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Arts1 School of Performance is committed to realising the ambition of each student and providing a high quality
training in Musical Theatre. Its highly trained and experienced staff is led by Principal - Rebecca Carrington and
Creative Director - James Grimsey.

Arts1 opened its first Musical Theatre classes in November 2006 and since then has extended its provision to
include Dance classes and an Adult Musical Theatre Choir. Arts1 strives to be the quality provider of performance
training and to offer the very best classes for its students.

The Arts1 team are all experienced professionals that have trained at top Performing Arts Institutions. All staff
at the school are qualified teachers and have Fully enhanced CRB checks.

Arts1 is a recognised school under the Council for Dance Education and Training.

 

Rebecca Carrington - Principa Arts1
Rebecca Carrington
BA (Hons) P.G(dip) P.G.C.E. MA

Principal

Arts1 School of Performance

Rebecca trained in Musical Theatre at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts where she gained an MA in performance and prior to that a 1st class honours degree in Modern Drama Studies and English from Brunel University.  Since graduating Rebecca has worked in voiceover, theatre and commercials and as lead singer with function bands “U-No-Hoo” and “Love Train”. 

Performance roles to date include: the Wicked Witch Hansel & Gretel (Touring), Ensemble in Charlotte Delbo’s The Sentence for Penguin Books, Jen in Familial Ties (Film short) Charlaine in A… My Name is Alice (Mountview Theatre) and Maida in Is There Life After High School? (Mountview).  Rebecca has also directed productions including The Wizard of Oz (Beck Theatre), Godspell (Compass Theatre) Schools Will Rock You (Stantonbury Theatre), Seussical (Stantonbury Theatre) and Just So (Northampton High).  Rebecca is a guest teacher for Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and Tring Park School.

rebecca@arts1.co.uk

 

James Grimsey
James Grimsey
B.A (Hons) P.G(dip) MA
Creative Director
Arts1 School of Performance

James is a freelance voice tutor specialising in musical theatre, A 1st class honours gradute from The University of Manchester, James trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.  He is attached to several colleges around the U.K providing voice training and musical direction and currently works as Musical Director at the prestigious Tring Park School. Alongside his work for Arts1 and private tuition,  James is also a guest tutor at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and is one of the UK’s few qualified Certified Master Teachers in Estill Voice Training.

Performing credits include the soundtrack for the film version of  'Mamma Mia', new musical theatre writing, television drama (Sky One) and a vocal performance replicating a car for the Honda commercial - "Choir"

James has musically directed ‘Fame’, 'The Goodbye Girl’, 'Guys and Dolls', 'Seussical', 'We Will Rock You', 'Children of Eden', 'Arts Educational school Musical Theatre Showcase' and 'Just So'. James is also the musical director of Potters Bar community choir.

james@arts1.co.uk

 


Sam Spevack
Manager
Arts1 School of Performance

Sam has been an active member of Arts1 for the past three years and has been involved in running the adult choir alongside chaperoning for many Arts1 projects and performances.  With a keen interest in theatre and as a licensed chaperone and qualified first aider, Sam is responsible for the care and welfare of our students and overseeing our team of chaperones.   Sam manages front of house at all of our sessions as well as dealing with customer enquiries.

sam.spevack@arts1.co.uk

 
James Sygrove
James Sygrove
BA(Hons)
Outreach co-ordinator
Musical Theatre Teacher
Arts1 School of Performance

James graduated from Guildford School of Acting with First Class Honours degree in Musical Theatre.

Performing credits include Dr Parker in Bat Boy (Dir: Russell Labey), Gordon in Dangerous Corner (Dir: Peter Harris), Ben in Fiorello (Dir: Julian Woolford), Sir Arthur Gower in Trelawny (Dir: Ken Oldfield) and Gidney in A Night Out (Dir: Ken McClymont). James has also worked for Hurricane Productions and The People's Theatre.

TV Credits include Eastenders, Casualty, Holby City, Murphy's Law, Spooks, New Tricks & Family Affairs.

James is working to build relationships with schools in the Milton Keynes and Northampton areas, we are providing a range of performing arts workshops as part of our widening participation scheme. If you would like a free Arts1 workshop at your school contact James for more information.

james.sygrove@arts1.co.uk

 
Gemma O Duffy Arts1 Masterclass Director
Gemma O'Duffy
BA(Hons)
Programme Director
Arts1 Masterclasses

Gemma trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Credits include We will Rock you – Ensemble/1st cover Scaramouche (West End), Footloose the Musical – Rusty (UK tour and West End), Seagulls Dance (Soho laundry), The Piper – Irene Mcnally (Savoy Theatre), Nursery Crimes - Puss in Boots (Kings Head Theatre)

Gemma was a finalist for the BBC Radio 2 Voice of Musical Theatre 2006. Since then she has also worked extensively as a soloist in the UK and abroad with various orchestras, including the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.
Concerts include The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, The Music of Bond, The Music of Dirty Dancing and Summer Nights at Tonbridge Castle. Also various concerts for
The Halle Orchestra at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester under the Musical Direction of Carl Davis CBE.

TV Credits include Celtic Soul Brothers, Children in Need and Paloma Faith Music Video ‘New York’.

Gemma has recently finished the critically acclaimed production of Spring Awakening (Lyric Hammersmith/West End)
 
Lucy Williamson
Lucy Williamson
A.I.S.T.D. ALAM
Musical Theatre Teacher
Arts1 School of Performance


Lucy's credits include Mavis in the 25th Anniversary Tour of Stepping Out, Joanne in Sondheims Company at the Union Theatre, London, Original company of Marguerite, World Premiere (cover Annette and Chanteuse) at The Theatre Royal, Haymarket London, Carmen Diaz in Fame! (National Tour and Victoria Palace Theatre), Fantine in Les Miserables (National Tour), Penny/Shirl in A Slice of Saturday Night (Liverpool Empire), Original Cast Teacher and cover Killer Queen in We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre), Angel in The Rink (Belgrade Theatre, Coventry), Ensemble and cover Tanya and Donna in Mamma Mia! (International Tour), Maureen and cover Mimi in Rent (National Tour and Prince of Wales Theatre), NYC Woman/Cocktail Waitress in I Love You Because (Award winning British premiere at The Landor Theatre), Original cast Josafina in Murderous Instincts (Savoy Theatre), Ensemble in Sweeney Todd (Sondheim's 70th Birthday, Royal Festival Hall), Les Miserables Concert (Cardiff Castle), Witch/Lady Macduff in Macbeth (National Tour), Hermia in A Midsummer Nights Dream. (Richmond Theatre), Hecate in Macbeth New Players Theatre, London. China Doll in The Attic, Theatre Royal, Haymarket, London.

Original principal vocalist on the maiden voyage and inaugural season of The Queen Mary 2. Lucy has also performed in the 3 'Dusty' workshops for the upcoming musical based on the life on Dusty Springfield. Lucy was asked to perform solo for HM The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh on the occasion of their golden wedding anniversary and also for HM The Queen on her tour around the Queen Mary 2.

Television Credits include: The Royal Variety Performance, This Morning, Children in Need, Songs of Praise, 5's Company.

Feature Film Credits include: Cindy Saunders in Julie and the Cadillacs, Hecate in Macbeth, Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream.

www.lucywilliamson.com

 
sarah jane aboboto
Sarah-Jane Aboboto
Street Dance Teacher
Arts1 Dance

Sarah works as a commercial dancer, choreographer and teacher and has a passion for dance. She has worked with artists such as Kylie Minogue, Gwen Stafani, Kanye West, Sonique, Leona Lewis, Sugababes, Chaka Khan, Jamelia & Mika.

TV appearances include Top Of The Pops, CD:UK, T4 Music Awards, Mobo Awards, The Brit Awards, Good Morning America, The EMA Awards, Popworld and The Royal Variety Performance.

Sarah has danced in numerous music videos including work for Madonna, Misteeq, Fergie, Mel C, Daniel Bedingfield, DJ Luck & MC Neat, Lisa Maffia, George Sampson & Beverley Knight.

Commercial work includes Orange, Rimmel, Virgin, Carphone Warehouse, HSBC, Canon, Eurostar, London Underground, Mazda & Ford.

Sarah-Jane has also worked as a choreographer for The X-Factor (Holland) and as an artist mentor for Dutch Idol.

www.sarahjaneaboboto.co.uk

 
Vicky lee taylor
Vicki Lee Taylor
Musical Theatre Teacher
Arts1 School of Performance

At the age of only 12, Vicki appeared in the lead role of EMMA in “Listen To The Wind” (Kings Head Theatre, Islington) & recorded the cast album at the world famous Abbey Road Studios.

She then went on to play GEORGE in Enid Blyton’s “The Famous Five” (UK Tour), COMPANY SWING in “Mamma Mia!” (West End & more recently on International Tour), ALICE in “Seven Brides For Seven Brothers” (UK Tour), CUTIE (Cover Sarah) in “Guys & Dolls” (No.1 UK Tour), BARBARA in the Musical adaptation of the Cliff Richard Film “The Young Ones” whilst also taking the role of Dance Captain & has just finished touring the UK with Marti Pellow in “The Witches of Eastwick” – it was a busy year playing Rebecca, cover Jennifer & Little Girl, Swing and Dance Captain!!!. She has also appeared in numerous pantomimes across the country including the title role in “Cinderella” with Danny La Rue.

Television credits include GEMMA in “Hearts Of Gold” (BBC Reconstruction), DINO in award winning “The Queens Nose” (BBC), GUEST APPEARANCE in “Star For A Night” (BBC), DEBORAH & more recently RACHEL for the Xmas Special in “Heartbeat” (YTV), the title role of MEG in “Big Meg, Little Meg” (Granada Kids), DONNA in “If…” (BBC).
Vicki also co-presented for 3 years with the little yellow bear Sooty on CITV!!

 
Tim
Tim Frater
Musical Theatre Teacher
Arts1 School of Performance
Tim is currently appearing in the award winning musical Hairspray in the West End playing the role of Gilbert whilst understudying and playing the role of Seaweed J Stubbs.

Having trained at Parkside Academy in Northampton he went on to graduate from Guildford School of Acting in 2003 where he was awarded the Sean McGrath Scholarship.

He made his professional debut as ‘Marshalsea Boy’ in A Christmas Carol (Royal Theatre, Northampton) before going on to play the part of ‘Sammy’ in the original cast of the Olivier award winning musical Jolson (Hippodrome, Birmingham and Victoria Palace, London).  His other professional credits include: 'Young Martin Luther King Jnr' in A Handful of Keys (Prince Edward Theatre, London); ‘Daz’ where he understudied and played ‘The Postman’ in the original cast of Loveshack (Number 1 UK tour); ‘Otis’ and ‘Stretch’ in Oh! What A Night (UK & European Tour); Beyond The Masque (Derngate, Northampton); ‘Trey’ in East End Of Chicago (Stratford Circus, London); ‘Yo-Less’ in the world premiere of Terry Pratchett’s Only You Can Save Mankind (Pleasance, Edinburgh); Dancer and Singer in Marvin Gaye: A Celebration Musical (Belgian Tour); ‘Pepe’ in West Side Story (Larnaca, Cyprus); ‘James Brown’ in the original cast of Sweet Soul Music (Number 1 UK Tour).  His workshops include ‘Remi’ in Safe by David Hermanstein for the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

Television credits include: comedy sketch series Shoot the Writers for ITV1; Royal Variety Show; The Alan Titschmarch Show; Variety Club Showbiz Awards; Children In Need; Comic Relief; The Lawrence Olivier Awards; Tonight's The Night and has done commercials for Live Visual Camera - Microsoft XBOX.  Tim also records voiceovers, most recently voicing A-Z, an animated film for Channel Four. Tim is on the original cast recording for Jolson has recently been a guest artist on Michael Ball's album 'The Very Best Of Michael Ball, Past and Present.
 

Sam UnderwoodSamantha Underwood
BA(Hons) A.I.S.T.D.
Modern Teacher
Arts1 Dance

Originally from Milton Keynes, Samantha began her training locally before progressing to Bird College where she studied Dance & Musical Theatre achieving a BA Honours as well as full teaching qualifications in ISTD Modern & Tap.

Samantha’s professional credits include Dick Whittington (Brick Lane Music Hall) and Choreographer & Dance Captain for Harrods Christmas Parade. Samantha also recently performed in a Summer review at The Orchard Theatre in Dartford. As a working musical theatre performer and dancer, Samantha now brings her professional knowledge to Arts1.

 
Gary Stewart
Gary Stewart
Centre Co-Manager
Arts1 Newport Pagnell