked and there is always a first aid trained teacher on duty.

Glyn Trefor-Jones > PRINCIPAL

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• Originally from North Wales, Glyn came to England to study acting and musical theatre. Since graduating, he has worked as an actor, singer, writer, director and producer for numerous theatre companies both in the United Kingdom and United States. This has given him a great insight into several aspects of the entertainment industry and afforded him with a wealth of experience to share with students of The Academy.

  
  

  He has always combined his professional engagements with teaching work and has worked for several of the UK's leading drama schools as well as holding acting and musical theatre master-classes in schools across the United Kingdom and New York.

Sarah Leslie

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• Sarah graduated from the Hertfordshire Theatre School in 2001 with a Diploma in Acting and Musical Theatre. Productions in training included The Gut Girls, The Odd Couple, Pippin, Honk and Man of La Mancha.

  
  

  Since graduating, Sarah has had a rich and varied career as a performer, gymnast, choreographer and most recently, a fully trained palates practitioner. Her professional engagements include appearing in Cinderella at the Beck Theatre, Hayes, choreographing the new musical Sunsets And Mornings (Castle Theatre, Wellingborough) and working as a dancer/choreographer at the NEC, Birmingham.

  
  

  She has always combined her professional engagements with teaching work and has taught and choreographed for several leading youth theatre companies.

Andrew Holloway

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• Andrew trained at the Guildford School of Acting Conservatoire on the BA (Hons) Theatre (Musical Theatre) and graduated with 1st class Honours and a special award for Outstanding Contribution.  He has over 9 years teaching experience with children and adults for youth theatre groups, performing arts schools, primary and secondary schools.

  
  

  Andrew is currently living in London and working professionally as an actor, whilst also continuing to attend workshops and classes, as he is a firm believer that “the actor’s art is like the beggar’s bag regardless of whether you need it at the time or not, you should pick up everything as you come across it and take it away with you.” (The Actor’s Analect’s; Dust in the Ears, Item XIX)

  
  

   

  Training: Theatre Studio, Cheltenham and Guildford School of Acting
  Theatre includes: Mr Pod, The  Glasshouse (CSSD); Mackie, Tin Gods (Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham); Celia & Amiens, As You Like It (UK Tour); Tommy the Cat, Dick Whittington ( Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage); Baby John, West Side Story (Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage); Joan the Mute & Marasmus, Enchanted (now Betwixt) (Courtyard Theatre, Covent Garden).
  Television: Degrees of Separation (Internet)

Hilary Tucker

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• Hilary trained at the Scottish Ballet School before moving down to London to study musical theatre at The Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts.

  
  
  

  Since graduating, Hilary has played many different roles including Diane Lorimer in 42nd St, Tess and Patsy in Crazy For You, Kim in Miss saigon and most recently Violet in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

  
  
  

  Hilary is still actively pursuing a musical theatre career and spends her time between theatre work teaching all aspects of dance, drama and singing at Theatre Schools.

Kelly Anne Simpson

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• Kelly Anne Simpson trained at the Mountview Academy Of Theatre Arts gaining a Post Graduate Diploma in Musical Theatre, having previously achieved a BA (Hons) in Performing Arts at the University of Winchester. Whilst at Mountview her roles included Joanne in Sondheim’s Company, Mary Jo Bentley in Is There Life After High School? Lady Macbeth in Macbeth and Catherine in Suddenly Last Summer (directed by Joyce Branagh).

  
  

  Kelly Anne then went on to perform in many productions playing both leading and ensemble roles including Guys & Dolls, Joanne in Godspell,  Princess Sahara in a touring Production of Aladdin, first cover Sophie Augusta in Czarinas A New Musical,  Miss Blue in Easy Living and was also lead vocalist for many cabaret productions throughout the country.

  
  

  Kelly Anne was also regularly seen at The Theatre Museum Covent Garden performing in their Monthly Sing Alongs as a lead vocalist covering many different shows including Anne Get Your Gun, Dream Girls, Gypsy, Cabaret, Chicago, A chorus Line & many more.

Emma Hoyle

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• Emma graduated from Birmingham Theatre School in 2004 with the Sir Barry Jackson award for best actor. Whilst at Birmingham, her credits include A Tale of Two Cities, Macbeth, Cabaret and Edward Bonds Lear.

  
  

  Since graduating, Emma has worked professionally for a variety of children’s theatre companies and has toured the UK with productions for both primary and secondary children. She has teaching experience working with children of all ages and has held workshops in acting, singing and movement.

  
  

  Emma has worked as a children’s entertainer at Warwick Castle, playing the character of the princess and is currently appearing at Shakespeare’s Birthplace in Stratford upon Avon, performing extracts from the life, work and times of the famous Bard.

Zoe Chamberlain

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• Zoe graduated from the University of Central Lancashire in 2009 with a First Class Honors Degree in Music Theatre. Roles whilst training include Chava in Fiddler on the Roof, Julie Jordan in Carousel and Countess Charlotte in Sondheim?s A Little Night Music.

  
  

  Zoe has worked and recorded as a performance artist, working with producers around the UK and playing numerous venues. She has musical training from the Birmingham Conservatoire and before university was a member of the Midlands Youth Jazz Orchestra.

  
  

  Zoe has always had a strong passion for the performing arts and continues to combine her teaching work with a career within the industry.

Nikki Dunbavan

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• Nikki began her dance career from an early age achieving several qualifications before moving on to study Dance, Performance and Teaching at the University of Central Lancashire.

  
  

  Since graduating from university, Nikki has gone on to work with many youth theatre companies working as a teacher, choreographer and assistant director.

  
  

  Although a committed teacher, Nikki continues to pursue her performance ambitions and has recently appeared in Annie and South Pacific.