CAST. COACHES

SARAH COWELL, CAST. PRINCIPAL

Sarah trained at the world renowned Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, London BA (Hons) Acting and is a full member of the Equity Actors Union.

In the final year of her degree, Sarah was Italia Conti’s sole representative in the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year Award at the Adelphi Theatre, London and also in the BBC’s Carleton Hobbs Bursary Award.

At 12 years old, Sarah was a soloist with Opera North at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle.

Professional theatre credits include "Under Milk Wood" at the Edinburgh Fringe and creating the role of Mary in "RIP The musical" at The Actors Church in Covent Garden and The Kings Head Theatre in London. Sarah has also performed regularly at Newcastle Theatre Royal with the Newcastle Musical Theatre Company in many roles such as Elizabeth in "Scrooge the Musical" and Rosalia in "West Side Story". She has also performed with the West End Operatic Society at the Tyne Theatre in roles such as  Lois Lane in "Kiss me Kate".

Sarah has been an Associate teacher for British Association of Teachers of Dance in stage, modern, drama and tap since 2007. Upon graduating, Sarah returned to Italia Conti where she taught dance and musical theatre on the acting foundation course, and sat on the panel that auditioned and interviewed prospective students. 

Sarah taught Dance, Drama, Singing and LAMDA for Stagecoach Beckenham from 2012 - 2018 before recently relocating to the North East where she has taught with both Stagecoach Newcastle and Stagecoach South Tyneside.

Sarah is passionate about performing arts and developing confidence and skills which will benefit children for the rest of their lives and she can’t wait to welcome you to the CAST. family!

MARK ELLISON, CAST. ASSOCIATE COMMERCIAL DANCE COACH

Mark trained at The Urdang Academy BA (Hons) Dance and Musical Theatre.

Professional credits include:

X Factor;

Brit Awards;

Royal Variety Performance;

Strictly Come Dancing;

Rocketman movie;

Tui commercial;

Schweppes commercial

and many more.

Mark has also performed with high profile artists including:

Kanye West; Take That; Rita Ora; Ellie Goulding and Pixie Lott.

Originally from Liverpool, Mark is now London based professional commercial dancer.

MATTHEW JAY RYAN, CAST. ASSOCIATE MUSICAL THEATRE COACH

Matthew trained at The Urdang Academy, London BA (Hons) Dance and Musical Theatre and at The BRIT School, London.

Matt is currently the Musical Director at Carnival UK Group (P&O Cruises and Cunard Line).

Professional theatre credits include:

Ryder -”Paw Patrol Live!” (China, South Africa, New Zealand, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Indonesia);

Marshall - “Paw Patrol Live!” Arena Tour (U.K & Ireland, Middle East);

“News Revue” (London),

“Cat In The Hat” & “Red Riding Hood” for Paul Taylor Mills (London, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Middle East);

Antonio - “Twelfth Night” & Borachio - “Much Ado About Nothing” for Paul Taylor Mills (Middle East);

Jess Dunn - “The Dreaming” (The Union Theatre);

“Thoroughly Modern Millie” (Adelphi Theatre)

Louis Tomlinson - “The One Direction Story” (Lyric Theatre);

Troy - “Heartbreak Beautiful” (National Theatre);

Pete - “Ah Men!” (Soho Theatre);

Pete - “The Infection Monologues” (Edinburgh Fringe Festival);

Dick - “Dick Whittington”;

Muddles - “Snow White”;

Silly Billy - “Sleeping Beauty” (Buxton Opera House);

John Darling -  “Peter Pan” (Churchill Theatre) & whilst training Lieutenant Frank “Cioffi - Curtains”; Cliff -  “Cabaret” & Mark Cohen - “Rent”.

Professional recording/radio/television credits include: Summer Mixes Advertisement for BBC Radio 1; Backing Dancer for “The Brit Awards 2015”; Backing Vocalist for “Britain's Got Talent Finals 2014”; Featured Soloist on “Friday Night Is Music Night” (BBC Radio 2); Demo Cast Album - “The Jungle”; Demo Cast Album - “Treasure Island”.

ASHLEY STIRLING, CAST. SINGING & ACTING COACH

Ashley trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London.

Theatrical credits include; 

The Fairy Godmother in Cinderella for Paul Holman Associates in Leeds and Chesterfield;

The Fairy Godmother in Cinderella at The Palace Theatre in Redditch;

At Millfield Theatre, she played the title role in Red Riding Hood (Pyramid Productions);

Vera in The Blonde Bombshells of 1943 (Upstairs at The Gatehouse);

Tiresias in Oedipus renewed (Play Pen Productions);

Marilyn Monroe and ensemble in Billy (Union Theatre) and The Cook in Caucasian Chalk Circle (The New Rep Company);

Ashley was a cast member with the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida;

Ashley's concert work includes Featured Soloist in If It Only Even Runs a Minute, London Edition 3 (Hippodrome Casino) and

Featured Soloist at the Northern Proms.

SIMON NAYLOR, CAST. ASSOCIATE ACTING FOR CAMERA COACH

Simon trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts BA (Hons) Acting.

Simon is an actor, director and producer. He is a Director of Manchester Actor’s Platform (MAP) and MAP Rep Company as well as Artistic Director of 53two – Best Small Venue at the Northern Soul Awards 2018. Simon is trained in Meisner and Stanislavski and has taught at several drama schools across the country. From 2008-2015 he was Head of 1st Year on the Italia Conti BA (Hons) Acting Course where he wrote the Improvisation Course and in 2012 wrote and managed the Foundation Course as well as leading the audition panel.

Professional television credits include:

Dane Hibbs in “Coronation Street”;

Corporal Johnson in “24: Live Another Day”;

Officer Peter Dowling in “Casualty”;

Michael Ray in “Obsession” for SKY TV;

DC Croker in “Emmerdale”.

He has also appeared with the BBC in:

“Eastenders; “The Bill”; “Doctors”; “Day of the Triffids”; “Creeped Out”

and on ITV’s “Primeval”.

Simon’s Film credits include:

BAFTA winning, “The Mark of Cain”;

and James Corden’s, “One Chance”.

Professional theatre credits include:

“The Shawshank Redemption” (Wyndhams Theatre);

“Unleashed” (Hull Truck)';

“Palindrome (Arcola Theatre);

“Funny Peculiar' (Kenwright - UK Tour);

world premiere of “The Glasshouse” for which he was nominated for an OFFIE as ‘Best Actor’ and “When Both Sides Surrender” (53two);

Nominated for Best Fringe Production - Northern Soul Awards.

SARAH HAMILTON, CAST. DANCE COACH & CHOREOGRAPHER

Sarah trained at the Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts (LIPA) BA (Hons) 1st Class; She is a Dance & Performing Arts Associate Member of BATD in Ballet and Stage (Tap/Modern) and holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education – Dance – Distinction (LJMU)

Junior credits:

Les Miserables Tour (Newcastle upon Tyne);

Newcastle Theatre Royal Pantomime – Jack and the Beanstalk;

Credits:

London 2012 Olympics;

GHD; Redken; Lee Stafford; American Crew; Doctor Who;

The Crash of the Elysium -Punchdrunk;

House of Suarez Vogue Ball – Red Riding Hood;

Collision Dance Company (The Line) and various Showgirl productions throughout UK.

TV dancer - Mrs Biggs (ITV). 

Choreographer/dancer acquisition – Bongo Bingo Newcastle (current)

Dance Lecturer – Dance Lecturer at SA Performing Arts Centre, Newcastle;

Programme Leader at New College Durham and Visiting lecturer at Newcastle College.