CAST. COACHES

CAST. PRINCIPAL

SARAH COWELL BA (Hons) Acting

Italia Conti academy of theatre arts

London 2010

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, held at the Adelphi Theatre, London and also in the BBC’s Carleton Hobbs Bursary Award.

The following year, she returned to the world renowned Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts where she coached students in dance and musical theatre on the acting foundation course..  She also sat on the panel that auditioned and interviewed prospective students that year.

Sarah has been a full member of the Actors Union, Equity, since 2010, but her passion for the theatre arts started much, much sooner than that! 

Here is a short bio that led to the formation of CAST.  .  .  .

Performing, whether singing, dancing or acting has been the single most major aspect of Sarah’s life since childhood . . .

Sarah was just 4 years old when she attended a children’s Christmas Party at her grandfather’s social club.  A member of staff stood on the stage, microphone in hand, and asked if any child would like enter the stage to sing a song.  Instantly - and to the huge surprise of her parents -  Sarah marched off to the stage and sang “Away in a Manger” to the packed hall.  The determination she showed then, the fearlessness of performing to a packed concert room and the wild applause that followed, set off an unstoppable passion for theatre that is even stronger today,

At 12 years old, Sarah was a soloist with Opera North, performing in their Christmas Show at Newcastle Theatre Royal.  A few months later she opened an inter-schools event at the Newcastle Arena, where, as a soloist, she sang the opening verse of an ABBA song in front of over 5,000 people, comprising students and their families.

Professional theatre credits include "Under Milk Wood" at the Edinburgh Fringe, Emma Goldman in Assassins at the Chelsea Theatre 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 performed regularly at Newcastle Theatre Royal with Newcastle Musical Theatre Company in many roles such as Elizabeth in "Scrooge the Musical", Rosalia in "West Side Story" and Lois Lane/Bianca in "Kiss me Kate". 

More recently, Sarah joined Newcastle’s West End Operatic Society in 2023 as Dance Captain for "Fiddler on the Roof" and played the role of Fruma Sarah.. She was the Dance Captain and a featured soloist in Astravaganza Productions’ “Together at Christmas” at The Exchange 1856, North Shields in December 2024, and In  April 2025 she was treading the boards once again, playing the principal role of Evangeline Harcourt in “Anything Goes” at The Tyne Theatre, Newcastle.  She continues to seek performing opportunities.

Sarah has been an Associate teacher with the British Association of Teachers of Dance in stage, modern, drama and tap since 2007.

She taught Dance, Drama, Singing and LAMDA for Stagecoach Beckenham from 2012 - 2018 before relocating back to the North East where she has taught with both Stagecoach Newcastle and Stagecoach South Tyneside.  Sarah is now the proud owner of CAST., a performing arts school in Morpeth, Northumberland, which she opened in September 2019 and where she provides coaching for over 460 students weekly in all aspects of performance. (As at August 2025)

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

. . .  other relevant attributes / qualifications include:

Holder of a Chaperone Licence
Safeguarding children in entertainment training with NSPCC
Designated Safeguarding Lead training with Sport England
ITC Level 3 First Aid at Work
ITC Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid

Karina Brown
DANCE & Performing arts COACH

Karina began dancing and performing as a 2 years old, attending dance schools in Northumberland, performing in showcases, competitions and completing annual dance examinations. Growing up, Karina participated in school musicals, and pantomimes, and was also a member of the St George's Players, an amateur dramatics company based in Morpeth. Her strong involvement in tuition and performing meant that Karina received a solid foundation in dance and performance throughout her childhood.

In 2013 - when aged 18 years old - Karina’s education took her to study Drama at the Queen Mary University of London.  During her second year she was the choreographer and president of the Queen Mary University Dance Society,  leading their team to competitions around the country.

In 2016, Karina moved to America where she found work teaching dance, drama and magic to children. Two years later, she moved to Cyprus to work as a professional dancer and singer within a number of the island’s hotels.

In 2019, Karina moved back to Northumberland and further enhanced her academic prowess studying for a Master of Arts degree at Newcastle University in Arts, Business & Creativity.

Whilst completing those studies, Karina broadened her experience by teaching in a number of dance schools in Northumberland and the surrounding area, finally settling with CAST. in 2021 where she remains today.

In 2022, Karina resumed working as a professional dancer at the Purple Peacock in Newcastle.  She continues to work in professional entertainment in the North East.

Other experience, roles and qualifications. . .

Karina loves to work in the performing arts arena, and in particular with children.  She was a nanny for over 5 years and now combines working as a teaching assistant during school hours and teaching at CAST. At other times.

Karina has a Level 1 Acrorrix Qualification
ITC Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid
Chaperone Licence holder
Level 2 Fitness Instructor and
Safeguarding Children in Education.

Editor’s note:

Karina has a clear passion for the performing arts and an even greater passion for Northumberland.  She says she is honoured to work in a performing arts school that offers the broader training and experience that she never had as a child, and she knows that the team at CAST. can give the children the best quality training in performing arts.

Karina strongly believes that children in the North East deserve the same opportunities as others around the country and feels privileged that she is able to share her knowledge with local children.

ASHLEY
Singing and performing ARTS COACH

With a Ba (Hons) Degree at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, one of the top
Drama Schools in London, Ashley has a wide variety of experience and knowledge
with the industry. Her career consists of tours to pantos and even working overseas,
performing in shows and loving every moment.

Now back home in the North East, Ashley has returned to teach the performing arts at CAST., where she previously taught. Whilst a triple threat performer, she specialises as a singing teacher. She continues gigging as a soloist to many venues and events.

Editor’s note:

Ashley is being far too modest with her bio - she is an outrageously fabulous singer, who you must hear. People pay folding money to hear her!

She taught at CAST. in the early days before singing professionally on a year-long contract in Egypt. At the end of that time she was asked to stay on for a further twelve months and did so.

Ashley could have stayed abroad longer but chose to return to the UK and we are delighted that she is back with us at CAST.

carrie Brown

PERFORMING ARTS COACH

Carrie has a professional background of working with children aged 0-16 years, in a range of different learning settings and roles.  Examples include:  As a SENCO/Nursery Nurse in a mainstream nursery; An Outreach Manager for children with challenging behaviour and complex needs;  Out of School Care Co-ordinator and an Advocate.

She holds a MA in Education Studies and Autism, MA Creative Writing,  BSc (Hons) in Health and Child Development and a Level 3 in Teaching and Learning.  She has also undertaken training in first aid, child protection and safeguarding vulnerable adults, and she has completed courses in specific modes of communication such as MAKATON and working with specific groups, for example, with individuals with mental health conditions.

Throughout her professional and academic career, she has specialised in creative and performing arts learning practice for all children and her particular interest is in the link between the creative arts and communication development.

Her own creative expression is currently focused on writing (including script/fiction/nonfiction) and artistic endeavours such as sculptural art and art journalling.  Carrie admits to having been a keen performer in the past and since her family is heavily involved in the amateur dramatics’ scene (including a daughter who attends CAST!), we may see her treading the boards once more in the future!

Carrie’s favourite aspect of working for CAST. is working as part of a team to help each child grow in confidence, learning skills in singing, dancing, and acting as a different medium of self-expression.

liz

Gymnastics Coach

Stephanie MCCLUSKEY

dance COACH

Stephanie says she was delighted to join the CAST team in January 2023. Her life has been steeped in many aspects of the performing arts, but most significantly in dancing.

She has been dancing since the age of 2 ½ with both parents being dance teachers in Ballet, Tap, Modern, National, Ballroom and Latin. She trained with Joan Hardy, Examiner for the ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing) and qualified as a teacher in 1980, gaining Associate ISTD status. Prior to moving to the North East from London in 1985 Stephanie owned her own dancing school.

Stephanie has a substantial history of teaching adult dance classes in Ballet, Tap and Ballroom and Latin, these ventures curtailed when raising her family. When able to, she resumed teaching adults and ventured into wedding dance choreography.

She became Choreographer/Dancer with Wave Theatre Co. in 2013 and had subsequent acting roles; she directed the latest production From Loch Ness with Love.

Stephanie was also involved in making costumes for Wave Theatre Company productions together with painting the set! In fact, she has been fully involved in Wave Theatre Co. in all aspects of putting on a production including being a prompt when not on stage!

Stephanie has expertise in other areas - she is an avid musician, playing Tenor Saxophone with The Teddy King Big Band and she teaches Piano and Saxophone.

One other thing . . . Stephanie is a qualified Bicycle Mechanic and own a small business “Servicing by Cleanyabike.”

Credits include:

Choreographer/Dancer (Rumba in Roswell)
Choreographer/Dancer/Earth (Tango in Tibet)
Choreographer/Dancer (Calypso in Cairo)
Choreographer/Dancer/Voice of Ning Po (SpaceWave)
Chorus (Anything Goes) with the Beaconsfield Operatic Society
Choreographer/Edwina (Murder in the Ninetieth Degree)
Choreographer/Vooma (SpaceWave Supernova)
Director/Choreographer/Therapist (From Loch Ness With Love)

phoebe
CAST. STudent and Class assistant

Phoebe has been part of CAST seniors since 2021 and has featured in several CAST. productions playing roles such as: Reuben in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Mrs Bevan in Nativity the Musical, Frenchy in Grease and Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors; Like Hannah, Phoebe is a class assistant, helping the class teachers whilst gaining an appreciation of CAST.’s teaching techniques.

Phoebe likes to perform and her experiences include the Northern stage having performed in stage 3 there in the RSC’s “Romeo and Juliet: First Encounters” in 2024. She has also performed at the Theatre Royal in the “An Inspector Calls” UK tour in 2019 and in shows with their Youth Theatre where she have played roles such as Amelia in Fin Kennedy’s “The Dream Collector”.

Phoebe has completed LAMDA (The London Academy of Music and =Dramatic Art) examination across grades 2-8, passing them all with distinctions. She has also passed ballet, tap and modern up to grade 3 and grade 5 musical theatre singing exam. 

Phoebe’s has further academic targets pertinent to performing and over the next 3 years she will be studying at SA Performing Arts Centre in Byker., with which CAST. enjoys a great working relationship.

Phoebe has been an assistant at CAST. since 2023 and says she has loved getting to know so many of the current minis and juniors. Watching them grow as young performers has been incredible.

She is amazed to that she may be involved in sparking the passions of a whole new generation of performers and creatives.

FRAN LIGHT

STUDENT & CLASS ASSISTANT

john
ADMIN & MORE

John is Sarah’s dad and has been working alongside Sarah since before the first CAST. classes were delivered on 15 September 2019. Parents of most new starters encounter John in reception on day 1, where he gives an overview of what to expect from CAST., in terms of the teaching input, the lessons offered, the shows we produce and much more. John also answers any queries raised by the new student’s parent / guardian.

Other than that, he’s mostly tasked by Sarah, which can involve drafting emails, sweeping floors, preparing the world famous CAST. mix-up bags, making tea / coffee for parents, printing lyrics, taking photographs, responding to queries, mounting posters on the walls, lots of computer work, fetching and carrying from / to the storage unit, taking his best mate (Ted) for a walk and not forgetting Ted’s Shmackers! and much more!!

Like most CAST. staff, John has a Chaperone Licence, enhanced DBS and ITC Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid.

Emily Adamson
Performing arts COACH

Emily began dancing in a Morpeth dance school at the age of just 2 yers old, before moving on to advance her training at Gladwin Ballet and Stage School in Ashington. She continued there until the age of 18.

During that time, In 2000, she was the BATD British Tap Champion in 2010 in her age group - perhaps her most satisfying achievement - and went on to spend some time in professional training at The Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts (LIPA).

Emily is an Associate Member of the British Association of Teachers of Dance (BATD) in Ballet and Stage (Tap/Modern) and an associate member with NCDTA (The Northern Counties Dance Teachers’ Association).

She has taught dance and performing arts for over 10 years alongside performing in shows and music videos for artists based in Newcastle.

Emily now adjudicates at dance competitions and championships for a variety of dance schools up and down the country. She also leads performing arts workshops in several dance styles.

Dancing has been a huge part of Emily’s family’s life and both herself and her sister have been life long friends with CAST. Principal, Sarah and her family. They have both loved having a large part to play within CAST. (Emily’s sister, also called Sarah has taught at CAST.) and Emily hopes that her young son, Ellis will one day follow in her footsteps.

Emily says that the most wonderful thing of being a part of CAST. is working with such incredible children of all ages, who love the performing arts., and that having a fantastic group of coaches to work alongside and seeing budding stars flourish is, for her, the best job in the world.

Emily hopes, that in continuing to work as a choreographer, alongside Sarah, they will be creating professional shows over the upcoming years! 

CAITLIN
Dance COACH

Caitlin has been a dancer since the age of 3, dancing competitively, as well as at a variety of performances including showcases, the NHS 70th birthday celebrations, charity events and the local pantomime. During this time, she undertook dance exams with Northern County and NCDTA.

At 18 Caitlin moved to university to study Graphic Design, joining the university’s Dance Society, where she taught a variety of classes. The society performed in events and competitions in and around the local area. Since graduating, Caitlin returned home and joined the CAST. teaching team to continue teaching dance. Caitlin is now a graphic designer with a local design agency.

CAST. has a first aid policy that enables teachers to be qualified first aiders. This qualification is beneficial to Caitlin since the Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work is a transferrable skill whether she is at CAST., or at her daytime workplace.

Caitlin says she loves working at CAST. because it has given her the chance to continue dancing and that she is grateful every day for the opportunity and trust that Sarah has given her to teach, in what she calls an “incredible school” and that she’s “so thankful to be part of the beautiful CAST. family, where she can “take a step back from the stage to watch the talented kids at CAST. achieve their dreams” and that she’s “grateful to be a small part of it”.

Other relevant attributes:

Caitlin has qualified as a Level 2 Exercise to Music fitness instructor, teaching classes such as Zumba and Total Tone.

She now holds a Chaperone Licence which enables her to help out backstage at the CAST. shows and performances.

dan Br

PERFORMING ARTS COACH

Dan has a background in supporting young people with additional needs, at ages 2-17yrs. Previous roles in this field include a Play Therapist for children with Autism, and Outreach Care Coordinator for a number of settings across the NE and Scotland.

His qualifications include a Post Graduate Diploma in Autism & Research Methodology. He also holds a certificate in Paediatric First Aid, and is a licensed Chaperone.

He spent a long time away from the world of performing arts but decided to “jump back in” after seeing just how much enjoyment his daughter gained from her time at CAST.

Dan has performed in a number of North East venues, such as Alphabetti Theatre (Choir for Tiny Fragments of Beautiful Light), Bensham Grove (Beccy Owens Pop Up Choir), The Exchange 1856 (Simeon in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) and The Tyne Theatre & Opera House (Dr Grimwig, Oliver). Dan is always on the look out for the next adventure!

Dan’s professional credits include:
Supporting artist in ‘Where the Magpies Fly’
‘Dad’ in social media campaign for Emerga Charge
Supporting artist for ‘Moment’ SQ music video,
Performer in Go North East campaign ‘Get your bum on Board’.

At CAST. Dan’s particular interest is Singing and Acting and how these can be used as tools to allow young people to explore other characters and their own emotions.

Outside of CAST. He is a Project Manager for one of the UK’s largest Social Care charities and he spends his free time with my family – usually performing a show in the kitchen!

Dan’s aim, whilst working at CAST., is to enable as many young people as possible to take from performing arts whatever it is they need, whether it be confidence building, speaking in front of others or becoming the next West End superstar.

rosie
Acting Coach

Rosie trained at Project A - Actor Training Company at Newcastle Theatre Royal. She currently work as a director, stage manager and facilitator across theatrical venues, such as Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle Theatre Royal and Live Theatre. Her facilitation and stage management careers both began at CAST.!

When not at work, Rosie loves swimming (in pools, lakes and the sea) and spending time with her family. If she has a free evening, you can normally find her in a theatre! 

Rosie’s favourite aspect about working at CAST., is the enthusiasm of the young people and the bonkers ideas that they come up with! Whilst she loves the musicals and showcases, she would love to make a full length original piece of theatre with young people in future.

Rosie has a full chaperone license.

JOSIE RIGG

DANCE COACH

Josie began dancing at the age of 13, training in a local dance school,. She quickly began competing in regional competitions, performing in shows and completing dance examinations.

Josie won championship sections and choreography competitions during her time competing as a teenager.

Josie started her teaching journey as a student helper in her dance school and at 20 began to teach her own classes, choreographing for competitions across Northumberland and the Can You Dance (CYD) regional competition.

Josie successfully auditioned and was offered a place to a dance university in Manchester but chose instead to attend university in Newcastle to study Sociology and Criminology. During her time at university she joined the cheer and dance team. In her second year she was promoted to dance captain and coach, where she won multiple national champion titles and overall high score awards for her teams in competitions across England.

Josie has completed qualifications with Acrotrix and BGU covering various different dance styles.

hannah

CAST. Student and class Assistant

CAST. introduces some of the older students to an appreciation of teaching the performing arts to children. It achieves this by offering paid work to suitable students and Hannah is currently one of those involved.

Hannah has loved dancing and singing from a young age and says she is so grateful that she can help teach and inspire younger people to progress who have the same love for theatre that she has.

Hannah has performed with CAST many times in shows and competitions - including frequently as a soloist singer - and continues to do so!

She also has a big love for music and spending time with her family and people she loves!

I have an enhanced DBS check and a chaperone license.

ELLA MCFETRICH

STUDENT & CLASS ASSISTANT

june
SAFEGUARDING & MORE

ted
General Dogsbody and part time actor!

Hi, I’m Ted. You may have seen me star in CAST.’s production of Nativity The Musical. I played the part of Cracker and at the end of the show I went crowd surfing across the audience. If you missed it, I can arrange for a video to be sent to you and a paw print. I don’t charge much, just a couple of gravy bones and a schmacker or two.

As you can see, I’m a handsome chap and I have to fend off the students when I turn in at CAST. because I’m so popular. I do that by licking them to death.

I love going for walks and chasing my ball. (But if you see my cousin, Bertie, give him a kick from me because sometimes he pinches my ball!)

I’m actually as docile as I am handsome, so all the CAST. students love me. I don’t bite (gravy bones apart) and I love being stroked.

If you are a film director and are reading this, I’m available for any future productions. I need my own kennel dressing room and my rider is nothing more than an unlimited supply of chicken pieces, ham bites, schmackers (did I tell you I love those?), gravy bones and roasted salmon. Make sure it’s not too hot.

One more thing, I like to be taken for walks, at least three a day and my favourite place is on the golf course; but don’t bring Bertie. You’ll recognise him cos he wears a bow tie on his collar - as if! - I wouldn't be seen dead wearing a bow tie!

And “Cut”, “that’s a WRAP” - I can teach you some technical terms too, if you like.!

I’ll see you at CAST. I don’t come very often, but when I do, you’ll know because everyone crowds around me! (Don’t forget to bring some Schmakers!).