BARTA TEACHERS & PATRONS
BARTA THEATRE ACADEMY is committed to providing excellent training, we will work with both regular teachers and specialists throughout the course of a term to provide a balanced and rounded training experience. We will work with teachers with the necessary skills, drive, ambition, energy and passion to deliver inspirational training.
Mark Hooper, DIRECTOR / HEAD OF SPEECH AND DRAMA, BA (Hons) Drama.
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Mark graduated from the University of Exeter in 2011 with a first class degree in Drama and has been working as a director/producer/writer ever since. Mark has produced and directed critically acclaimed, 5 star, sellout theatre for the national and international stage. Mark is also the associate director and head of learning and participation for South Hill Park Arts Centre. Mark is currently directing Shrek and Matilda The Musical Jr.
Notable projects include: One Fine Day, Just You, Night Creature, Every Wild Beast, The Voice (Short Film), Seussical The Musical, Sweeney Todd, Blood Brothers, Shout The Mod Musical, Lord of The Flies, The Jungle Book, The Haunting, Jerusalem, The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland. Mark has been developing, producing and writing new musical theatre for the past seven years and he is the Co-Writer and Director of the award winning AnimAlphabet The Musical. |
Luke Robinson, CHOREOGRAPHER / DANCE TEACHER, BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre.
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Luke trained at The University of Chichester and obtained BA Hons in Musical Theatre. Credits while training include: Pearce 'Half a Sixpence' (Alexandra Theatre), Henry 'Am Dram' (Assembly Theatre) and Prez 'The Pajama Game' (UK south coast tour). Theatre credits include: Joe Casey 'Our House' 2016, Son 'Spend, Spend, Spend' 2016, Gibbs 'DOGFIGHT' 2016, Ensemble/ 1st cover Benny/Mark 'RENT' 2016, Brad, 'Rocky Horror Experience' 2016&2017, Wickersham 'Suessical' 2017, Parsons 'Jerusalem' 2017, Ensemble ‘Boogie Nights’ 2017, Lead Vocalist ‘I love 70’s’ 2017, Alex ‘Madagascar the musical’ 2018 and 2020, Cockactoo ‘Animalphabet’ 2018 (UK Tour), Harry the Horse ‘Guys and Dolls’ 2018, Georg ‘Spring Awakening’ 2018. Lead Vocalist and Production Cast captain 2019 (Live Business Ibiza) Lead Vocalist 2019 (Live Business Finland) Choreography credits include: Bring it on the musical 2017, High School Musical (asst.) 2018, SHOUT 2021.
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Tim Cumper, MUSICAL DIRECTOR
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Tim has been BARTAs musical director for almost all of our musical productions including The Wizard of Oz, Les Miserables, Our House and Alice in Wonderland. Tim composed and orchestrated the music for BARTAs Alice and will MD and compose/orchestrate the music for BARTAs productions of Matilda The Musical Jr, Matilda, Dr Dolittle and Around the World in 80 days.
Tim is a very familiar face at South Hill Park performing the role of MD on countless productions including Summer School, Easter School and the Christmas Panto of which there are possibly far too many shows to name but suffice to say Tim is very much an asset at BARTA and South Hill Park and we are delighted to have his knowledge and experience when it comes to creating the finest musical productions. |
Holly Hermon, ASSISTANT CHOREOGRAPHER
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Holly is currently training at PPA and recently choreographed the musical Dogfight with the upcoming company Three Dot Theatre.
Theatre Credits include: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (National Tour), Alice in Wonderland, Aladdin (South Hill Park Arts Centre), Bugsy Malone, Oklahoma, Sound of Music, Annie (Camus Productions). Film/Television credits include: Proposing to Emma (short film), Sainsburys Christmas Advert 2012, Sainsburys Advert 2011. |
Dean Penn, FOUNDER AND PRODUCER BSc (Hons) Management.
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Dean is a relative newcomer to the theatre world. In 2011 his son was cast in Cameron Mackintosh’s Oliver! The Musical Tour and whilst following his son around the UK for 18 months he became interested in and witnessed first-hand, the positive role theatre can play in young people’s lives. Dean is a foster carer of over 5 years and trained in supporting young people with trauma, autism, anxiety, attachment disorder, low mood and depression to improve resilience and opportunity in their lives.
Dean is also a Co-Director of Hit The Mark Theatre and between BARTA and Hit The Mark is extremely proud to have produced sell-out shows including Bugsy Malone (2014), Lord of the Flies (2015) Wizard of Oz (2016), SHOUT! The Mod Musical (2016), The Haunting (2017) Jerusalem (2017), Les Mis (2017) AnimAlphabet the Musical (UK and China Tours 2017-2019), Spring Awakening (2018), Our House (2019) and Alice In Wonderland (2018/2019 and Camp Bestival), Matilda The Musical Jr. (2021) and is excited to be writing and creating Dr. Dolittle and Around The World in 80 days. |
Sally Kelly, FOUNDER AND SAFEGUARDING
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Sally was introduced to the theatre world later in life when her 2 children showed a passion for the performing arts. Both of Sally’s daughters have been performing on stage and in television for over 11 years.
Sally is a foster carer of 14 years and strongly believes all children should have access to performing and theatre to help encourage our young people to believe in themselves. Sally also successfully set up and managed a ‘Matilda’ house in London for the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). A home away from home for child performers in the RSCs production of Matilda The Musical. |
PATRONS
Kerry Ingram
Kerry trained with BARTA between 2012 and 2018 performing in a number of BARTA shows including Bugsy Malone, The Wizard of Oz, Spring Awakening and Les Miserables.
Kerry has also had many notable achievements outside of BARTA over the last 7 years including an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical, appearing in 3 seasons of Game of Thrones and most recently playing the role of Becky in the Netflix drama Free Rein. Kerry is very keen to support youth involvement and development in the arts and was delighted to become a patron of BARTA in 2019. Kerry can often be seen at BARTA classes and has been known to teach Matilda and film technique workshops.
Kerry has also had many notable achievements outside of BARTA over the last 7 years including an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical, appearing in 3 seasons of Game of Thrones and most recently playing the role of Becky in the Netflix drama Free Rein. Kerry is very keen to support youth involvement and development in the arts and was delighted to become a patron of BARTA in 2019. Kerry can often be seen at BARTA classes and has been known to teach Matilda and film technique workshops.
Cat Simmons
Cat trained with the Oldham Theatre workshop and National Youth Music Theatre. Cat is an English actress, best known for her roles as Nancy in the UK Tour of Oliver and DC Kezia Walker in the long-running ITV drama, The Bill. Cat also stared in Family Affairs as Scarlett Anderson. Cat performed the role of Billie Holiday in LIGHTNING CHILD for Matthew Dunster at Shakespeare's Globe and as a Witch in MACBETH, also at the Globe, for Eve Best. Cat is currently performing the role of Hannah in Come From Away in the West End from the end of January 2019. We are delighted to have Cat as a patron.
