nlpac

Meet the Team

We only employ the best teachers who also work professionally within the performance industry and are guaranteed to provide innovative and creative classes. All our teachers hold a DBS check and are supported by us in their continuing professional development.

NLPAC is a Recognised School with the Council for Dance Drama and Musical Theatre and has been awarded the Council’s certificate of good professional practice. Schools awarded CDMT’s Recognised School Award demonstrate to students, parents and guardians that they adhere to the standards demanded by the industry; standards designed to protect and safeguard young people whether dancing for leisure or with an eye to a career in the profession.

Emily Byron MBE

Emily Byron MBE

Principal

Emily Byron set up the New London Performing Arts Centre in 1995.  She converted a large disused office building into a thriving and successful children’s performing arts centre.  

The centre offers classes to children from all backgrounds, giving quality training in all areas of the performing arts. 

Emily is a graduate of Middlesex University with an honours degree in English and Educational Psychology and a postgraduate at Central School of Speech and Drama.

In 2017 Emily was honoured to receive an MBE for her services to children, young people and the community in the performing arts.

Music

Orlando Byron

Head of Music, Piano & Singing

As a child, Orlando sang in the Chapels Royal as head chorister to the Queen and studied composition, voice and organ at the Junior Royal Academy of Music.
 
Orlando studied ethnomusicology at SOAS, specialising in Japanese traditional music and completed a Masters in Musical Theatre Composition with honours from Goldsmiths, where he was subsequently made an Associate Lecturer for the BA Musical Theatre course.
 
He has a Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music, a gold medal from the Royal School of Church Music and has ABRSM Grade 8s in voice, music theory, flute, piano, organ and harp.
 
He works professionally as a singer, accompanist, composer and lecturer. As a composer, he has been a member of the NMI workshop in Los Angeles and the BML workshop in London.
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Dan Farrant

Head of Drums

Dan is an experienced drummer, producer, songwriter and educator who studied at the Royal Academy of Music where he graduated as the first drummer on the Jazz and Rock course. He is currently drumming in the legendary punk band “The Buzzcocks”.
 
Over a successful career he has also performed and recorded with many other artists including Bad Manners, The Alarm, Dubwar, Jamie Callum, Doris Troy, Grand National, Embrace, Ray Gelato, The Ronnie Scott’s Allstars and more.
 
Dan has toured the world and performed on major festival stages globally including Coachella, The Warped Tour, Exit, Latitude, Primavera Sounds, Riot Fest, and has headlined the leftfield stage at Glastonbury.
 
As a composer he has collaborated with Emmy winning and Bafta nominated documentary makers including Louis Theroux, Deeyah Khan, Paddy Wivell and Reggie Yates, as well as composing music for Netflix / ITV and BBC shows.
 
He has over 25 years’ experience in teaching and is very dedicated to encouraging and inspiring North London’s next generation of young Drummers.
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Steve Haswell

Singing, Piano & Pop Choir

Steve has played leading roles in London’s West End – Double J in the original cast of Saturday Night Fever at the London Palladium and the role of Sky in the original cast of Mamma Mia at the Prince Edward Theatre, and travelled the world performing as a singer and a musician.
 
He was signed to Polydor and Sony records and toured extensively around Europe singing his own compositions to stadium audiences of over thirty thousand people a night. He was first support to the Backstreet Boys and East 17 whilst being signed.
 
He has performed with his own band (as musical director and lead vocalist) at the Millenium Stadium, Hampton Court Palace, NEC Exhibition Halls, Lulworth Castle, Kew Gardens Gallery, Latimer House, Heythrop Park, Alexandra Palace, Dalhousie Castle, Grand Hotel – Brighton and appeared at the world renowned “San Remo festival” in Italy.
 
His musical talents have enabled to him to travel the world, performing with his own band in Dubai, Singapore, America, Pakistan, Cyprus, Kosovo, Ghana, Oman, Israel, Australia and Argentina.
 
He has also worked with global brands such as Adidas, BMW, Wella, Harley Davidson, Reebok, Next, Honda, Vodaphone and artists such as Elton John, Spice Girls, Kylie Minogue and Take That to name a few.
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Alfred Pickard

Wind, Piano & Guitar

Alfred Pickard has been tutoring woodwind, brass, guitar, voice and piano students since 1977.
 
He spent twenty years teaching and directing Choir and Band at Kodaikanal International School in South India.
 
Since coming to the UK in 2001, he has tutored students in musical instruments, and directed choirs and bands.
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Will Taylor

Drums

Will has two decades of experience, having toured extensively with many different acts, studied with prestigious teachers and with many years teaching beginners to college level students.
 
Tutor at LCCM, head of the LCCM Beefeaters Drumline, he is the Author of Modern Hands and Modern Hands Vol2 – Exercises & Etudes.
 
Will has played with Incoherence, Pixie Geldof, Meg Cavanaugh Band, Spycatcher, The Damned and many others.
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Harry Gascoigne

Singing & Piano

Harry is a young actor and musician, originally from Southport.
 
In July 2022, Harry graduated from his BA Musical Theatre training at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
 
Recent professional credits include: National Youth Theatre’s ‘Make A Splash’, National Theatre Public Acts’ ‘The Odyssey’, National Youth Theatre’s ‘Climate Cabaret’ and Freckle Productions’ ‘Stick Man’.
 
With a huge passion for live performance, and an advanced level of skill on the saxophone, flute and piano, Harry is delighted to be part of the team at NLPAC.
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Alistair Bamford

Singing & Piano

Alistair is a singer in opera, oratorio and recitals. He has performed from Aberdeen to Zagreb, including with the Royal Opera and English National Opera; on film soundtracks such as Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and Star Wars; and with artists from the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra to Dave Brubeck and Paul McCartney.
 
He has extensive experience as an animateur devising, leading and supporting creative music projects in community settings, including schools, prisons, hospitals and festivals.
 
He was co-founder of Music for Life, using improvisation with people with dementia and training musicians, carers and volunteers.
 
His teaching, for which he was recently awarded Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, is based on a deep knowledge of classical bel canto technique, supported by the Estill Voice Method and many years experience.
 
He teaches currently at Cambridge University, where he has been offered a place for a PhD researching choral singing and identity.
 
In addition to singing Alistair is a writer, and has a book of poetry due for publication this year. There is more information about Alistair at alistairbamford.com
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Adrian Parsons

Singing & Piano

Adrian has substantial experience teaching singing at various performing arts colleges in London
 
These include the London Studio Centre, East 15 Acting School and Urdang Academy.
 
He studied singing and piano at the Royal Academy of Music and also trained on the RAM Opera Course. He has worked as a professional singer for at least 10 years.
 
He sang with various companies, including The Ambrosian Opera Chorus singing in Munich and Zurich.  Along with London based touring companies, working in London and touring the UK.
 
These include the European
Chamber Opera at Holland Park Theatre and Opera Box, touring stately homes, and with the  British Youth Opera at Sadler’s Wells and in Edinburgh.
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Megan Humphries

Harp

Megan Humphries is an award winning young harpist who has performed across the United Kingdom in venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, Festival Hall, and The Barbican and for names like the Duchess of Gloucester, the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu and Jacob Collier.
 
A keen ensemble player, Megan has played under the batons of celebrated conductors, including Sir Mark Elder, John Wilson, and Kirill Karabits. Recently, she recorded with the world-famous Black Dyke Brass Band and she regularly works alongside multiple London and Yorkshire based orchestras. Megan frequently works in the pit, performing in productions like Wagner’s Die Walküre, Yeston’s Nine, and Guettel’s A Light in the Piazza. She also works with her flute, viola and harp trio, The Asteria Trio, to mix modern compositions in with more classical core repertoire for the group. 
 
Megan was recently announced as one of four Fellows for the Open Academy scheme for 2025-26 where she will work across London in community music settings. She was also awarded a Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music in recognition of the quality of her teaching in 2024, a practise in which she aims to combine her experience with a pupil focused approach to create an encouraging and safe space to learn in. 
 
Megan was a scholar at the Royal Academy of Music for both her undergraduate and postgraduate studies, which she spent learning with the RPO’s principal harpist, Suzy Willison-Kawalec. She previously studied with Claire Jones, former harpist to HRH Prince of Wales and best-selling Classic FM artist.
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Joey Cornish

Singing

Joey is an actor, singer and musician from South Wales. He graduated with a Masters in Musical Theatre from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2020. 
 
Since graduating, Joey has enjoyed numerous theatre and television roles. Most recently, finishing a run as the alternate Frankie Valli in the West End production of Jersey Boys.
 
His other credits include Y Coridor (S4C/BBC iPlayer), For Tonight (Adelphi Theatre) and Anthem (Wales Millenium Centre).
 
Joey is very excited to be sharing his passion, experience and knowledge of the performing arts with all NLPAC students. 
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Steve Rushton

Drums

Steve is a drummer and percussionist, multi -instrumentalist, song writer and composer.
 
Most recently touring and recording with Imelda May, playing on her number one albums Mayhem and Tribal.
 
Steve toured and recorded with Jeff Beck, playing on the Grammy winning Emotion And Commotion (Poor Boy), and on the Grammy nominated DVD and album Rock And Roll Party, then going on to play several tours with Hot Chocolate and becoming the drummer for Ronnie Spector.
 
In the past Steve was a member of The Ray Gelato Giants, The Ronnie Scott’s All Stars and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
 
West End Shows include Five Guys Named Moe, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Our House and subs on The Producers, Blood Brothers, Billy Elliot and 42nd Street as well as several tours with The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
 
Steve is currently recording and touring with harmonica virtuoso Will Wilde.
 
Steve has a diploma in higher education from the Open University after studying music at degree level and studied
for a Level 3 teaching certificate at Richmond adult college.
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James Ladds

Guitar

Since his time at the University of Bristol studying a BA in Music, James has been teaching for almost a decade.

His varied career of sound engineering, music production, session playing and teaching have led him to work with a range of renowned musicians including Michael Nyman, Graham Coxon, White Lies, and many more.

Alongside performing with multiple artists in London, James has played in multiple music theatre pit bands and as a session musician in Abbey Road Studios. 

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Francesca Wong

Singing

Francesca Wong finished her second master’s degree in vocal performance at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. She graduated from her first master’s degree at the New England Conservatory, majoring in voice pedagogy. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in music from the Hong Kong Baptist University.

Francesca has appeared as the soloist in Mozart’s Requiem and Mendelssohn’s cantata Come Let Us Sing. She also performed excerpts from Hear My Prayer and Schönberg’s Medley of Les Misérables in a production by Hong Kong Baptist University. In June 2006, she toured the USA and Canada as a soloist with the university choir.

She has taken on operatic roles in scenes concerts, including Laetitia in Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief, Lucia in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, Amore in Monteverdi’s Prologue: Incoronazione di Poppea, and Venere in Cavalli’s L’Egisto, with performances at both the New England Conservatory and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

Her vocal training has included mentorship from Ms. Chan Siu Kwan, Ms. Nancy Yuen (head of the vocal department at the Academy), Ms. Patricia Misslin (renowned teacher of soprano Renée Fleming), Mr. William Cotten, Ms. Lowe Yan Cho, and Ms. Jeffie Leung.

Francesca began studying piano at the age of five. She has won numerous awards at the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival, participating in piano solo, piano duet, vocal solo, and female voice duet categories.

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Stan Brunt

Guitar

Coming Soon!

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Dance

Susan James

Head of Ballet & Teacher Training

Susan teaches ISTD Ballet & Modern Theatre, and is head tutor for the ISTD DDE teaching qualification.
 
Susan has extensive knowledge and experience teaching in both face-to-face training and distance learning tutoring in the UK and Italy.
 
She was one of the original tutors trained for the revised RAD Teaching Diploma and Teaching Certificate at the Royal Academy of Dance and ran her own school in Italy for over 30 years before returning to the UK.
 
Many of Susan’s students have gone on to train at important ballet and performing arts institutions and have joined companies in the UK, Europe, Canada and Asia. Graduates of the DDE are teaching in the UK and overseas.
 
Qualifications include; PGCE Performing Arts (post 16), BPhil (hons) Ballet and Contextual Studies, ISTD DDE (Imperial Ballet, Cecchetti Ballet, Modern Theatre, Tap, National) RAD Teaching Diploma.
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Ruth Stobbs

Tap & Tiny Toes

Ruth has been a tap teacher at NLPAC for many years and has seen her students through ISTD examinations with great success.
 
Ruth trained at the London Studio Centre. Since graduating, she has appeared in various summer seasons and shows across the UK.
 
Ruth is a fully qualified teacher with the ISTD holding the Level 4 Diploma in Dance Education qualification in Tap. 
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Jemima Renfer

Ballet & Tiny Toes

Jemima began her love of Ballet Tap & Jazz at the McAlpine Dance Studio, before further training in Ballet under Miss Stassinopoulos at the Vacani School of Dance (Cecchetti).
 
Following her training at The Royal Academy of Dance, Jemima completed her BA (Hons) Degree at the London Contemporary Dance School.
Jemima has performed a range of work under choreographers including, Maresa von Stockert, James Wilton, Richard Alston, Dam van Huyn and Merce Cunningham repertoire, curated by Jeannie Steele.
 
Jemima’s love of the classroom and working with children propelled her to take her teaching qualifications through the ISTD and now hold the Diploma in Dance Education.
 
Jemima puts her invaluable experience into her teaching and is dedicated in providing expert and quality tuition.
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Georgia Edwards

Street Dance

Georgia is a commercial, Street & hip hop dancer, choreographer and teacher.
 
From the age of 3 she has trained in a variety of styles, including jazz, ballet, jazz funk and a multitude of contemporary techniques, to name a few.
 
Georgia has been teaching consistently for the last 3 years (including primary/secondary school pupils, SEN kids, college & university students).
 
She started gaining teaching experience whilst she trained at school, college and culminating a degree at Middlesex University with a BA (Hons) in Dance Performance.
 
Georgia is an energetic and high-spirited person who runs fun yet challenging classes, in a friendly and supportive environment.
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Viola Paciotti

Ballet, Tap & Tiny Toes

Viola trained at vocational school Professione Danza Parma (Italy) studying ballet, modern and tap dance.
 
She also took part in several shows and competitions around Europe, such as the Youth American Gran Prix and TanzOlymp in Berlin.
 
Following her passion for teaching, she moved to London in September 2017 and gained her ISTD DDE Ballet and Modern full teaching qualification alongside a number freelance performing jobs.
 
Qualifications include; PGCE Performing Arts (post 16), BPhil (hons) Ballet and Contextual Studies, ISTD DDE (Imperial Ballet, Cecchetti Ballet, Modern Theatre, Tap, National) RAD Teaching Diploma.
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Freya Melling

Commercial & Acrobatic Dance

Freya graduated from Laine Theatre Arts in 2019, with a Level 6 Diploma in Musical Theatre.
 
She was a teaching assistant at her local dance school in Worcester, whilst in her latter school years. She then went on to Birmingham Ormiston Academy to study Dance before her professional Musical Theatre and Dance training.
 
Freya has performed in multiple pantomimes, most recently, being Dance Captain and has danced for corporate events and festivals.
 
Her teaching style is very motivational and upbeat to bring the energy and performance out of her students.
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Lauren Simpson

Tiny Toes, Contemporary, Jazz & Ballet

Lauren trained at The Urdang Academy, where she graduated with a BA (Hons) Degree in Professional Dance & Musical Theatre in August 2021.
 
Since then she has been teaching Acting, Dance & Singing in an array of Dance and Theatre companies and colleges throughout London and the surrounding areas.
 
She has been teaching for 3 years now and is loving being a part of the NLPAC team!
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Freya Woods

Contemporary & Tap

Freya is currently in her third year of training at The Urdang and will be graduating in 2025.
 
Her strongest styles are jazz, tap, ballet and contemporary and she has taught across a few dance schools working with children ages 7-16. She also has choreographed for workshops and summer schools.
 
She has been in Billy Elliot the West End musical and participated in numerous pantomimes and competitions, such as the All Englands and the Janet Cram awards.
 
Freya’s teaching style is passionate and enthusiastic but focused.
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Drama

Nick O'Brien

Head of Drama

Nick is Director of The Stanislavski Experience, author of Stanislavski in Practice, Theatre in Practice and creator of the Stanislavski in Practice films.
 
Nick trained as an Actor and Director for 3 years under Sam Kogan who was a pupil of Maria Knebel one of Stanislavski’s pupils at the Moscow Art Theatre and he has a PGCE in Drama from Keele University.
 
Theatre credits include Anuchkin in Marriage at the Schepkin Theatre, Elyot Chase in Private Lives at the Shaw Theatre, Seeley in Pinter’s A Night Out, Stags and Hens at The Gatehouse, Noises Off, Cards of The Gambler, Frank in Fen, Good Person of Sechuan, Bamforth in The Long, The Short and The Tall, and touring as Bruce Delamitri in Ben Elton’s Popcorn.
 
Film credits include D.C. Smith in Mysophobia, D.I. Slater in Finding Eduardo, and Simon in Serenading Rodents.
 
Television credits include Yesterday we were in America, Joe in the critically acclaimed HBO series Band of Brothers, Alex in Hide’n’Seek and Vanya in The Life of Stanislavski.
 
Recent Directing credits include One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest, Top Girls, The Assembly Women, Pinter’s Old Times, Chekhov’s The Bear , The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole and the Joseph O’Connor play Red Roses and Petrol.
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Cassie Compton

Screen Acting, Improvisation & Youth Drama

Cassie Compton is a singer, songwriter and actress.
 
Cassie spent 2017 playing the leading role of Julia Sullivan in The Wedding Singer (UK Tour).
 
Her starring roles include the lead of Jean in American Psycho opposite Matt Smith (Almeida Theatre), and in the West End, Eponine in Les Miserables, Nessarose in Wicked, Elizabeth in Dirty Dancing, Mary Lennox in RSC’s The Secret Garden, Kate in Spinach, Kesa/Wife/Actress in See What I Wanna See, Jemma in Molly Wobbly.
 
Regional credits include Cathy in The Last Five Years (Henley festival) Mary Gray in Monkee Business (Manchester), The Rose in The Little Prince (Belfast), Jo March in Little Women (UK tour)
Her TV includes Mr Selfridge, Call the Midwife, Casualty, Love in a Cold Climate, Murder Rooms (all BBC) and Big Train (ITV).
 
Film credits include Bloddyminded (Blast Theory) The Scupltress (Pierced Form Films)
 
Cassie first hit our screens in 2004 as a finalist on the first-ever series of ITV’s The X Factor (headlining on the Live Arena Tour at venues including Wembley Stadium), and is one of the show’s most prominent alumni having carved out a successful career as an actress.
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LAMDA

Imogen Byron

LAMDA Acting

Imogen trained at NLPAC in all areas of Performing Arts.  She has worked professionally on stage, film and television from a young age.
 
Imogen was a regular actress in Holby City for five years and began her West End career in Les Miserables.
 
Imogen holds an MA in Performing Arts and is head of the Boys School here at NLPAC.
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Nick O'Brien

LAMDA Acting

Nick is Director of The Stanislavski Experience, author of Stanislavski in Practice, Theatre in Practice and creator of the Stanislavski in Practice films.
 
Nick trained as an Actor and Director for 3 years under Sam Kogan who was a pupil of Maria Knebel one of Stanislavski’s pupils at the Moscow Art Theatre and he has a PGCE in Drama from Keele University.
 
Theatre credits include Anuchkin in Marriage at the Schepkin Theatre, Elyot Chase in Private Lives at the Shaw Theatre, Seeley in Pinter’s A Night Out, Stags and Hens at The Gatehouse, Noises Off, Cards of The Gambler, Frank in Fen, Good Person of Sechuan, Bamforth in The Long, The Short and The Tall, and touring as Bruce Delamitri in Ben Elton’s Popcorn.
 
Film credits include D.C. Smith in Mysophobia, D.I. Slater in Finding Eduardo, and Simon in Serenading Rodents.
 
Television credits include Yesterday we were in America, Joe in the critically acclaimed HBO series Band of Brothers, Alex in Hide’n’Seek and Vanya in The Life of Stanislavski.
 
Recent Directing credits include One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest, Top Girls, The Assembly Women, Pinter’s Old Times, Chekhov’s The Bear , The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole and the Joseph O’Connor play Red Roses and Petrol.
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Harry Gascoigne

LAMDA Musical Theatre

Harry is a young actor and musician, originally from Southport.
 
In July 2022, Harry graduated from his BA Musical Theatre training at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
 
Recent professional credits include: National Youth Theatre’s ‘Make A Splash’, National Theatre Public Acts’ ‘The Odyssey’, National Youth Theatre’s ‘Climate Cabaret’ and Freckle Productions’ ‘Stick Man’.
 
With a huge passion for live performance, and an advanced level of skill on the saxophone, flute and piano, Harry is delighted to be part of the team at NLPAC.
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Orlando Byron

LAMDA Musical Theatre

As a child, Orlando sang in the Chapels Royal as head chorister to the Queen and studied composition, voice and organ at the Junior Royal Academy of Music.
 
Orlando studied ethnomusicology at SOAS, specialising in Japanese traditional music and completed a Masters in Musical Theatre Composition with honours from Goldsmiths, where he was subsequently made an Associate Lecturer for the BA Musical Theatre course.
 
He has a Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music, a gold medal from the Royal School of Church Music and has ABRSM Grade 8s in voice, music theory, flute, piano, organ and harp.
 
He works professionally as a singer, accompanist, composer and lecturer. As a composer, he has been a member of the NMI workshop in Los Angeles and the BML workshop in London.
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Steve Haswell

LAMDA Musical Theatre

Steve has played leading roles in London’s West End – Double J in the original cast of Saturday Night Fever at the London Palladium and the role of Sky in the original cast of Mamma Mia at the Prince Edward Theatre, and travelled the world performing as a singer and a musician.
 
He was signed to Polydor and Sony records and toured extensively around Europe singing his own compositions to stadium audiences of over thirty thousand people a night. He was first support to the Backstreet Boys and East 17 whilst being signed.
 
He has performed with his own band (as musical director and lead vocalist) at the Millenium Stadium, Hampton Court Palace, NEC Exhibition Halls, Lulworth Castle, Kew Gardens Gallery, Latimer House, Heythrop Park, Alexandra Palace, Dalhousie Castle, Grand Hotel – Brighton and appeared at the world renowned “San Remo festival” in Italy.
 
His musical talents have enabled to him to travel the world, performing with his own band in Dubai, Singapore, America, Pakistan, Cyprus, Kosovo, Ghana, Oman, Israel, Australia and Argentina.
 
He has also worked with global brands such as Adidas, BMW, Wella, Harley Davidson, Reebok, Next, Honda, Vodaphone and artists such as Elton John, Spice Girls, Kylie Minogue and Take That to name a few.
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Anna Devlin

LAMDA Acting

Anna Devlin is an Actor and Acting Teacher from North London.
 
After training at the Young Actors Theatre Islington, Anna started her professional acting career and has since been delighted to work both on stage and screen for the likes of the Almeida Theatre, HBO and the BBC.
 
Anna’s passion is to spread her love for the acting craft and to watch young people blossom as they become more confident in their creative abilities.
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Stage School & Performing Arts Club

Imogen Byron

Head of Stage School

Imogen trained at NLPAC in all areas of Performing Arts.  She has worked professionally on stage, film and television from a young age.
 
Imogen was a regular actress in Holby City for five years and began her West End career in Les Miserables.
 
Imogen holds an MA in Performing Arts and is head of the Boys School here at NLPAC.
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Harry Gascoigne

Harry is a young actor and musician, originally from Southport.
 
In July 2022, Harry graduated from his BA Musical Theatre training at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
 
Recent professional credits include: National Youth Theatre’s ‘Make A Splash’, National Theatre Public Acts’ ‘The Odyssey’, National Youth Theatre’s ‘Climate Cabaret’ and Freckle Productions’ ‘Stick Man’.
 
With a huge passion for live performance, and an advanced level of skill on the saxophone, flute and piano, Harry is delighted to be part of the team at NLPAC.
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Freya Melling

Freya graduated from Laine Theatre Arts in 2019, with a Level 6 Diploma in Musical Theatre.
 
She was a teaching assistant at her local dance school in Worcester, whilst in her latter school years. She then went on to Birmingham Ormiston Academy to study Dance before her professional Musical Theatre and Dance training.
 
Freya has performed in multiple pantomimes, most recently, being Dance Captain and has danced for corporate events and festivals.
 
Her teaching style is very motivational and upbeat to bring the energy and performance out of her students.
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Lauren Simpson

Lauren trained at The Urdang Academy, where she graduated with a BA (Hons) Degree in Professional Dance & Musical Theatre in August 2021.
 
Since then she has been teaching Acting, Dance & Singing in an array of Dance and Theatre companies and colleges throughout London and the surrounding areas.
 
She has been teaching for 3 years now and is loving being a part of the NLPAC team!
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Monifa James

Monifa trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts for her secondary school education and continued on as a student, graduating with a Level 6 Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre in 2017.

Since graduating, she has toured the UK and Ireland in various musicals and has also performed in pantomimes.

Theatre credits include: “Little Inez” in Hairspray (UK & Ireland Tour), “Reno/Rugby” in Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (UK Tour), “Coppelia” in Coppelia, “Mowgli” in The Jungle Book, “Olivia” in The Color Purple (UK Tour), and most recently, “Fairy Full O’Beans” in Jack and the Beanstalk.

Monifa has been assisting and teaching for ten years at numerous performing arts schools in and around London. She began working at NLPAC in 2015 as a helper and has continued on as a teacher – she loves being part of the team!

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Boys Performance School

Imogen Byron

Head of Boys Performance School & Tap

Imogen trained at NLPAC in all areas of Performing Arts.  She has worked professionally on stage, film and television from a young age.
 
Imogen was a regular actress in Holby City for five years and began her West End career in Les Miserables.
 
Imogen holds an MA in Performing Arts and is head of the Boys School here at NLPAC.
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Freya Melling

Dance & Singing

Freya graduated from Laine Theatre Arts in 2019, with a Level 6 Diploma in Musical Theatre.
 
She was a teaching assistant at her local dance school in Worcester, whilst in her latter school years. She then went on to Birmingham Ormiston Academy to study Dance before her professional Musical Theatre and Dance training.
 
Freya has performed in multiple pantomimes, most recently, being Dance Captain and has danced for corporate events and festivals.
 
Her teaching style is very motivational and upbeat to bring the energy and performance out of her students.
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Cassie Compton

Drama

Cassie Compton is a singer, songwriter and actress.
 
Cassie spent 2017 playing the leading role of Julia Sullivan in The Wedding Singer (UK Tour).
 
Her starring roles include the lead of Jean in American Psycho opposite Matt Smith (Almeida Theatre), and in the West End, Eponine in Les Miserables, Nessarose in Wicked, Elizabeth in Dirty Dancing, Mary Lennox in RSC’s The Secret Garden, Kate in Spinach, Kesa/Wife/Actress in See What I Wanna See, Jemma in Molly Wobbly.
 
Regional credits include Cathy in The Last Five Years (Henley festival) Mary Gray in Monkee Business (Manchester), The Rose in The Little Prince (Belfast), Jo March in Little Women (UK tour)
Her TV includes Mr Selfridge, Call the Midwife, Casualty, Love in a Cold Climate, Murder Rooms (all BBC) and Big Train (ITV).
 
Film credits include Bloddyminded (Blast Theory) The Scupltress (Pierced Form Films)
 
Cassie first hit our screens in 2004 as a finalist on the first-ever series of ITV’s The X Factor (headlining on the Live Arena Tour at venues including Wembley Stadium), and is one of the show’s most prominent alumni having carved out a successful career as an actress.
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Steve Haswell

Singing

Steve has played leading roles in London’s West End – Double J in the original cast of Saturday Night Fever at the London Palladium and the role of Sky in the original cast of Mamma Mia at the Prince Edward Theatre, and travelled the world performing as a singer and a musician.
 
He was signed to Polydor and Sony records and toured extensively around Europe singing his own compositions to stadium audiences of over thirty thousand people a night. He was first support to the Backstreet Boys and East 17 whilst being signed.
 
He has performed with his own band (as musical director and lead vocalist) at the Millenium Stadium, Hampton Court Palace, NEC Exhibition Halls, Lulworth Castle, Kew Gardens Gallery, Latimer House, Heythrop Park, Alexandra Palace, Dalhousie Castle, Grand Hotel – Brighton and appeared at the world renowned “San Remo festival” in Italy.
 
His musical talents have enabled to him to travel the world, performing with his own band in Dubai, Singapore, America, Pakistan, Cyprus, Kosovo, Ghana, Oman, Israel, Australia and Argentina.
 
He has also worked with global brands such as Adidas, BMW, Wella, Harley Davidson, Reebok, Next, Honda, Vodaphone and artists such as Elton John, Spice Girls, Kylie Minogue and Take That to name a few.
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Pre-Vocational Training

Imogen Byron

Imogen trained at NLPAC in all areas of Performing Arts.  She has worked professionally on stage, film and television from a young age.
 
Imogen was a regular actress in Holby City for five years and began her West End career in Les Miserables.
 
Imogen holds an MA in Performing Arts and is head of the Boys School here at NLPAC.
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Harry Gascoigne

Harry is a young actor and musician, originally from Southport.
 
In July 2022, Harry graduated from his BA Musical Theatre training at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
 
Recent professional credits include: National Youth Theatre’s ‘Make A Splash’, National Theatre Public Acts’ ‘The Odyssey’, National Youth Theatre’s ‘Climate Cabaret’ and Freckle Productions’ ‘Stick Man’.
 
With a huge passion for live performance, and an advanced level of skill on the saxophone, flute and piano, Harry is delighted to be part of the team at NLPAC.
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Lauren Simpson

Lauren trained at The Urdang Academy, where she graduated with a BA (Hons) Degree in Professional Dance & Musical Theatre in August 2021.
 
Since then she has been teaching Acting, Dance & Singing in an array of Dance and Theatre companies and colleges throughout London and the surrounding areas.
 
She has been teaching for 3 years now and is loving being a part of the NLPAC team!
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Orlando Byron

As a child, Orlando sang in the Chapels Royal as head chorister to the Queen and studied composition, voice and organ at the Junior Royal Academy of Music.
 
Orlando studied ethnomusicology at SOAS, specialising in Japanese traditional music and completed a Masters in Musical Theatre Composition with honours from Goldsmiths, where he was subsequently made an Associate Lecturer for the BA Musical Theatre course.
 
He has a Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music, a gold medal from the Royal School of Church Music and has ABRSM Grade 8s in voice, music theory, flute, piano, organ and harp.
 
He works professionally as a singer, accompanist, composer and lecturer. As a composer, he has been a member of the NMI workshop in Los Angeles and the BML workshop in London.
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Reception & Admin

Deborah Hoskins

Operations & Managerial Support

Hazel Judd

Reception & Admin

Pippa Hynes

Reception & Admin

Karma Donovan

Reception& Admin

Abigail Coy

Reception & Admin

Wren Mann

IT & Systems