Chris is the owner and Principal of NW1 Theatre School. As the Head of Acting at the school, Chris teaches group and private LAMDA sessions as well as audition prep and working with our Actor Management talent. Working as a professional actor, Chris has appeared on stage and TV, most recently in Coronation Street. He is also a technical and artistic director for NW1 Drama Company.
VICE PRINCIPAL, DRAMA TEACHER
Lynda brings to NW1 years of experience as a well-respected director and stage practitioner as one of the founding team members of LATA (Lytham Academy of Theatre Arts). Lynda directed many notable award winning productions with the group and has taught a number of students who went on to work professionally. Lynda teaches in the Musical Theatre and Acting classes and is also our LAMDA coordinator and teacher.
Sam completed his BA Hons in Musical Theatre at the University of Central Lancashire.
Sam is an active Musical Theatre Writer in the UK. Works include No Limits: a Song Cycle (Turbine Theatre, 2023), Sudden Impulse Theatre Company Original Pantomimes (The Abbey Theatre, 2018-2020), Arts Council Funded Silas Marner: The Musical (The Abbey Theatre, 2019), An Evening with Sam Thomas (The Union Theatre, 2019).
He’s worked with a host of West End stars, notably Natalie Paris “Jane Seymor” from “Six” and Laura Pick, “Elphaba” from “Wicked”. Currently working on new projects and concerts for 2025.
Grace is our Head of Dance, teaching in our Musical Theatre and Street Dance classes. Grace completed her training in dance and musical theatre with Phil Winston’s Theatreworks. Working as a professional dancer and dance instructor since 2016, she brings a wealth of experience in various dance styles.
Grace is currently on maternity leave after the birth of her beautiful baby boy, Vincent!
MUSICAL THEATRE TEACHER, DRAMA TEACHER,
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
At NW1 Theatre School, we have a team of passionate and highly qualified theatre professionals, including Amy Campbell, a recent graduate of UCLAN University with extensive performance experience. As head of Mini Musical Theatre and a LAMDA teacher, Amy is dedicated to sharing her expertise and helping our students reach their full potential.
Lucy is a qualified drama practitioner, with a BA hons degree in ‘Drama’ from Edgehill University. Lucy brings years of experience in performing on stage and screen and is passionate about teaching drama to children and young adults. Her goal is to create a supportive and inclusive environment where students can explore the world of theatre, express themselves and develop a love for performing arts. She loves helping young actors explore their creativity and confidence while having lots of fun!
Lucy has been a drama teacher at NW1 St Anne’s since 2020 and has directed a number of productions such as; Fantastic Mr Fox, James and the Giant Peach, Alice in Wonderland and Robin Hood.
As our Ballet and Tap teacher, Sophie is a graduate of The Hammond in Cheshire with a BA Hons in Musical Theatre. Her passion and dedication to teaching make her an asset to our team. We are proud to have her on board, and we look forward to seeing our students thrive under her guidance.
MUSIC TEACHER: PIANO, FLUTE, SAXOPHONE
Victoria teaches Piano, Saxophone and Flute. Victoria brings with her to NW1 a wealth of teaching experience that will expand music opportunities at our St Annes School.
Victoria’s love of music began early and she started playing the piano at the age of 5. As her passion grew, Victoria studied ABRSM Piano up to Grade 8 and attained a BA (Hons) degree in Band Musicianship from the University of Salford. Professionally, Victoria has over 35 years teaching experience, including teaching at a Yamaha Music School. Victoria teaches pupils from the age of four up into adulthood and has experience teaching SEND pupils.
Di trained at Bush Davies, after which she had a long and varied career in professional theatre, cabaret and television.
Credits include: ‘GoldenEye’ (1995); ‘Stars in their Eyes’ (resident dancer - Granada); ‘French & Saunders’, ‘The Russ Abbott Show’, ‘Paul Daniels Show’ and ‘Ruby Wax’ and several Royal Variety Performances (all BBC), various contracts for Arlene Phillips. 2016 saw Di choreographing the children at Lytham Festival ‘West End Proms’ for Cuffe and Taylor - performing alongside Broadway and West End stars. Di has proudly been Children’s Director/Company Choreographer for The Christie Musical Theatre Company since its inception in 2011, most recently choreographing their award-winning 10th Anniversary production of ‘Gypsy’.
Laurienne graduated from Emil Dale Academy with BA Hons in Professional Musical Theatre. Laurienne has been involved in theatre since she was very young and has taken on some incredible roles in local musicals such as Miss Saigon and Phantom of the Opera. Laurienne is part of musical theatre group Ent'racte and works as a professional performer alongside teaching.
CREDITS:
Miss Saigon; Phantom of the Opera, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
ADULT MUSICAL THEATRE TEACHER
Emma Norman began her career performing in cruising, national and international theatre touring. Emma spent 5 years at Cuffe and Taylor (part of the Live Nation Family) as a Day to Day Artist Manager of various recording artists and actors including BGT winners Collabro and Sheridan Smith OBE.
CREDITS:
Stage - Evleen,'The Pirate Queen' (London Coliseum); Anna Gromeko, 'Doctor Zhivago' (The London Palladium); 'Whitney - Queen of the Night' (UK Tour)
Casting - 'Once' starring Carrie Hope Fletcher and Jamie Muscato (London Palladium); '37 Plays' (Royal Shakespeare Company)
James trained in Theatre and Performance at MMU. Over the years James has toured with various musicals including Return to the Forbidden Planet, The Way We Were and That’ll Be The Day. James co-founded the award winning theatre company 2toned in 2008 and began developing his career as a director/producer. As an alternative practice, James trained with The Musical Breath charity to study the anatomy of the voice/lungs in conjunction with the national singing for lung health campaign developed by the British Lung Foundation (Asthma and Lung UK). James is a registered vocal/breath practitioner working specifically with Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Groups in the North West to aid in the development and awareness of lung function for people living with chronic lung disease. James has just returned from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025 as director of a new play receiving five and four star reviews having been part of the creative team since winning OffCut Mcr festival in 2023.
Directing credits include Tea Time at Liverpool Theatre Festival, Didn’t We at Royal Exchange Manchester and he has developed the musical theatre cabaret, Voices & Lyrics, now with a residency at The Cockatoo Cabaret Bar in Manchester. James has recently been a guest director/acting tutor for Rose Bruford North and Identity School of Acting. James was Associate Producer for short film Chimera alongside award winning writer David Lemon, Director Neil Mckenery-West and Oscar winning Producer Julie Foy. Chimera has a featured showing at the Lytham International Film Festival in 2025 as part of a screening tour. The project is now green lit to be developed into a feature film and James will join the team as a Producer.
DANCE TEACHER / CHOREOGRAPHER
Victoria began her dance journey at just two years old and continued training until the age of 16. She decided to pursue it professionally by studying at Preston College Dance, completing the three-year Professional Dance and Dance Teaching course. She graduated in 2020, gaining a Diploma in Dance Education and her DDE Modern Teaching Qualification.
Victoria’s professional career began with MH Productions at the Talk of the Coast in her hometown of Blackpool. She also performed in a Take That tribute show touring the UK. Alongside performing, she also developed her love for teaching at many local dance schools and choreographing for shows and competitions.
At the age of 21, Victoria achieved a lifelong dream when she was offered a contract as a Production Dancer onboard Costa Cruises. After this, she gained a contract working in Spain at various hotels with ArtSight Productions. In late 2023, she returned to Costa Cruises for her second contract cruise contract, sailing around South America. She then returned home for Christmas and performed in the Cinderella Pantomime in Blackburn with Shone Productions.
In 2025, Victoria was offered her third cruise contract with Costa Cruises, this time in the role as Production Manager! She has been dancing and sailing around Greece and Italy this summer and is now back home in Blackpool!
Earlier this year, Victoria launched her own dance workshop company with her friend, WAVE Workshops, an exciting dance and performance company based in Blackpool.
Victoria is passionate about teaching and is excited to be back working with the next generation of performers, as well as starting a new chapter with NW1!
