Principal
Laura Ellis
Laura trained at Elmhurst School of Dance where she toured the UK with the Birmingham Royal Ballet & Laine Theatre Arts where she graduated with a Diploma in Musical Theatre.
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Her credits include "Thoroughly Modern Millie" (UK Tour, Resident Choreographer and Associate for the Canadian Tour), "Memphis the Musical" (Shaftesbury Theatre, West End), "Kiss Me Kate" (Kilworth House Theatre), "In The Dark" (BBC Series V/O), "Swallows & Amazons" (BBC Film V/O), "Bride" in Weetabix Advert (Commercial), "Sunday Night at the Palladium" (London Palladium), "Laurence Olivier Awards" 2015 (Royal Opera House), "BBC Proms in the Park", "Jack and the Beanstalk" (Norwich Theatre Royal Dance Captain), "P&O Australia" (Singer/Dancer Cruise Liner), "Cinderella" (Richmond Theatre), "An Evening of Dirty Dancing" (UK Tour Dance Captain), "Cinderella" (Cardiff New Theatre), "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (Evolution Productions).
Laura can also be heard on the original London cast recording of "Memphis the Musical".
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Laura holds an enhanced DBS certificate, a Diploma in Musical Theatre and first aid training.
TAP & COMMERCIAL DANCE TEACHER
HANNAH VARNHAM
Hannah trained at Laine Theatre Arts.
Theatre Credits include: Company manager/Ensemble u/s Scaramouche & Meat in WE WILL ROCK YOU (Royal Caribbean) Ensemble/Swing, u/s Lead Vocalist in TANGO MODERNO (UK Tour) Ensemble u/s Sophie in MAMMA MIA! (UK Tour), SENSATORI, lead vocalist (Egypt), JACK & THE BEANSTALK (Octagon Theatre, Yeovil), SENSATORI , Lead vocalist (Tenerife), ALADDIN (Grand Opera House, Belfast) and DICK WHITTINGTON (Milton Keynes Theatre).
DRAMA & SINGING TEACHER
REBECCA LAFFERTY
Rebecca graduated in 2017 from ArtsEd with a BA (hons) in Musical Theatre. Her theatre credits include: Actor/Ensemble in Class Act Ayrshire (Traverse Theatre), Scherzzo, Understudy Raven & Valkyrie in Bat Out Of Hell The Musical (UK & International Tour), Wendy Darling in Peter Pan (Capitol Theatre, Horsham) and Swing and understudy Eponine in Les Misérables (Queens Theatre, West End).
Rebecca is also a highly experienced vocal coach and is fully qualified in Estill Levels 1 & 2 and Vocal Health First Aid.​
Weekly Drama & Singing Teacher
VERITY POWER
Verity is a Glaswegian actor who trained at Arts Educational schools London. Since graduating, Verity has worked in Film, Television and theatre. She has been teaching for 7yrs now and loves helping kids to reach their full potential and explore their imaginations, while having loads of fun and building their confidence
DRAMA & SINGING TEACHER
MEGHAN
Meghan has recently graduated from PPA with a BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre. Throughout her training Meghan performed as Serena Katz in Fame, Alice Beineke in The Addams Family, Ursula in The Little Mermaid, Sally in Follies and Ensemble in Rent. Whilst at drama school and since graduating Meghan has worked as a singing and drama teacher and absolutely loves teaching the super stars of WESS.
ASSISTANT
RACHEL
Rachel is currently studying a BA (hons) Degree in Musical Theatre at Millennium Performing Arts (MPA). She is a confident performer having worked with a variety of choreographers and dance companies as well as being taught by WestEnd professionals.
Rachel is currently a member of The Millennium ToTheCore Company.
At WESS Rachel enjoys creating and teaching her own commercial choreography from some of her favourite musicals and music artists.
In addition to teaching at WESS Rachel also works as a children’s entertainer, where she get to become her favourite Disney Princesses.
ASSISTANT
AMY
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ASSISTANT
OLIVIA
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Drama & Singing Teacher
Darren John
Darren studied at East 15 Acting School for a year. Although securing a place on the 3 year course, he then took a year out to travel the world before attending the prestigious Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.
After training for 3 years in all aspects of dance, acting, and singing, he graduated in July 2008.
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Theatre Credits: Grease UK Tour, Annie UK Tour, Starlight Express Bochum, Sunset Boulevard Uk Tour, Madagascar Uk Tour & Resident Musical Director
WORKSHOP TEACHER & SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
JONATHAN MAWSON
Jonathan trained at Laine Theatre Arts receiving a diploma in Professional Dance. Since then, he has performed & choreographed internationally, appearing in Music Videos, Commercials, TV shows, live performances UK Tours and Londonʼs Westend.
Theatre credits include: Starlight Express, Bochum (Purse), Legally Blonde, West End (Swing), An Evening of Dirty Dancing, Uk Tour (Dance Captain), High School Rocks! UK Tour (Dance Captain).
Other credits include: Dancer for Kylie Minogue, Anastacia, Enrique Inglesias, Will Young and Gareth Gates Royal Variety Show, Olivier Performance (Legally Blonde), The film ‘Confettiʼ, Carnival Cruises as lead vocalist/ dancer.
Choreography Credits Include:
•Choreographer “Tina Das Musical” (Reset Productions)
•Choreographer “Britannia Beat” (Carnival cruise lines ‘Britanniaʼ)
•Choreographer “Snow White” (Crossroads Pantomimes)
•Associate Choreographer for MBP Productions (Carnival Cruise Lines)
•Choreographer "Jack & The Beanstalk”, "Sleeping Beauty",“Peter Pan" (Capitol Theatre Horsham)
•Resident Choreographer “An Evening of Dirty Dancing” (Stage Acts Productions)
•Choreographer “The Jersey Quartet”, “The Greatest Showmen”, “Galileo” , "The Roller Boys", "Uptown Funk" (Michael Quinn Productions)
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HARIET BUNTON
We Will Rock You, Mamma Mia
KATHERINE ILES
Mamma Mia, X Factor
JESSICa BUCKLY
The Addams Family
PHILLIP BERTiOLI
42nd Street, 9to5 The Musical
ADAM CROSSLEY
Summer Holiday, Grease
KATIE BRADLEY
Thriller
ELISHA SHERMAN
Wicked, The Wizard of Oz
LISA BRIDGE
Charlie & The Chocolate Factory
KATIE MONKS
The Rocky Horror Show
JAMES DAVIES
Wicked UK & International Tour
MILLIE O'CONNELL
Six The Musical
ALEXANDRA GRIERSON
Shrek
HELEN TURNER
Cats, Chicago
ROSIE BATES
Les Miserables, Chitty Bang Bang
BETHAN DOWNING
Young Frankenstein
JON-SCOTT CLARK
Mary Poppins Return, Hamilton
JERMAIN WOODS
Alladin, Lion King
SUZIE MCADDAMS
School of Rock, Legally Blonde