Drama Studio London

FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN
Peter Layton. After training at the Bristol Old Vic, Peter pursued a successful acting career before teaching at City Lit in London. He founded Drama Studio London in 1966 and has seen the school develop and acquire a world-wide reputation for excellence. He retired from the day-to-day running of the school in 2003 but continues to play an active role in the life of the studio.

PRINCIPAL
Chris Pickles.   Chris is a director, writer and producer. His work covers many genres including Opera (Royal Opera, Sadler's Wells, Opera North, Wexford and Australian Opera) and Shakespeare (Oxford Shakespeare Company, Classical Acting Company Dallas). Productions of musicals, the classics and new writing have been seen on National and European tours, the West End, USA, Edinburgh Festival and London Fringe.

MANAGING DIRECTOR
Kit Thacker.   After leaving the Bristol Old Vic Kit was an actor for 10 years before turning to directing and writing. He has run two rep companies and now combines freelance work with running MaST Theatre and Film, a corporate production company.

DIRECTOR OF 1 YEAR STUDIES
Gillian King.  Gill works as an actor, director and corporate trainer. She graduated from Drama Studio London twenty years ago and acted in TV, Commercials and Theatre, both fringe and Repertory Theatre. Her directing credits include The Royal Shakespeare Company, Opera North and Out of Joint Theatre Company as well as tours and education work for schools, prisons and currently The National Theatre.

DIRECTOR OF 2 YEAR STUDIES
Brendan Murray. In a career spanning over thirty years, Brendan has worked as an actor, playwright, director and Artistic Director in Community, Fringe, Repertory, Commercial and Touring Theatre. His plays have won both Arts Council England and Writers’ Guild of Great Britain Awards and are performed throughout the UK and abroad. A graduate of Drama Studio London, like the good northerner he is, he lives in Brighton. www.brendanmurray.co.uk

HEAD OF ACTING AND DIRECTOR OF SHORT COURSES
Crispin Harris. Crispin acts in film, TV and theatre, teaches pantomime, acting and directing. He is also the founder of the award-winner Hidden Pearl Productions company, has sung as a soloist in concerts, operas and church choirs, and has broadcast on Radio 2. His writing has won an Edinburgh Fringe Best Revue and a Northern Arts Award nomination for his musical Someday Soon.

HEAD OF MEDIA
David Tucker.   David's many credits as a director of television drama include A Very Peculiar Practice (BAFTA nomination), A Very Polish Practice (British Comedy Awards nomination), Behaving Badly (International Emmy nomination), Lark Rise to Candleford, Eastenders, The Last Detective, Where the Heart Is, Born and Bred, Midsomer Murders, A&E, Bramwell, Grafters and Miss Marple. He has also directed productions for the RSC, Bristol Old Vic and Liverpool Playhouse.

HEAD OF MOVEMENT
Keith O'Brien.  During a 15 year performance career, ranging from cabaret, film work and theatre work (including West End), Keith has worked in a variety of movement and dance styles and genres. He has worked as movement director/choreographer, both professionally and within colleges on numerous productions and been involved in training actors and dancers for the past 25 years.

HEAD OF VOICE
Dewi Hughes.  Dewi has worked as Voice Coach and Accent Coach on a number of theatre productions, including international tours and shows on London’s West End. Prior to his work with the Studio he has taught at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Drama Centre, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and Arts Educational Schools London. He has also been interviewed by the BBC and Time Magazine about his work with clients from the corporate field.

HEAD OF EDUCATION
Mark Woolgar.  Mark progressed from the Bristol Old Vic Company to Director of Derby Playhouse and has directed well over 250 productions. He is first Senior Moderator of National Professional Qualifications in Acting, Dance, Musical Theatre and Production Skills and has also worked in many leading Drama Schools.