BARTA TEACHERS & PATRONS
Berkshire Arts Academy, BARTA 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, HEAD OF SPEECH AND DRAMA, BA (Hons) Drama.
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.
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.
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.
Charlotte Steele, HEAD OF MUSIC AND DANCE
Charlotte is a professional choreographer and member of the Country pop girl band Remember Monday as seen on 'The Voice'. Charlotte works as a vocal coach and choreographer and recently choreographed the award winning children’s musical AnimAlphabet The Musical. Charlotte started performing professionally when she was 8 years old and made her west-end debut at 10 years old. She trained at Renton Dance Studio, Guildford School of Acting and The Academy of Contemporary Music.
Credits include: Jane Banks- Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre), Ensemble- This Too Shall Pass (Electric Theatre), Joanne- Godspell (Prospect Theatre), Recurring Senior Dancer- Pantomime (Princes Hall from 2004-2013), Some Girls (BBC), Pepsi Max (Advert), KFC (Advert), Uncle (BBC) and All England Dance Finals Winner 2013.
Charlotte is a member of the successful country girl band Remember Monday seen on ITVs 'The Voice'.
Credits include: Jane Banks- Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre), Ensemble- This Too Shall Pass (Electric Theatre), Joanne- Godspell (Prospect Theatre), Recurring Senior Dancer- Pantomime (Princes Hall from 2004-2013), Some Girls (BBC), Pepsi Max (Advert), KFC (Advert), Uncle (BBC) and All England Dance Finals Winner 2013.
Charlotte is a member of the successful country girl band Remember Monday seen on ITVs 'The Voice'.
Holly-Anne Hull, VOCAL TEACHER
Holly graduated with a distinction from The London School of Musical Theatre and is a regular in Les Miserables having performed in the West End, Asia Tour and currently in the all-star staged concert at the Gielgud Theatre.
Holly is also a member of the successful country girl band Remember Monday as seen on 'The Voice' earlier this year.
Prior to LSMT, Holly performed in the production of The Dreaming with the National Youth Music Theatre Company and performed regularly as a featured soloist at events such as West End Live, Move IT and The Royal Albert Hall. in 2008 Holly won The Disney channels televised talent competition ‘My Camp Rock’ later releasing a single and video and also performed alongside Broadway and West end stars at the Indigo2 with New York composer Scott Alan. Theatre Credits since graduating: Gladys (cover Lola) Copacabana UK tour, Maid Marion in Robin Hood (Grove Theatre) Holly in Loserville (Union Theatre) and Les Miserables.
Holly is also a member of the successful country girl band Remember Monday as seen on 'The Voice' earlier this year.
Prior to LSMT, Holly performed in the production of The Dreaming with the National Youth Music Theatre Company and performed regularly as a featured soloist at events such as West End Live, Move IT and The Royal Albert Hall. in 2008 Holly won The Disney channels televised talent competition ‘My Camp Rock’ later releasing a single and video and also performed alongside Broadway and West end stars at the Indigo2 with New York composer Scott Alan. Theatre Credits since graduating: Gladys (cover Lola) Copacabana UK tour, Maid Marion in Robin Hood (Grove Theatre) Holly in Loserville (Union Theatre) and Les Miserables.
Laura Guimaraes, VOCAL AND DRAMA TEACHER
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Laura trained at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts and is currently studying at Guildford School of Acting on the BA Actor-Musician course.
Laura is also a member of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, where she has performed in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Festival Hall in London. Laura also appeared on BBC 1’s ‘Pitch Battle’, reaching the live final. Laura has taught singing, drama and LAMDA within Berkshire and Oxfordshire for many years. Laura is very excited to begin teaching at BARTA. |
Keir Buist, MUSICAL THEATRE TEACHING ASSISTANT
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We are delighted to announce that Keir will be joining BARTA as a musical theatre teaching assistant.
Keir Buist will assist our creative team of Mark, Charlotte, Laura, Holly and Tim in the delivery of acting, singing and dance lessons to our Saturday BARTA students. Keir is a current member of BARTA Elite and a regular on the South Hill Park stage where he is currently in rehearsals as Pip in Great Expectations. Keir was also part of the Hit The Mark Theatre UK Tour and Edinburgh Fringe run of the children’s musical AnimAlphabet (best children’s show Edinburgh Fringe 2018) and most recently performed in Wrath of Achilles for Bedivere Arts Company. |
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 next South Hill Park production of Dr Dolittle which will take place, May 2020.
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. |
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 is excited to be creating Dr. Dolittle and taking AnimAlphabet back to China in 2020. |
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. |
BERKSHIRE ARTS ACADEMY, BARTA 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.
PREVIOUS TEACHERS INCLUDE
Nick Pack, DRAMA AND DANCE TEACHER
Nick graduated from Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts in 2009. Nick has worked as a freelance drama, dance teacher and choreographer for many years in schools such as BARTA Theatre Academy, Arts Academy, South Hill Park, RBAPA and Holloway Arts Factory. Following the successful 2018 world arena tour of Cartoon Network Live, Nick has recently returned from performing in the Middle East with the Hollywood Special Effects show. Some of his previous credits include Smurfs world arena tour, Pinocchio in Covent Garden Open Air Theatre, Gatsby at the Leicester Square Arts Theatre West End. Nick also created the role of Marco the salsa mouse in the number 1 UK tour of Angelina Ballerina The Musical. Nick has also worked on the creative department as a Movement Director for various company's including London Contemporary Theatre and Buxton Opera House.
Jake Addley, DANCE / DRAMA TEACHER
Jake graduated in 2009 from The Brit School Of Performing Arts. In between acting jobs jake has worked as an acting tutor for South Hill Park, Glive, Camberly theatre, RBAPA and Fuzzy Logic Dance Company teaching countrywide in schools.
Jakes previous credits include: Rodger in Rent, Marius in Les Miserables, directed by Peter Polycarpou; touring with The Original Theatre Company in their production of A Midsummer’s Nights Dream. Jake made his professional theatre debut as Peter Pan at South Hill Park directed by Danny Austin. As well as teaching for them Jake is also a member of the award winning all male dance company Fuzzy Logic. Fuzzy Logic were commissioned by Sadler’s Wells to devise a performance highlighting the plight of AIDS victims which toured to Namibia. Jake has performed for the Queen at Buckingham Palace with the NYMT. His most recent success was “One Fine Day” a one man show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where he was nominated for The Stage Award of Acting Excellence for Best Solo Performer. One Fine Day transferred to London’s Waterloo East Theatre. Jake toured the UK from Sept - Dec with Blackeyed Theatres Mother Courage, appeared as Will Scarlet in Robin Hood at the Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple and will be tourED the UK with Blackeyed Theatres Teechers.
Jakes previous credits include: Rodger in Rent, Marius in Les Miserables, directed by Peter Polycarpou; touring with The Original Theatre Company in their production of A Midsummer’s Nights Dream. Jake made his professional theatre debut as Peter Pan at South Hill Park directed by Danny Austin. As well as teaching for them Jake is also a member of the award winning all male dance company Fuzzy Logic. Fuzzy Logic were commissioned by Sadler’s Wells to devise a performance highlighting the plight of AIDS victims which toured to Namibia. Jake has performed for the Queen at Buckingham Palace with the NYMT. His most recent success was “One Fine Day” a one man show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where he was nominated for The Stage Award of Acting Excellence for Best Solo Performer. One Fine Day transferred to London’s Waterloo East Theatre. Jake toured the UK from Sept - Dec with Blackeyed Theatres Mother Courage, appeared as Will Scarlet in Robin Hood at the Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple and will be tourED the UK with Blackeyed Theatres Teechers.
Phil Ryder, VOCAL TEACHER
Philip trained from a young age with Peer Productions Theatre Company before studying Performance Art and Music. He was then fortunate to receive personal mentoring from professionals whilst working in the industry. He currently works as a vocal/music coach at various youth theatre’s and educational establishments alongside professional engagements.
His Directing credits include, The Wind in The Willows, Animal Farm and has co-directed Peter Pan & Wounds to The Face.
He has also musically directed Godspell, Aladdin, Wicked, Joseph & A Slice of Saturday Night.
Philip has also directed many showcase performances and been Assistant Director on many other shows. He was the Musical
Co-ordinator for Windsors got talent 2011 at Windsor Theatre Royal and worked on A Christmas Carol at Greenwich Playhouse Theatre and tourED the UK in a Midsummer Nights Dream.
His Directing credits include, The Wind in The Willows, Animal Farm and has co-directed Peter Pan & Wounds to The Face.
He has also musically directed Godspell, Aladdin, Wicked, Joseph & A Slice of Saturday Night.
Philip has also directed many showcase performances and been Assistant Director on many other shows. He was the Musical
Co-ordinator for Windsors got talent 2011 at Windsor Theatre Royal and worked on A Christmas Carol at Greenwich Playhouse Theatre and tourED the UK in a Midsummer Nights Dream.
Jonathan Ashby, DRAMA TEACHER
Jonathan graduated Redroofs Theatre School in 2011. He has taught Drama, Dance & Singing for several years and has also taught Gymnastics to a high level since 2004. Jonno as he is also known, performs on stage, on screen and of course in musical theatre. Since Graduating he has worked frequently between all three disciplines. He recently toured Australia with Petula Clark in Concert, worked with Lazarus Theatre Company performing in King Lear & As You Like It in Rep and in August 2012 can be seen in Edinburgh performing in Greek Myths with Backhand Theatre.
Theatre: The Sword & The Dope (Kings Head & Greenwich Playhouse) Young Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (UK Tour), Maurice in Lord Of The Flies (UK Tour),Whit in Of Mice And Men (Brockley Jack), Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing (Windsor Globe), The Adoration Syndrome (The Horse), Aslan in The Lion The Witch & The Wardrobe, Noughts & Crosses & Herb in Godspell (Wilde Theatre) Wanted Dead Or Alive, Hansel & Gretel & Red Riding Hood (Ascot Novello) Snow White (Hull New Theatre)
Film: The Lights Twinkle Sometimes, Opus Diablo, Blind Spot, This Is Intercourse, What Makes it Stick TV: You Me At Six Music Video,10:10 Campaign Commercial, Don't Stop Believing, Cock n Bull Kid Music Video, Yes Cadets Music Video.
Voice: Lloyds TSB Torchbearers Commercial, BARTA Commercial
During Training: Charles in Blithe Spirit, Geoffrey in The Lion In Winter, Daniel in The Beautiful Game, Fuilly in Les Miserables, Nick in Fame, Vershenin in Three Sisters, Lycander in A Midsummer Nights Dream & Charlie in Breathing Corpses.
Theatre: The Sword & The Dope (Kings Head & Greenwich Playhouse) Young Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (UK Tour), Maurice in Lord Of The Flies (UK Tour),Whit in Of Mice And Men (Brockley Jack), Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing (Windsor Globe), The Adoration Syndrome (The Horse), Aslan in The Lion The Witch & The Wardrobe, Noughts & Crosses & Herb in Godspell (Wilde Theatre) Wanted Dead Or Alive, Hansel & Gretel & Red Riding Hood (Ascot Novello) Snow White (Hull New Theatre)
Film: The Lights Twinkle Sometimes, Opus Diablo, Blind Spot, This Is Intercourse, What Makes it Stick TV: You Me At Six Music Video,10:10 Campaign Commercial, Don't Stop Believing, Cock n Bull Kid Music Video, Yes Cadets Music Video.
Voice: Lloyds TSB Torchbearers Commercial, BARTA Commercial
During Training: Charles in Blithe Spirit, Geoffrey in The Lion In Winter, Daniel in The Beautiful Game, Fuilly in Les Miserables, Nick in Fame, Vershenin in Three Sisters, Lycander in A Midsummer Nights Dream & Charlie in Breathing Corpses.
Dan Little, DANCE TEACHER
Dan is the founder of the award-winning Vanquish Entertainment, with over 14 years experience he is one of the UK’s most established presenters / choreographers and is renowned for his electrifying energy, style and creativity. Travelling the country he teaches workshops and classes where his choreography and teaching style is respected by professionals and amateurs alike.
Dan continues to direct and choreograph new and exciting projects whilst teaching and developing Vanquish Entertainment.
Amongst Dan’s many successes, in 2010 Vanquish were crowned winners of the highly acclaimed ‘Has Reading Got Talent’ Competition beating over 500 other acts. He has also featured and contributed to many prestigious shows, videos and performances. He co-created and directed two hugely successful UK tours, has over ten video credits and is the presenter, choreographer & trainer for Dancing On Ice’ star Jayne Torvill and her dvd for Universal Pictures. Dan aspires to continue achieving within the industry, his aim is to continue developing, inspire and excite his followers and reach out to a new generation, creating excitement and passion for dance and movement.
Dan continues to direct and choreograph new and exciting projects whilst teaching and developing Vanquish Entertainment.
Amongst Dan’s many successes, in 2010 Vanquish were crowned winners of the highly acclaimed ‘Has Reading Got Talent’ Competition beating over 500 other acts. He has also featured and contributed to many prestigious shows, videos and performances. He co-created and directed two hugely successful UK tours, has over ten video credits and is the presenter, choreographer & trainer for Dancing On Ice’ star Jayne Torvill and her dvd for Universal Pictures. Dan aspires to continue achieving within the industry, his aim is to continue developing, inspire and excite his followers and reach out to a new generation, creating excitement and passion for dance and movement.
