Drama Coach, Co-principal and Founder

 

Following a background in performing arts, a music degree and several positions as Teacher, Director and Musical Director, Chris Founded A.C.T.S Theatre Arts school in Warminster in 2011.  Having ensured a strong school was created, it wasn't long before A.C.T.S  Music lessons emerged and grew into a county wide service in instrumental tuition.  Chris took a more managerial 'off-site' role between 2019 and 2023.  During this time he opened A.C.T.S' second school and took post as Executive Director of the Wiltshire Young Musicians.

Now back on site at his flagship theatre school in Warminster, he feels right back at home!

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Chris has a wealth of experience in performing and teaching and has had work performed at 'Her Majesty's theatre in London's West End.

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As Director Chris has credits from 'Guys and dolls' and Joseph to 'Allo Allo' (although there won't be any of that at A.C.T.S!)

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Being a huge sports fan he looks forward to his Saturday afternoons catching the latest big match.

Vocal Coach and Co-Principal

 

Joanna has always loved music and started learning the piano at just 4 years old.  She soon began playing the clarinet and saxophone and of course - singing!  In her youth, Jo took part in many amateur dramatic performances at the Athenaeum in Warminster, from The WIzard of oz to Snow white.  Following this, Jo went on to study music at the university of Surrey where she was musical director for Barry Manilow's Copacabana, and furthered her career and interests by taking a masters in music therapy.  Joanna now runs her own business and offers music therapy to children and adults across Wiltshire and Somerset.  Jo continues to have a love of singing and instrumental playing and in 2012 founded Warminster community choir, swiftly followed by Warminster dementia choir and Warminster young singers.   She has been involved in A.C.T.S since its opening day in 2011 and truly is part of the family!

Jo has 3 wonderful children who keep her busy, her hobbies are art and aerial hoops!

Dance Coach

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Ella has been a professional in Theatre as an actor, choreographer and director, for over fifteen years, appearing at many theatres, from Alan Ayckbourn’s Stephen Joseph Theatre, to the more local Salisbury Playhouse. Since training at the Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre, she has worked on more than 40 professional productions across the country, often as an actor-musician with violin in hand!

As a choreographer she has tackled everything from Regency Dance, to street, to dance-inspired fights, and as a  movement director she has worked with Frantic Assembly and many other cutting-edge companies, exploring ensemble work and the ways a cast can produce a physical vocabulary.

As a Dance Tutor she is qualified with the National Association of Teachers of Dance and has been teaching children since she herself was 11. She has lectured at Derby University and has taught everything from Salsa to Flamenco, Ballet to American Jazz, looking to a range of choreographers for her inspiration. She also often uses the musical interests of the groups she teaches to inspire her classes.

Ella qualified as a Children’s Counsellor in 2018 and uses these skills to ensure that her pupils are well supported and listened to.