Joseph Hodges

Principal

Head of Acting

Joseph is a multi award-winning theatrical producer and director.

After being awarded a scholarship, Joseph studied for three years in musical theatre at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, before completing his training as a postgraduate at the Royal Academy of Music. 

He has since had a vast and versatile career as a performer encompassing work on stage, television and film, prior to moving toward the creative side of the industry.

Recent credits include: the UK Tour of 'SHOUT! the Mod Musical', the London production of 'The Girl on the Train', the London revival of Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt's 'I Do! I Do!', the world premiere of 'Give My Regards to Broadway' (Upstairs at the Gatehouse, London), the European premieres of 'Breaking Up is Hard to Do', featuring the music of Neil Sedaka (Upstairs at the Gatehouse, London), Offie-nominated 'Tenderly - The Rosemary Clooney Musical' (New Wimbledon Theatre) and world premieres of new musical 'Down to Margate' (Theatre Royal Margate) and 'Fascinatin' Rhythm' (New Wimbledon Theatre and UK Tour), the 5-star Offie-nominated 'Best Off-West End Show 2017', '9 to 5 the Musical' (Upstairs at the Gatehouse, London) and worked on the London fringe premiere of 'Top Hat the musical', starring 'Strictly Come Dancing' Champion Joanne Clifton. He has recently produced the Offie-nominated UK premiere of 'The Marvelous Wonderettes', which played for an extended run in London and Windsor.

Joseph has many years of teaching experience, with young people of all ages, both freelance and for many established schools. He is also an Associate of the British Ballet Organisation and Acrobatic Arts. 

@JosephWHodges     http://josephhodges.co.uk

Jo Marshall

Head of Singing

Sinead Kenny

Guest Teacher

Training: Sinead trained at the Arts Educational School London (BA hons).

Theatre credits include: Waitress 1 / Understudy Justice in 'Rock of Ages' ( UK and International tour), Mrs Greer in 'Annie' (Ed Mirvish Theatre, Toronto), Ensemble in 'Disney’s Aladdin' (Prince Edward Theatre, West End), Cha Cha Digregorio / Understudy Rizzo and Frenchie in 'Grease' (Leicester Curve and Dubai World Trade Centre), Cecile / Understudy Grace in 'Annie' (UK and International Tour), Tiger Lily / Mrs Darling in 'Peter Pan' (Norwich Theatre Royal), Consuela / Understudy Anita in 'West Side Story' ( UK tour) and Ensemble in '9 to  5 the musical' (UK tour).

Other credits include: Dancer on BBCs 'The Apprentice After Show', Ensemble in 'Royal Variety Show' (London Palladium), 'The Concrete Jungle' World Premiere (Arts Educational) , Work Hour in 'Copelia' (English Youth Ballet), Dancer at 'Not Forgotten Society Concert' (Buckingham Palace) and Dancer / Singer in 'Christmas in New York' (Lyric Theatre, London).

Jo Alsop

College Administrator

Training: Performers College, Essex.

After a number of years being involved in the theatre world involving teaching and performing  Including work for London's imax and Disneyland  Paris, Jo has now found her happiness in becoming a dance mum and is thrilled to be joining the JGH family

Jay Gardner

Principal

Head of Dance

Jay completed his professional training at Millennium Performing Arts.

Jay's credits include: Ensemble and Cover Prince in 'Cinderella' (Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury); Ensemble and Cover Charlie Goose in 'Mother Goose' (Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury); Nick in 'An Evening of Dirty Dancing' (UK Tour); Singer and Dancer on board Carnival Valor; Ensemble and Cover Ugly Sisters in 'Cinderella' (Beck Theatre, QDOS); Lead Vocalist for TUI Resorts; Dancer in 'Til the Dawn' (London Cabaret Club); Dancer in 'One Last Dance' (Kickstarter); and Ensemble in 'Sleeping Beauty' (Broadway Theatre, Catford).

During his training he performed in: 'Sweet Charity', 'Bye Bye Birdie', 'Baggy Trousers' and 'Wildlife'.

Jay is also a freelance casting director, having recently cast the Offie-nominated UK premiere of 'The Marvelous Wonderettes' (Upstairs at the Gatehouse, London and Theatre Royal, Windsor) and the London revival of 'I Do! I Do!' (Upstairs at the Gatehouse, London). 

Helen Crawford

Ballet Tutor

Born in Ipswich, Helen Crawford trained at the Linda Shipton School of Ballet and The Royal Ballet School. She joined the Company in 1999, promoted to First Soloist, 2009. She retired from dancing in 2019 and was appointed Ballet Mistress. Her repertory included Five Brahms Waltzes in the Manner of Isadora Duncan, Lise, Olga (Onegin), Lilac Fairy, Fairy Winter (Cinderella), Myrtha (Giselle), Lescaut’s Mistress, Vivandière and Rose Fairy (The Nutcracker), Olga (Anastasia) and roles in Swan Lake, La Bayadère, Scènes de ballet, Tryst, Sinfonietta, Tales of Beatrix Potter, Les Biches, Requiem, Ondine, Agon, Les Sylphides, La Valse, Theme and Variations and Don Quixote. She created roles 

in works including Qualia and ‘Diana and Actaeon’ (Metamorphosis: Titian 2012).

Summer Jay Jones

Head of Commercial

Sophie Camble

Guest Teacher

Training: Studio One and Millennium Performing Arts.

Theatre credits include: Gale & u/s Judy Haynes in 'White Christmas' (Dominion Theatre, West End and Curve, Leicester), Demeter / Dance Captain in 'Cats' (Kilworth House Theatre), Missy in 'The Marvelous Wonderettes' (Upstairs at the Gatehouse & Theatre Royal Windor), 'Chess' (London Coliseum), '42nd Street' (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), Patty Simcox in 'Grease' (Curve, Leicester), Serena in 'Legally Blonde' (Curve, Leicester & South Korea), 'Kiss Me Kate' (Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris  & Grand Theatre, Luxembourg), Snow White in 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' (Wyvern Theatre, Swindon), u/s Dale in 'Top Hat' (UK Tour & Japan), Cinderella in 'Cinderella' (Civic Theatre, Chelmsford), u/s Jenny Lind in 'Barnum' (Chichester Festival Theatre), 'Dick Whittington' (Hackney Empire), 'West Side Story' (Royal Festival Hall) and 'Thursford Christmas Spectacular' (Thursford). 

Other credits include: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 'Cinderella' (Workshop), Dance Captain in 'All Star Musicals' (ITV), Associate Choreographer to Nick Winston for 'Kiss Me, Kate' (Oper Graz), Lead Vocalist on 'The Pacific Sun', 'Chicago' (RCCL), Future Cinema Presents: 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' (Troxy), 'Surprise Surprise' (ITV), 'Ant and Dec’s Push The Button' (ITV), 'The Generation Game' (BBC), 'Royal Variety Performance' (London Palladium / ITV), 'The One Show' (BBC) and 'Tonight at the London Palladium' (ITV).

Anna Stevens

Head of Ballet

Anna trained at The Royal Ballet School from age 11 and then went onto The Central School of Ballet. 

After graduating and touring with 'Ballet Central' she landed her first job as a Ballet Dancer in 'The Phantom of the Opera'. This helped fire her love for performing in musicals and she landed roles in productions all over the world, including 'Nine', 'Miss Saigon' and 'Cats'.  She then went to study musical theatre and acting on Broadway in New York, at Circle In The Square Theatre School. After graduating, her career in the Big Apple saw her book Off-Broadway plays and cabarets before landing the role of ‘Anybody’s’ in the 50th Anniversary production of 'West Side Story', which took her all over the world, eventually leading her back to the UK. Despite Anna’s diverse career, she always returned to her first love, ballet. She strongly believes the discipline of her ballet training is the main reason for her successful and varied career. Anna has transitioned mostly to teaching now for several years since returning to the UK.

Katie Ray

Guest Acting Tutor

Katie has recently played pivotal roles in the films Unicorn (Dir. Harry Crossman 2020), Break (Dir. Michael Elkin 2020), We Need Milk ep. 4 (Dir. Michael Davis 2019) and Mr. Alan on a Saturday (Dir. Flora Bennett 2019). She has also featured in the app series The Final Three Days for UNRD (Dir. Ruth Morris 2019).

As an actress-singer in the business since 2003, Katie is known for her lead West End theatre work (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Sound of Music, Tenderly, Zorro, Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Million Dollar Quartet).

Alongside film and theatre, Katie is a vocal recording artist, who has performed on various recorded work and concept albums (The Quentin Dentin Show, Billie’s Great Adventure, Rude Wine Commercial and Going into Hospital animation).

John Pickard

Acting Tutor

John is best known for playing David Porter in all eight seasons of hit BBC sitcom ‘2point4 Children’, and playing Dominic Reilly in Channel 4's ‘Hollyoaks’.

Having a vast and versatile career spanning stage and screen, his other credits include: BBC’s ‘Grange Hill’, ‘Casualty’, & ‘Eastenders’ and ITV Drama ‘The Bill’.

He will be working with our students on all aspects of their acting training, including stage acting and acting for camera.

Ellie Price

Listener

Ellie is a qualified helper, she recently attained her level 3 in counselling skills and is currently undertaking her diploma in therapeutic counselling. Being a qualified helper consists of understanding how to create a safe space that is confidential in order for individuals to feel comfortable to explore whatever they may wish to talk about. Going through a new transition can come with worries, anxiety and even new joyous points that can be helpful to discuss with a listening ear. Ellie is a student member of the British Association of Counselling & Physcotherapy where she is required to follow their ethical framework for keeping individuals safe. 

Haydn Oakley

Head of Acting Through Song

Training: Guildford School of Acting. The University of Birmingham (MPhil)

Theatre Credits include: Bob Phillips in 'How The Other Half Loves' (Salisbury Playhouse); Lord Evelyn Oakleigh in 'Anything Goes' (Barbican Theatre); Bob Cratchit in 'A Christmas Carol' (Middle Temple Hall); Henri Baurel in the Original London cast of 'An American in Paris' (Dominion Theatre); Terry Connor in the 

original London cast of 'Side Show' (Southwark Playhouse); Artie Green in 'Sunset 

Boulevard' (London Coliseum); Joseph Smith in the original London cast of 'The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales); Matt Spenser in the World premier of 'The Smallest Show on Earth' (UK  Tour); Carlos in the original London cast of 'Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown' (Playhouse); Gilbert Chilvers in 'Betty Blue 

Eyes' (UK Tour); Frank Lippencott in 'Wonderful Town' (UK Tour); 'Lend Me a Tenor' 

(Gielgud); Stephen Sondheim’s 'Passion' (Donmar Warehouse); 'The Secret Garden'

(Festival Theatre, Edinburgh and Royal Alexandra, Toronto); 'Porridge' (UK Tour); 

Monty Python’s 'Spamalot' (Palace); 'Wicked' (Apollo Victoria); 'Woman in Mind' (Gawsworth Open Air Theatre); 'Stepping Out' (Curzon); Unzipped (Arts); 'We Will Rock You' (Dominion); 'The Bomb-itty of Errors' (New Ambassadors); '16 Gobs' (Kings Head Theatre) and 'Me and My Girl' (Polesden Lacey Open Air Theatre).

Film & Television include: 'Anything Goes' (Cinema release); Terence Abel in 

Home Alone (TV); Knock Knock (short); McDonald’s Lonely Hearts (advert); An American in Paris (Cinema release); Visa-Travel Happy (advert); INK (short);  In S latable (Music Video) and Japanese Girl (Music Video).

Workshops Include: The Bridge of San Luis Rey; The Time Traveller’s Wife;  Coraline; Mr Vertigo; Sherlock; Doctor Dolittle; Send for Mr Plim; Simon Amungem;  Tina the Musical; The Mirror Crack’d; The Monster Bride; A Penguin’s Tale; Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown; Dusty; Through the Looking Glass;  Departure Lounge and Pandemonium.

Recordings include: Women on The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown; The Monster 

Bride; Through the Looking Glass ; Navigator; Rameo & Eweliet ; Barry The 

Penguin’s Black & White Christmas ; Sherlock and A Christmas Carol.

Paul Stewart

Resident Musical Director