Jenny Holloway
I’ve had a keen fascination with all things creative from an early age, and was an enthusiastic pupil in school productions. However, it wasn’t till my late teens when I decided to start my training, I began with tap and jazz dance classes gaining bronze and silver medals with ISTD.
I also joined Footlight Youth Theatre at Horndean Community Association in Merchistoun Hall. I enjoyed the plays and even had a go at directing and producing some of them. This inspired me to pursue some further training in drama and I enrolled with South Downs College to take the National Diploma in Performing Arts. During this time I gained excellent experience creating and running drama and art workshops at HCA, plus working alongside Andrea Ward as a member of the Winchester Rural Youth Theatre.
I took some time out from training to work in retail but soon returned to full-time education and gained my HND in Performing Arts (Professional Community Arts Practitioner) along with the gold medal for speech with the LAMDA. I do still take part in occasional performances myself, including roles with Titchfield Festival Theatre and Purbook Amateur Theatrical Society.
This brings me to the present day where I was delighted to be invited to join Helen O’Grady Drama Academy and have a fantastic time helping students develop a strong sense of self through the medium of drama.
Liz Butler
I have had a real passion for drama since I joined my first drama group at the age of five. As a child I was very shy and quiet, except when I got up on the stage! I loved to be really involved in productions throughout my school life.
I did both GCSE and A’Level drama, and was lucky to learn the importance of having a genuinely enthusiastic, encouraging and supportive teacher.
I trained in drama at Plymouth University, where I gained a 2:1 BA Hons degree in Theatre and Performance Studies. After graduating, I got lots of experience of live and interactive performance working as an actress for Murder Mystery Southern.
I have been a teacher for the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy since 2005. I love being a teacher for the Academy. It’s great to see children developing their skills in drama and growing in confidence and creativity every week. I really enjoy working with students over a period of time and seeing them shine in their performances.
Elizabeth Evans
For as long as I can remember I’ve always been interested in every aspect of the Performing Arts. I started dancing at the age of 3 having enrolled at Trish Meenaghan’s School of Dancing in Northampton and trained in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, National and Tap up until I was 15.
It wasn’t until I’d embarked on my GCSE courses that I decided Drama was for me. I went on to gain an A and A* in my Drama and Dance/Drama GCSE’s respectively, going on to study it at A Level. During this time I joined the Northampton School for Girls Jazz band as the singer and also sang with the Northamptonshire County Youth Big Band and was their only singer for 2 years which was a huge honour.
After completing my A Levels I won a place at Portsmouth University and it was here I studied English and Drama for 3 years resulting in my 2:1 Bachelor of Arts Degree which I’m extremely proud of. Whilst I was at University I took part in several productions both on stage and behind the scenes also working with local schools to put on shows which was hugely enjoyable.
Currently, I am a member of Bench Theatre group, performing regularly at The Spring Arts Centre in Havant.
I am very much enjoying my time at Helen O’Grady Drama Academy; meeting all the students and helping them to learn and working with fellow keen drama enthusiasts.
Megan Leng
From a young age I have always wanted to sing, dance and act. Moving away at the age of 12 to stage school helped me to achieve just this! I attended a school called Ravenscourt Theatre School where I was lucky enough to be in a couple of films including Harry Potter 2 and 3 and Love Actually. Also whilst at Ravenscourt I took part in many magazine shoots and television shows!
After finishing school I realized my other passion was teaching. So I set off to become the best teacher I could be. I attended Millenium Musical Theatre College where I gained my diploma's in Musical Theatre and Speech and Drama under the board of Trinity Guildhall.
After graduating with high honors from Millenium I went on to attend the famous Italia Conti Academy and gained my FDI and CDE (Foundation in dance Instruction and Certificate in dance education) in Ballet, Tap and Modern. Also at Italia Conti I achieved all my ISTD examinatons up and including Advanced 2 in all genres.
I have since moved back to my lovley home town of Portsmouth where I am currently pursuing my teaching career further with my Cert Ed degree at Portsmouth University. I also recently became a Associate teacher in Disco Freestyle under the board of the IDTA.
I teach in varoius places within Portsmouth, Southwick and Gosport and am delighted to be a part of the Helen O'Grady Team! Teaching for Helen O'Grady has inspired my teaching career and made me realise just how important drama is! Drama is self development and that's what makes the world go round!
Gemma Smith
Drama has always been an important and enjoyable part of my life! I have taken an active part in school productions both on and off stage. In 2001 I represented the school in an external grade three drama exam achieving a distinction for my part as Nelly in Bill Owen’s ‘Laundry Girls’.
In my second year of College I was selected from my year to receive the award for dedication and achievement within drama. I took a lead role in the production of Noel Coward’s ‘Hayfever’.
I achieved ‘A’ grades in both Drama GCSE and Drama and Theatre studies A Level. I then went on to study Drama and Theatre Studies at Kent University and after three years of performing, devising, directing and theory was rewarded with a 2.1 BA Honours Degree.
I now work professionally for the Phoenix Theatre company where I run drama workshops for adults with learning disabilities. I perform in outreach work to schools, giving advice through drama to the children on the effects of bullying. I independently run after school drama classes.
This training and experience has led me to my present day position at Helen O’Grady Drama Academy where I teach both in the Camberley and the Guildford area. I really enjoy watching the student’s progress in acting and their personal development.