Principal and Founder of Stage One Drama School
I have had a love of performance and singing all my life. At Primary School my happiest memories are of taking part in The Guild in the Action Song and The Girl’s solo and later at secondary school, competing in the acting classes. My first big break came when, aged 14, I successfully auditioned for the part of Liesl in Douglas Choral Union’s production of The Sound of Music. And that was it! The bug had bitten! A few years later I was selected to sing in the British Youth Choir and spent many very happy years attending week long courses learning a variety of Choral Music and performing in England, Wales and Scotland. I was privileged to be invited to sing the Soprano Solo in Charpentier’s Te Deum at St David’s Cathedral in Lampeter.
I studied Drama and Education at Trent Park, Middlesex University and gained my Certificate in Education in 1978. On returning to IOM I joined the Manx Operatic Society and The Service Players and spent many years performing with both societies. I won the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) Award as Best Supporting Actress for my performance of Jennifer in Paint Your Wagon.
My first teaching post was at Onchan Primary School. Whilst there I started an after school Drama club producing Alice In Wonderland and preparing the students for the Verse Speaking classes in The Guild. After a short break from teaching to raise my four children I started Stage One in September 1993. It started out as an after school club for my children and some of their friends one evening a week, but soon grew as more and more people heard about us! In the first year the students entered two classes in the Guild and won both! Over the last 26 years Stage One has grown into a thriving school providing classes in Drama and Musical Theatre to children aged 4-18. Our alumni include Sam Barks, Olivia Landels, Laura Pigott, Alice Smith, Ben Karran, Matthew Chase, Matt Ogden, Leah Carter, Lucy Penrose.
I am privileged to be supported by an excellent team of teachers. Between us we have a wealth of knowledge and performance experience and we are able to deliver the very best to our students.