DANCE TEACHER - Principal
Cheryl Heuston
MAD Drama Teacher and LAMDA coach
Jackie Lawrence
Jackie Lawrence has a degree in Drama from Goldsmiths College, University of London and LAMDA’s P Cert Lam Diploma. She is an experienced LAMDA teacher and teaches students on a one to one basis and in groups.. She is passionate about helping children grow in confidence through drama and to have fun learning new skills.
Jackie’s groups and individual students have won accolades for their work in devised theatre, monologues and duologues, poetry and prose recitals as well as mime and public speaking.
Jackie Lawrence is also an experienced broadcaster, presenter and writer.
ISTD Tap and Adult Tap
Lisa Frost
Lisa trained at the Judith Hockaday School of Dance gaining her Associate qualification in Ballet, Modern, Tap & National. She took part in many festivals up and down the country and was also a dancer in many SALOS shows. She started teaching at the age of 20 and continued training with Judith Hockaday alongside. She went on to gain her Licentiate qualification in Tap & Modern.
Lisa taught dance at schools in Oxfordshire, Gloucester and Cheltenham.
Lisa has been organising the Wiltshire Festival of Dance in Swindon since 2007 and also helps with many other festivals.
Singing Teacher
Gemma Forde
Gemma trained in Musical Theatre at Wilkes Academy of Performing Arts and has been dancing and singing since she was 3. She joined the MAD team in May 2015 and taught singing, musical theatre and tap until January 2019 - and now she’s thrilled to be reunited with Team MAD! For the last year, Gemma has been working for Bass Beatz Productions performing at Drimsynie Estate Hotel in Scotland as lead vocalist and head dancer. Before moving to Scotland, Gemma performed at corporate events (including P&O and Imagine Cruises); sang with a function band and was also the compère at a few charity events. Gemma has been involved in many performances whilst training and after including: ‘Radio Broadway’ in collaboration with Dancers Inc; Erin in ‘Holes’ for H&D Productions; Olive in ‘Spelling Bee’ and going to the All England Dance Finals multiple times, as well as being a member of a winning tap group. She is passionate about singing and musical theatre and loves seeing the children succeed. The MAD show at the Wyvern in 2018 was one of her proudest moments, and she’s really looking forward to being back!
Jazz Funk and Musical Theatre
Nellie Reason
Nellie is currently in her third year of full-time training at the Wilkes Academy of Performing Arts studying BA(Hons) in Musical Theatre. Since joining Wilkes, she has performed in multiple MOVE IT Main Stage performances choreographed by Tina Smallwood-Piotrowsky and worked with well-known choreographers such as Leanne Pinder and Ricky Jinks. She was also lucky enough to have the opportunity to work with worldwide choreographer Dean Lee for the past two years, being a swing for his prestigious “Rain of Tears” piece and performing in his newest creation “Leave My Mind”, both onstage and on video. Nellie is super excited to be joining the MAD Team and can’t wait to meet you all in September!
Acro
Beth Richards
Beth started dancing at the age of 3 at Wootton Bassett School of Dance and discovered her love for performing straight away. Over the years she has received training from teachers and choreographers from all over the UK.
Beth then trained at Judith Hockaday College of Dance and Drama and also holds an Acrobatic Arts Module 1 qualification; Acro is Beth’s favourite style to teach.
Beth moved to Wales and taught at several dance schools in the Cardiff and Swansea areas for over 6 years.
Beth has taken part in many competitions over the years including The Dance World Cup and the All England Dance Finals in London as well as many festivals and ISTD competitions.
Beth has performed in QDOS pantomimes at the Wyvern Theatre Swindon from 2011-2015. This allowed her to work with choreographers such as Joanna Goodwin and Andrew Wright (who choreographed Singin’ in the Rain currently on the West End) and also perform with celebrities such as Nigel Havers and Keith Chegwin. Beth also appeared on ‘CBBC does Glee Club’ in 2011.
Guest Singing Teacher
Emily Apps
She studied on the BA(Hons) Musical Theatre course at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in Greenwich, London (formerly Trinity College of Music) and graduated with First Class Honours.
Class Assistants
Gracie Grainger - Saturday Juniors
Ella Lawrence - Saturday Classes
Erin Webb