Staff Biogs
Adam Douglas
Course Director
Adam has had a very diverse career in performing arts ranging from modelling for Giorgio Armani in Milan, to playing Father Christmas in the internationally acclaimed ballet The Snowman. He began training as a young boy and was the first recipient of the Dougie Squires Award. At the age of ten he appeared in his first professional musical, Hans Christian Anderson starring Tommy Steele.
Graduating from Northern Ballet School, his first Musical Theatre job was Evita, going on to it's premiere tour as the tango dancer. Continuing theatre credits include:-The Fabric of Time, Gloriana, the West End rival of Brigadoon, Chess, including the premiere international tour, Guys and Dolls , The King and I and the Phantom of the Opera premiere tour.
Adam joined Coroboree contemporary dance company as an original cast member of The Rock and Paint Show composed by Dave Stewart and created the role of JFK for the world premiere of In Honour of the Drowned Man. He continued to perform in but also became assistant director and choreographer on productions of Oklahoma, My Fair Lady and South Pacific. Choreography for the University of Wales productions include:- The Winters Tale, Red Noses , Peer Gynt and the Wizard of Oz. Adam was the dance co-ordinator for educational workshops run by The Phantom company. He has taught at Mountview on the post graduate course, devising and directing the American Dream, also at Northern Ballet School, The Hammond School and North Cheshire and City college.
His Telvision credits include Who Bombed the Birmingham Six, starring John Hurt, The Laurence Olivier Awards appearing as a Geoff Richer dancer and the recently revised The Andrew Lloyd-Webber Story for the South Bank show. Adam has appeared in, choreographed and been assistant director on numerous pantomimes including Dartford, Hornchurch and York. He Joined LTS as head of dance in 2001 as the three year course started and became Course Director the following year. He has since directed and choreographed over thirty in - house and summer productions for LTS. During this time he has reprised his roles of Father and Father Christmas in The Snowman in the West End and subsequently in Tokyo Japan.
Val Jones
Business Development Team
Val trained at Merseyside Dance Centre. Her performing and choreographic work has included fashion and trade shows and regional theatre throughout the UK.
Val also established a Musical Theatre Course at the McDonald College, Sydney, Australia, and has lectured in Classical Ballet at John Moores University in Liverpool and Modern Theatre at the Northern Ballet School in Manchester. She is an examiner and lecturer for ISTD and gained an MA in dance studies at John Moores university in 2009.
Val completed her Pilates training with the Body Control Pilates Association in 2011. In January 2012 she completed a business course with Wirralbiz.
Patricia Allford
MIDTA
Patricia is currently the administrator and student support officer. She holds a certificate in Safe Guarding, Level 1 and is also the qualified First Aider for LTS .
Patricia trained at Liverpool Theatre School for 3 years gaining her teaching Associate and Membership qualifications in Ballet ,Tap and Modern and her dancing experience has taken her around the world as far as Dubai, Cyprus and Portugal.
Patricia came back home to go on to receive her TDLB award D32 D33 D34 and NVQ Internal Verifiers award. She started teaching at Liverpool Theatre School on the full time and part time classes in all aspects of dance. She also has RSA fitness to Music and Reebok Step instructors qualification, and recently gained her Zumba instructors certificate.
Gayna Attreed
Gayna trained with Premier International and qualified as personal trainer and sports massage therapist in 2008. She has a Diploma in PT and SMT. Gayna is a self employed fitness trainer specialising in holistic well being and stress management, nutrition and food relationship, she works along side Corporate Wellness, which is constructed by Liverpool City Council teaching functional fitness, relaxation technique, yoga and nutrition workshops.
Gayna also takes private 1-1 clients helping individual defined targets such as weight loss, muscle tone,injury rehabilitation posture and alignment. She does deep tisue release massage helping relieve pain and tension caused through injury or stress related causes.
Ewan Anderson
Musical Director/Singing co-ordinator
Ewan trained in Piano, Voice and Composition at the University of Manchester and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
Extensive experience as Musical Director includes the West End production of BAT BOY The Musical, touring productions of Thoroughly Modern Millie, Scrooge, Disney's Beauty and the Beast and regional productions of the Wizard of Oz, The Secret Garden, The Boys from Syracuse and Evita. He was Musical Supervisor for the 2003 UK tour of Copacabana. He has MDd over a dozen pantomimes including productions for Qdos, First Family Entertainment and Evolution.
Theatre Composition credits include A Man for All Seasons, Fallen Angels (Bill Kenwright Ltd), Mansfield Park and The Admirable Crichton (Chichester Festival Theatre).
Ewan has worked as arranger for artists as diverse as Bobby Davro and Kathleen Turner, as well as producing arrangements and backing tracks for numerous Production Companies and Cruise Liners.
His singing students include Pop, Rock and RnB artists as well as many successful Musical Theatre performers.
Ewan has been Musical Director for the Graduating Students' Production at Liverpool Theatre School since 2006. He took over as Head of the Singing Department in January 2011.
Anne Leatherland
BSc PGCE LGSM (TD) ALCM
Anne is a successful teacher and singer based in Burton on Trent in the . She has been teaching Singing for over fifteen years and has successfully trained both amateur and professional singers in a range of genres. As well as running a busy private practice her work includes courses and workshops, at times in collaboration with fellow professionals. Her teaching is geared towards finding what works for the individual and the promotion of informed healthy voice use.
Anne grew up in a musical family and performed for many years as a folk singer. She was educated in where she studied choral music and played violin and guitar. Originally opting for a science degree Anne graduated in Chemistry at and followed this with a PGCE. Whilst teaching in she produced musicals with young people and this rekindled her interest in music study. She began vocal studies with Coral Gould and gained diplomas in Classical Singing Performance (ALCM) and Singing Teaching (LGSM).
As a singer (Mezzo Soprano) Anne has performed in numerous concerts and recitals and continues to do so when time allows. She has also performed in and directed music theatre productions and has assisted with musical direction. Anne recently gained a Cerificate of Advanced Vocal Practice as part of the Integrated Voice Programme with voice experts Gillyanne Kayes and Jermy Fisher. As the first person to study on Module 3 of this post-professional programme she is currently writing a research paper comparing classical and musical theatre singing. Current interests include finding authenticity in musical theatre performance, in depth study of vocal function, vocal trouble-shooting and rehabilitation. Anne is delighted to have joined the staff of Liverpool Theatre School..
Suzanne O'Keefe
Suzanne trained at Royal Northern College of music Manchester and was a resident in D'Oyly Carte Opera company. She was also involved in musical theatre productions at the Wolsey Threatre Ipswich. In 1985 she began as a full time singing tutor at Liverpool Theatre School and Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre and Chiltern School. She has a great interest in special needs work and is currently part of Reformers Special School in Ashfield .
Suzanne is principal childrens tutor with Bill Kenwright touring shows. Her working titles to date include tutor for the Billy Elliot Tour with Raymond Gubbay. She is a member of The Magic of Gilbert and Sullivan, working as a producer for their tour in Buxton and Liverpool, and has gained international credit for Liverpool Theatre School for this tour .
David Goulden
B.A (HONS) A.L.C.M. L.T.C.L. (DIST) F.L.C.M. P.G.C.E. (F+ H Education)
David originally trained as a teacher at Bretton Hall doing his post graduate study at the Royal Academy of Music. Running along side his teaching career, David has performed in many operatic roles such as Canio, I Palici Alvaro,Force of Destiny, Tamio, Der Zauberflorte for Opera North European Touring Opera and Welsh National Opera. He has also been MD for many professional companies involved in such musicals as Bye Bye Birdie, Carousel, Lilac Time, The Boyfriend and Me and My Girl. David has worked extensively in the world of Gilbert and Sullivan and in particular for the International Gilbert and Sullivan festival at Buxton.
His greatest love is his teaching and after many years has an enviable list of stars in the world of opera and musical theatre in whose vocal development he has played a part. David has many academic qualifications and diplomas ALCM LTCL (Dist) and most recently has become a fellow of the London College of Music in Vocal Performance.
Rachel Saul
Dance co-ordinator
RAD TC/DIP AISTD, NBS DIP
Rachel trained at Northern Ballet School, Manchester. She graduated with a Diploma in Professional Dance, together with her teaching qualifications in ISTD and RAD. Rachel enjoyed a fulfilling and diverse performing career on board MS Crystal Symphony, a six star luxury cruise liner based in Los Angeles USA . She began her contract as Dancer/Lead Adagio and was soon promoted to swing dancer and line captain/ deputy Cruise Director. Rachel enjoyed 7 years travelling the world with Crystal Cruises, performing in award winning Broadway style productions. In her final year with the company, she was assistant to the artistic directors / choreographers .
Rachel moved to New York City after her time with Crystal Cruises and attended many workshops given by Broadway Choreographers. She also began her teaching career at dance schools in Brooklyn and New Jersey. In early 2002, after gaining valuable experience from NYC Rachel returned home to England. Shortly afterwards, she was offered teaching positions on the full time DADA course at both Liverpool Theatre School and Northern Ballet School.
Rachel is currently Dance Coordinator at LTS, where she teaches three disciplines of Ballet Tap and Jazz as well as Adagio/Jazz partnering. Rachel has also choreographed many pieces for LTS and NBS shows and showcases. Recently she has choreographed The Boyfriend and The Gondoliers for Northwest Youth Productions at the Buxton Fringe Festival. She thoroughly enjoys her work both as a teacher and a choreographer.
Marian St Claire
Marian St Claire was born in Hull, Yorkshire and was trained initially at Miss Shirley Banks School of Dance in Leyland, Lancashire. Her training continued at the Loreto Academy of Dance in Southport and completed at the Ballet Rambert School in London where she graduated into the Company under the direction of Dame Marie Rambert. When the company changed its artistic policy in favour of contemporary dance Marian accepted a soloist contract with the Cape Town Ballet Company. On returning to Great Britain 1969 she became Principal Ballerina with the Scottish Ballet and later in 1975 with New London Ballet. She then joined London Festival Ballet (now English National Ballet) in 1977 and also became resident guest artist with the Northern Ballet. In 1979 she became instrumental in the founding of London City Ballet of which Princess Diana became a patron, and played a very active part dancing all the major roles in the company's repertoire and established herself as its Prima Ballerina and Assistant Artistic Director.
She has travelled extensively during her career and has performed as a guest in Canada, Japan, Sweden, Germany and Zimbabwe and has also appeared in international festivals in Chicago, Poland, Cuba Spain and Romania. She also toured with Dame Margot Fonteyn British Gala Tours . in 1985 Marian made a number of guest appearences in Wayne Sleep's Hot Shoe Show at the London Palladium and a year later starred with Wayne sleep in Sleep with Friends, where she made her debut as a singer, tap and jazz dancer, she went on to perform with Wayne as his partner in the tour of his show Bits and Pieces and Wayne's World of Dance.
Marian retired in 1996 and has since been a freelance teacher and Ballet consultant. She has taught at many London vocational schools and has been a guest teacher in Japan, Spain and Germany. Three years ago she left London and together with her husband Michael Beare, moved to Lancashire and now teaches at the Liverpool Theatre School of which she is a Patron. She is also listed in Debrett's People of Today.
Michael Beare
Michael Beare was born In Mozambique of British parents and trained in Zimbabwe,South Africa and at the Royal Ballet School, London. He graduated and joined the Royal Ballet Company in 1965 where he danced many soloist roles. In 1971 he became a Principal dancer with The Scottish Ballet and remained with them for almost five years during which time he toured Australia and New Zealand with Dame Margot Fonteyn and Ivan Nagy. In 1975 he was invited to join New London Ballet and toured with them across Central and South America, the Middle East and Europe. Michael joined London Festival Ballet (now English National Ballet) in 1977 but in the following year became instrumental in the founding of London City Ballet of which Princess Diana became a patron, he led the company as principal dancer dancing the lead roles in the major classical repertoire, untill his retirement in 1986 when he took the position of London City Ballet's rehearsal director and ballet master. He has made guest appearences with Northern Ballet Theatre, the Margot Fonteyn British Gala Tours, the Chicago International Dance Festival of the Stars the Cuban Dance Festival and Festivals in Romania, Poland and Zimbabwe.
In 1991 Michael became a freelance teacher and Ballet consultant and has taught at many vocational schools in London as well as guest teaching in Japan, Spain, Germany and Israel. In 2006 Michael together with his wife Marian St Claire, left London and moved to Lancaster and he is now a ballet teacher and consultant for Liverpool Theatre School.
Heather Roberts
A.I.S.T.D.
After graduating from Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre, Heather's dancing talents took her around the world to shows in Europe, Japan and America.
Heather joined Garth Fagan Dance Company in New York in 1998 for a brief time before joining Royal Caribbean Cruise Line rising to rehearsal choreorgapher and later assistant director before returning to Liverpool in 2004.
Heather brings a fresh approach to Liverpool Theatre School and her vast experience is a valuable asset to the jazz course and the many shows performed by the students each year.
Samantha McCabe
Samantha McCabe was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1969. She started dancing at the tender age of 4, and by the time she had reached 13 years of age she had decided she wanted to be a ballerina. She then started training with Gailene Stock now the director of The Royal Ballet school. Her technique and dance quality improved so much that she was offered a place at The Australian Ballet School. She trained there for three years graduating in 1988, and was offered a contract with The Australian Ballet Company. Samantha travelled around Australia performing many ballets.
This gave Samantha the travelling bug and in 1990 she decided to travel to London, England where she met her future husband, and after auditioning for English National Ballet and getting the contract she decided to make her new life in the U.K. Her next stop was to dance with London City Ballet. Samantha has danced many ballets from Bejart to the more traditional Nutcracker and Swan Lake. Samantha stopped dancing in 1996 when she found out she was pregnant with her first son (Conor). She had a further two children (Aidan and Sian) and then travelled to Liverpool and started her teaching career.
Samantha has settled in Liverpool opening her own ballet school called Balletworks in 2001 and freelance teaching for Liverpool Theatre School. Samantha enjoys being able to give her wealth of knowledge to the younger generation.
Jackie McCormick FIDTA
Following comprehensive training in Dance, Drama and Singing, Jackie has had a long and varied career in Performing Arts. She started her professional life as a dancer at top local venues which then lead to extensive TV work as well as theatre and cabaret engagements.
She then toured Europe and North Africa as lead singer in her own Quintet. After this she was in demand throughout the UK with big bands, rock groups, recording sessions, and as a soloist in her own right on the cabaret scene.
She then came back to her first love of dance, and after achieving all the necessary qualifications embarked on a new career teaching children of all ages and full time students at Liverpool Theatre School.
Gill Cody
Gill Cody began dancing at the age of three attending a few local dancing schools before beginning her vocational training at Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre. She graduated with a diploma in dance along with teaching certificates in Tap, Modern and Disco.
Her varied career has included cruise ships backing dancer for artists, music videos, major sporting events as well as corporate and fashion shows, Gill realised her love of Urban Dance around 7 years ago and began training in the genre, this includes street, hip hop, locking, popping, breaking, krump and many other relevant styles.
She has carried on performing in these styles as well as teaching in many dance schools and theatre and education schools across Merseyside and the North West including Liverpool Theatre School since 2006. Just under 18 months ago Gill formed her own school Cody Urban Dance specialising in Urban Style.
Clare Dow
Drama co-ordinator
Clare first trained as a teacher of Drama and English, majoring in what was then known as remedial education. On graduating, she was employed as a specialist and worked in residence with young offenders, at a school dealing with autistic children, and in a tough inner London comprehensive.
Although this was rewarding, Clare decided to pursue her burning ambition to act. She won a place at RADA, at a time when only seven girls were accepted on the acting course each year, and won the Patrick Wymark Award for distinguished performance.
She went on to play a clutch of great roles in the theatre, including Cleopatra, Lady Macbeth, Hecuba, and Piaf; and worked in all genres of theatre from the classics through musicals to pantomime, in venues ranging from small scale touring halls to major touring venues and regional theatres. Her TV and film work included appearances in both Coronation Street and Brookside.
As a director, she has used her particular skills in specialist areas, especially devised work for the NHS and Probation Service. She nurtured new writers and young actors, including Ian Hart, in work for Liverpool University.
At LTS, apart from in house shows, she has directed students for acting in showcases and two public productions. Both of these, Vinegar Tom and the Caucasian Chalk Circle, had a strong musical element with original scores performed by international musicians.
Heather Phoenix
Heather trained at Manchester University, where she gained a BA Honours in Drama. She is an actor and freelance voice and acting teacher, with 20 years experience in the industry. Teaching includes The Arden School of Theatre (Manchester), The Northern Actors Centre and private tuition. As an actor she has worked with numerous directors in many major theatres around the country, including Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, Manchester Library, Oldham Coliseum, Keswick Theatre by the Lake, The New Vic Stoke, York Theatre Royal, Harrogate Theatre, Nottingham Playhouse, Salisbury Playhouse, The Watermill Newbury, Theatre Clwyd, Coventry Belgrade, The Dukes Lancaster, Worcester Swan Theatre, The Courtyard Hereford, as well as many Number 1 touring venues. Much of her musical theatre work has been in the actor-musician genre.
TV credits include Coronation Street, Emmerdale and A Touch of Frost, as well as film, radio, corporate video and voice-over. As both an experienced practitioner and Estill-trained voice teacher (Royal Academy of Music), Heather combines her practical skills and technical knowledge with a current and ongoing overview of the industry, to provide thorough and relevant training.
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