Performing Arts Staff



Trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in Musical Theatre/Acting, Rachel has extensive experience in both directing and performing, and has participated in a variety of performances and workshops at the LaGuardia School NYC, and with director Mike Leigh. Performing credits include: Mary: Be My Baby (If… Productions), Debs: The Road to Glory (Chris Harding), Nina: The Seagull (MTC), Miss Gower: Trelawney of the Wells (Judi Dench Theatre), Lady Mcduff: Macbeth (Mountview Theatre), Louise: After the Fall (Cameron Mackintosh Studios), a television commercial for Pepsi Max (Planet 24 Studios) and numerous performances with the National Youth Theatre. Directing credits include Guiding Star (Class Act London), Fame (Arts College, Clacton), Once on this Island (Colchester Institute) and Loves Labours Lost (North Arts). In her final year of training Rachel was noted as ‘Critics choice’ –The Stage.

LECTURER IN ACTING 

COURSE LEADER: FDA/BA(HONS) MUSICAL THEATRE

Andy Edwards
BA (Hons), PGCE

Andy trained in Performing Arts Dance at Middlesex University and at Brighton University.  He has performed with ‘Vitamin G’ Dance Company, ‘28 Degrees Dance’ and continues to perform with ‘Base Dance Company’. Andy also co-runs a dance and media dance company X3 Collective. His specialist subjects are contemporary dance, physical theatre and approaches to choreography.  His stage credits include the premiere of ‘Jack the Ripper the Musical’ (Cockpit Theatre, London) and, on television, Eisteddfod (S4C Wales), ‘Stonc a Roc’ video for Welsh schools and Hollyoaks (Mersey Television).

CMPA LIVE! COORDINATOR AND LECTURER IN THE MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS INDUSTRY

Sally Fisher
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre, PGCE, AISTD, QTLS

Sally originally trained as a dancer, gaining her teaching qualifications. Moving to London in the 1990’s saw a career change leading to her becoming Town Centre Manager for pre Olympic Stratford. She managed a £15 million pound regeneration budget and became responsible for raising the profile of Stratford with major events and projects involving the arts and business. From then she became Events Director for an entertainment agency working with high profile clients such as Harrods, Selfridges, Unilever, Meryl Lynch and Canary Wharf Ltd before moving back to Colchester to became Town Centre Manager for Walton-on-the-Naze, winning several major awards for projects she initiated. In 2006 Sally changed career again, fulfilling a lifelong ambition, by embarking on a three year Musical Theatre degree at Colchester Institute and then onto a one year PGCE course where she gained qualified teacher status in the lifelong learning sector. Sally now combines her love of theatre and her expertise in events management as events co-ordinator for CMPA Live! and a Lecturer in event management. She also directs her own performing arts school “Theatricool” at Colchester Institute on a Saturday, nurturing future generations of actors, singers and dancers. In her spare time, Sally is a director and choreographer for several local musical theatre groups.

---

LECTURER IN TECHNICAL THEATRE

Quinn Gardener

LECTURER IN MUSICAL THEATRE

Spike Grimsey
Training: Arts Education Schools, London

Spike's theatre credits include Thenardier/Swing cover/Grantaire/Bishop of Digne 'Les Misérables' at the Queen's Theatre, Emcee in 'Cabaret', Archibald Craven in 'The Secret Garden', Doc in 'West Side Story' and Daniel Ovington in 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying'. During his time at Arts Ed, Spike created and played the role of Gregory Reed in the world premiere of the musical 'Club Tropicana'. Other theatre credits include 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' (national tour) in which he played the role of Gad and cover Butler. Spike then moved in to the West End with 'Joseph' where he played the roles of the Frenchman and Zebulin. Other work includes Pestotute commercial with Jamie Oliver, The passions of Girls Aloud (ITV), H-Side story (C4), a televsion commercials for Burger King, Vodafone, Horse of the Year Show (London), The Queen's Golden Jubilee (BBC), West End Celebrations (Palace Theatre) and The Harry Potter book launch (Royal Albert Hall). Recordings: Les Misérables 21st anniversary concert (Radio 2) and the 25th Anniversary performance at the O2 in 2010.

---

Martyn Hall

LECTURER IN TECHNICAL THEATRE

Sally Howard

COURSE LEADER: EXTENDED DIPLOMA IN MUSICAL THEATRE

Nova Hughes

LECTURER IN THE MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS INDUSTRY

Rebecca Jewell

COURSE LEADER – EXTENDED DIPLOMA IN PERFORMING ARTS (ACTING)

Stella Payne
MA

Stella trained as an actor at Guildford School of Acting and has an MA with Distinction in Contemporary Theatre Practice from Essex University. Her main area of academic interest is Artaudian practice in approaches to text and devised material. As a director she is engaged in performance research with Father Hen theatre company. She teaches on a wide range of courses at both FE and HE level at Colchester Institute.

LECTURER IN PERFORMING ARTS (SINGING)

Benn Mann

HEAD OF VOCAL STUDIES / LECTURER IN MUSICAL THEATRE

Robert Miles
BA (Hons), PGCE

Robert works as a composer, musical director and vocal coach in all areas of musical theatre. His work as a musical director has included a diverse range of styles from musical theatre to classical oratorio. In addition, he has worked as a cabaret performer in a number of theatres and clubs. He has worked with both adults and young performers as musical director and regularly leading vocal workshops. He works freelance as a vocal coach, specialising in the development of repertoire and integration of acting and singing. As a freelance composer, he has written original material for Sky Television, BBC Radio and Paramount Comedy in addition to many vocal arrangements for repertory theatre companies. In addition to being Head of Vocal Studies, Rob is a lecturer at Colchester Institute specialising in Voice Craft and Contemporary Musical Theatre Contextual Studies and is trained in the Estill Method.

LECTURER IN TECHNICAL THEATRE

Robin Nash