All of our department leaders, tutors and practitioners, are highly experienced industry members who are working as actors, directors or producers. This means that our training is always relevant and taught for the profession by the profession.
Emma is a Theatre Director and Producer who predominantly worked for Clwyd Theatr Cymru directing productions such as The Herbal Bed (Peter Whelan), Ghosts and A Doll’s House (Henrik Ibsen), Arms and the Man (George Bernard Shaw), Copenhagen (Michael Frayn), Educating Rita (Willy Russell), God of Carnage (Yasmina Reza), Shakespeare’s Will (Vern Thiessen) and Oleanna (David Mamet). Her producing credits for the company included new writing to London and New York – Memory (Jonathan Lichtenstein), and Pieces (Hywel John). As a freelancer she most recently directed Closer (Patrick Marber) for The Vienna English Theatre and A History of Falling Things (James Graham) at the New Vic Theatre. Emma has produced a number of Lifetime Achievement Award ceremonies for the film, television and theatre industries on behalf of the Directors Guild of Great Britain. She has a BA (hons) in Drama and Theatre Studies from Royal Holloway, University of London and an MA in Theatre Directing from Middlesex University and GITIS (The Russian Institute of Theatre Arts), Moscow.
Michael has worked as director and writer across theatres in England and America and was Arts Council associate director at Chester Gateway, Liverpool Everyman and Nuffield, Southampton. Work in London includes Shakespeare’s Globe, the Young Vic, the Lyric Hammersmith, the Gate, Soho Theatre, the King’s Head, the Royal Court and the National Theatre. Work abroad includes Ireland, Italy, France, Romania, Estonia, South Africa, China and Thailand. He has been artistic director of Not the National Theatre and Great Eastern Stage, senior lecturer at Coventry, Middlesex and London Universities, deputy director of East 15 Acting School and visiting professor of theatre at Washington and Webster Universities. Recent and future productions include Three Sisters in Tennessee and The Last Horseman (a new musical) in Cairo and Lebanon.
Kirsty trained as an actor (WDADA) and actor trainer (RCSSD) she works as a director, producer, writer and teacher. She also runs a theatre company and creative agency. Kirsty is delighted to be training actors for today’s profession at DSL.
James is an actor, director and film-maker and has worked across the UK, Ireland and Europe on stage, on camera and from the directors chair.
James was associate director for Tigerslane Studios, working on two sell out UK and Ireland tours. Previously, he has worked for the BBC, ITV and Sky in front of the lens.
James has a long and storied history with DSL having trained here himself before returning as a freelance editor and director of photography. Combining the experience of working in his former educational home with the lessons learned in the industry and freelancing for MetFilm School, James has returned on a full-time basis to pass on the lessons he has learned to the next generation of actors.
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.
Max is not only a staff member but also an alumni of Drama Studio London. Whilst studying here he received a Commendation for his work in the Carleton Hobbs Bursary Award, which lead to work at the BBC. Since graduating from DSL in 2018 Max has gone on to record voice media for not only film but also large corporate clients like Mercedes-Benzes and Univar Solutions. Max provides technical support for all the recorded media at DSL.
Jonny has spent many years directing shows for companies touring in the UK and across Europe, including Chekhov’s Shorts, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Animal Farm, Lady Windermere’s Fan and The 39 Steps as well as numerous Dickens adaptations of his own – The Old Curiosity Shop, David Copperfield, Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist, etc. As an actor he has performed all over the world from 42nd St, NYC to Kyoto and Osaka via Rome, Athens, Berlin and Abu Dhabi as well as the National Theatre, the West End and major TV series in the UK and US.
Bio coming soon.
Max trained as an actor at the Italia Conti Acting Academy, and went on to gain an MA in Dramatic Writing at Central Saint Martins.
As an actor, writer and director Max has worked across theatre and film, creating original/award winning drama, and has built a wide network of industry collaborators.
He is immensely passionate about training actors for work on screen, and has been teaching, directing and developing recorded media courses for over eight years in leading film and drama schools in the U.K and U.S.
Kevin is the artistic director of KEPOW Theatre Company and a past winner of the Rose Bruford Trust Directors Award. He is a writer and director with credits including: the British Council in Singapore, productions in Hong Kong and Dubai and the world premiere of Monster at London’s Park Theatre (nominated for three Off-West-End Awards) and Spiral at the Jermyn Street Theatre in London’s West End (also nominated for an Off-West-End Award).
Kevin was the writer-in-residence at the Royal Theatre in Northampton for 2 years, where several of his plays received world premieres. His play Who? won the Sunday Times Playwright Award and performed upstairs at the Royal Court Theatre. He has also been a regular contributor to the work of the National Theatre; working as the comedy consultant for the Education Department and teaching numerous workshops in the NT Studio.
Kevin has worked internationally including in: New Zealand, America, South Korea, Malaysia, Norway, Germany, Holland, France, UAE, and Bali and with Keith Johnstone in Canada – most notably on Open Season at the Garrick Theatre, Calgary.
As an actor, Kevin has performed with Trestle, Told by an Idiot and performed at various repertory theatres across the UK including the Theatre Royal York and the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough and international venues.
Admin & Support Staff
Amanda is an alumni of Drama Studio London and has worked a wide variety of jobs including a Rights Assistant at a leading London literary agency, a Bookseller, an event planner for the World Turkey Hunting Championship, and a Character Host at the Disneyland Resort and Theme Park. She spends her spare time reading, writing, marathon binging TV shows, and catering to the needs of her adorable yet demanding Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, George.
Nicola had a varied career in engineering, data entry, retail, customer services, sales, and finance, before choosing to take up acting in 2018. It was meant to be a hobby. Wanting to go pro two months later, her training journey took her from West Acting Workshop in Bristol to Identity School of Acting and on to short courses at RADA, Morley College London and Run At It Shouting. She got her first agent in 2023 and has been looking to get her foot in the door ever since. If you want to find her outside of the office, she will either be in the gym, in the Kickbox Dojo, in a coffee shop or sat in a theatre audience somewhere.
Lynn heads up DSL outreach activity for education, arts and community organisations. She has delivered Contextual Studies and Outreach activity for UK drama conservatoires including Mountview, ALRA and LAMDA, following several years with Stagecoach Theatre Arts as Education Associate and Education and Training Manager. She trained as an actor at LAMDA, has an MA in Applied and Participatory Theatre and is a published playwright.
After graduating from Surrey Institute of Art and Design Sarah worked in buying for a number of large retailers before moving to the charity sector where she worked in the communications department. Here she gained varied experience including administrative and finance duties. Sarah works alongside UWL Finance team and is responsible for all finance administration at DSL.
Alison spent 15 years working in risk management before taking a career break and retraining in costume making at Kensington and Chelsea College. Outside of DSL she does freelance costume work and is an enthusiastic member of her local drama society. She has a passion for and extensive knowledge of period costume, which she happily shares with our actors.
Noor has built a dynamic career in marketing, communications, and digital strategy across various industries including beauty, entertainment, and tech. Her diverse background spans brand management, content creation, PR campaigns, and social media strategy, giving her expertise in storytelling and audience engagement across multiple markets including the UK, Europe, the US, and Asia. Currently serving as Marketing & Communications Manager at Drama Studio London, she brings her wealth of experience in digital marketing and brand strategy to the performing arts sector. When she’s not developing marketing campaigns or managing social media content, you’ll find her exploring London’s cultural scene, creating content, or discovering new coffee shops around the city.
Tutors
Bio coming soon.
Waj is an Actor and has worked extensively across Film, TV, and Theatre for the last 10 Years. Some of his most notable credits include Carnival Row, Honour, Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar and Silent Witness to name a few. His work in theatre has seen him at the National Theatre, Bush Theatre, Hampstead and the Pleasance.
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Bio coming soon.
Clare Stearns has an MA in Theatre Directing from Middlesex University and has worked extensively in education as well as in the creative arts. She was the Head of Theatre for the Chinese International School in Hong Kong and has been the Artistic Director of two theatre companies – Breakaleg which performed regularly at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Perilous Mouths Entertainment Ltd. which develops modern musicals as well as writing and adapting works which focus on lesser known women from history including: Mrs. Sheridan, Constance – Mrs. Wilde, Letters to the Beloved Mrs. Dickens, Piano Moments with Mrs. Darwin, George Eliot’s Leap of Love and Mussolini’s Mistresses.
Faye specialises in teaching dance and movement, including musical theatre and period dance.
She trained at London Studio Centre, graduating with a BA (Hons) in Theatre Dance and later trained at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, receiving an MA in Acting. She has performance experience in theatre, television and film.
Working as both a dancer and actor has given Faye a greater understanding of what actors need to enable them to enhance and develop their skills in dance and movement. She is experienced in teaching a broad range of levels, from people with little or no performing experience to those who are experienced performers.
Tizz Wallman-Raj graduated from Drama Studio in 2019 and has appeared in The Duchess (Netflix 2020), Dulux commercial (2021-3), HSBC (2022) and has been cast across stage and screen for large productions at The National (The Visit, Tony Kushner) and Indie film projects (Horrorscopes) alike. She’s currently creating an immersive show for 14+ and collaborating with Olivier award-winning theatre director Donnacadh O’Briain (Rotterdam) on this project to inspire and equip teens to be dazzling conversationalists.
An actor for over 30 years, Giles has worked at the National Theatre (This House, After The Dance), the Royal Shakespeare Company (most recently Christmas Carol and Twelfth Night), in the West End (most recently the Hilary Mantel trilogy, and Witness for the Prosecution), on Broadway (Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies), and regional theatres, including Chichester Festival Theatre, Leeds Playhouse, Birmingham Rep and Nottingham Playhouse.
Also a Shakespeare Consultant, he has worked on the language and verse speaking of productions at the RSC (Dido: Queen of Carthage), the Globe (Romeo and Juliet), Leeds Playhouse (As You Like It), Manchester Royal Exchange (The Comedy of Errors), and multiple productions at the Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park.
He teaches and directs at various drama schools as well as working with emerging directors on the Genesis Programme (now the Directors’ Program) at the Young Vic. His first book – Dramatic Adventures in Rhetoric – co-authored with director Philip Wilson, was published in 2015 by Oberon Books.