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Our Teachers
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Hampstead Factory Managers and teachers receive advice every term in The Hampstead Factory teaching methods and their classes are consistently monitored. We receive written feedback from youngsters at the end of every autumn term, helping us to improve our teaching methods and fit the classes around the requirements of each individual group. (Teacher vacancies below)
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Miss Laura Whittard, A.I.S.T.D
Schools director
Manager, Gloucester and Cheltenham Schools
Miss Whittard is a qualified member of The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance, a speech and drama examiner with Trinity College London and a full Equity member with over ten years professional experience in theatre and television. She enjoys teaching at The Cheltenham Ladies' College on a regular basis. Past teaching includes: Stagecoach Theatre Arts, Guildford School of Acting, The Antonia Dugdale Ballet School, and Theatre Studio-Cheltenham. She trained in dance and drama at The Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts and in classical acting at The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. She has worked with leading British directors including: Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sir Trevor Nunn, Sir Bill Kenwright and Mike Ochrent. National Tour and West End credits include: Heddy Lamar in Sunset Boulevard with Elaine Paige, May Miles in Me and My Girl with Gary Wilmot, Lady Plymdale and understudy to the lead in Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde for The Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre Company. She has played seasons in repertory and recorded for BBC Radio. Television includes: Casualty, The Proms, The South Bank Show, Encore with Elaine Paige, The Queen's Fortieth Anniversary show. Besides her performing career, her agency skills were developed over three years at the oldest co-operative theatrical agency in central London 'Actorum'. Past members include Julie Walters, Pete Postlethwaite, Stephen Tiller (producer of The Vagina Monologues) and many others who have gone on to become well known casters, producers and directors.
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Miss Kirstin Biggs, B.A. (hons)
Manager, Swindon School
Singing Teacher, Swindon School
Drama Teacher, Cheltenham Schools
Big Bees Teacher, Cheltenham SchoolKirstin Biggs is a member of the N.A.T.D (National Association Teachers Of Dance) and has gained all her examinations in; Disco Dancing, Modern, Jazz, Ballroom, Latin American, Rock 'n' Roll and Cerioc. She also has basic training in Ballet and Tap. Kirstin graduated in 2005 with a B.A. (hons) in Theatre and Professional Practice from Coventry University. Since then she has been teaching at various schools around the county including; Mandy Goddings', Linda Virgo, Stagecoach Theatre Arts, Artshape and the Cotswold School. Kirstin concentrates on teaching private LAMDA examinations for, which she has an 100% success rate, she also teaches Trinity groups and private. Kirstin also performs around the county as a dancer, alto singer and actress, including work with GODS (Gloucester Operatic and Dramatic Society), BAD Company, Madness Crew, Luminar Entertainment and other TV and Film work.
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Miss Hayley-Jo Whitney
Singing Teacher, Gloucester School
Hayley-Jo Whitney has been a professional performer for 15 years. After studying at Italia Conti London and completing a BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts she has worked extensively throughout the UK and Europe. Performing in Show bands, Pantomimes and Theatre shows as well as Solo Cabaret at Holidays parks such as Haven and Butlins, Alton Towers, Blackpool Tower, Birmingham's NEC and ICC, Cardiff Arena along with London's Dorchester Hotel and The Aris resort, Cyprus. In 2000, she was hired as a singer/dancer for PGT Productions in Florida, U.S.A and from there she embarked on a career at Sea. She has since gone on to sing for Radisson Seven Seas Cruise lines and for the past 7 years has performed as a Guest Singer with Princess Cruises. After 9 years of travelling Hayley-Jo has moved back to UK and is embarking on a Performing Arts degree at The University of Gloucestershire under Sheila Mander (Everyman Theatre) and Sue Passmore (Doreen Bird). She has taught Musical Theatre at PQA Cheltenham, was a Childrens Entertainer and Host at Whitemead Forest Park and gives private singing tuition. Hayley has also done film voice-overs, Studio recordings and appeared in music videos.
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Miss Lorna Harris
Drama Teacher, Tewkesbury School
Dance Teacher, Gloucester School
Lorna Harris is an ex pupil of The Hampstead Factory and after being awarded a place at The Brit School of Performing Arts, she finally decided to take a place on a course closer to home studying for a degree in Performing Arts with Mrs Sheila Mander and Mrs Sue Passmore (Ex Head of Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts in London) with the University of Gloucestershire. Current mentors are Jackie Crago (RSC Voice Coach) and Mrs Julie Henderson (West-End Performer and Choreographer). Lorna taught for a term as The Hampstead Factory stand-by teacher and Gloucester School assistant before becoming one of our regular teachers and so has a good knowledge of the capabilities of all our youngsters.
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Miss Elizabeth Morris
Dance Teacher, Tewkesbury School
Drama Teacher, Gloucester School
Big Bees Teacher, Tewkesbury and Gloucester Schools
Elizabeth Morris is an ex pupil of The Hampstead Factory and has both her Trinity Musical Theatre Grade 8 and Performer's Certificates with Distinction. She is currently studying for a degree in Performing Arts with Mrs Sheila Mander and Mrs Sue Passmore (Ex Head of Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts in London) with the University of Gloucestershire. Current mentors are Jackie Crago (RSC Voice Coach) and Mrs Julie Henderson (West-End Performer and Choreographer). Elizabeth assisted for a year at our Cheltenham School before becoming a regular teacher and often teaches our Hampstead Factory Birthday Parties proving she is an excellent all-round teacher. She recently performed in The Witches of Eastwick at The Bacon Theatre, The Hired Man at The Cheltenham Playhouse Theatre and choreographs regularly for her dance duo who have performed around the UK and abroad.
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Miss Charlotte Nolan
Dance Teacher, Swindon School
Charlotte Nolan trained in dance at the Northern Academy of Dance and in Musical Theatre at Studio La Pointe. She has many qualification for Musical Theatre and Advanced Ballet, Tap and Modern including completing a modern I.S.T.D foundation in dance teaching (F.D.I) in Ballet, Tap and Modern and has also taught at the Northern Dance Centre, Headingley Dance Centre, ElliTe Studios and for Performanze Arts. Charlotte has also performed as a dancer and singer in many shows around the country and abroad including London, Bradford and Paris!
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Miss Jenelle Price
Manager, Tewkesbury School
Singing Teacher, Tewkesbury School
Drama Teacher, Swindon School
Dance Teacher, Cheltenham School
Jenelle Price is studying for a degree in Performing Arts with Mrs Sheila Mander and Mrs Sue Passmore (Ex Head of Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts in London) with the University of Gloucestershire. Current mentors are Jackie Crago (RSC Voice Coach) and Mrs Julie Henderson (West-End Performer and Choreographer). Jenelle has also completed a modern I.S.T.D foundation in dance teaching (F.D.I), and passed all previous modules for tap teaching and is currently awaiting her final result for the final module which will give her two complete F.D.I qualifications. To obtain these qualifications she observed and assisted many classes, working with children aged 4-15 years of varying levels and ages at Janet Marshall's Dance School. Jenelle also has given workshops at many primary schools as well as working with the National Star Centre with professional group Stop-Gap.
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Teaching Vacancies If you are a singing, dancing or acting teacher and live in the Gloucestershire or Wiltshire area please send or email your CV to us by clicking here to view our email and postal address. We will contact you when any vacancies become available.
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