Meet the team

DANI ACORS
CO-FOUNDER / CHOREOGRAPHER / SMASH SCHOOL DANCE TUTOR

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Dani attended the The Sylvia Young Theatre School as a full time student from the age of 12. She then went on to gain her Musical Theatre Diploma with The London College of Music before training at The London Studio Centre, graduating in 2010 at the age of 19. Theatre includes: Jenny in All or Nothing Arts Theatre and Ambassadors Theatre, West End). Apostle Woman and U/S Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar (International Tour). Mrs Potiphar in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, covering and playing The Narrator (UK Tour). Ensemble and Dance Captain in Finian’s Rainbow (Union Theatre and Charing Cross Theatre). The Enchantress in Beauty and the Beast (Capitol Theatre, Horsham). Spirit of the Ring in Aladdin (Capitol Theatre, Horsham and Kings Theatre, Portsmouth) Alice Fitzwarren in Dick Whittington (Towngate Theatre, Basildon). Wendy Jo in Footloose (Greenwich Theatre). Feature Film includes:
Beauty and the Beast for Walt Disney Studios, Debutante/ Ball Room Dancer. Recordings include: Mandy in 43 Years in the Third Form (BBC Radio 4) and Julius the Rat in The Pied Piper of Hamlin (Workshop). Dani also presented The Disney Channel and Disney’s Cinnemagic. Dani is an Estill based vocal coach, registered LAMDA instructor and qualified dance teacher with The International Dance Teachers’ Association (IDTA) who has been lucky enough to travel both Nationally and Internationally with her teaching. In Dani's spare time she reguarly works and supports the Charity 'Spread a Smile', entertaining seriously and termnially ill children and teenagers in hospitals across London.

ALEX WILLIAMS
CO-FOUNDER / MUSICAL DIRECTOR / SMASH SCHOOL SINGING TUTOR

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Alex is a professional Musical Director, Arranger and Pianist who graduated from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in 2015 with a Postgraduate Diploma in Musical Direction and Conducting.
Prior to this Alex completed his Music Degree at Kingston University in London where he achieved a Second-class honours, upper division (2:1) Specialising in Jazz Performance. Alongside his MD Credits Alex works professionally as The Musical Supervisor/ Director of The West End Gospel Choir in London, through which he has had the privilege to MD at prestigious events such as The Olivier Awards, West End Live and ITV. Training: Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts Credits as Musician (Musical Director/Keys Player): Wonderland (UK Tour) Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat (UK Tour) Imagine This (Union Theatre London) Grease the Musical– International Tour–(Italy) ‘Walk In The Light Festival’ (The National Theatre) Italia Conti Showcase 2020 (Leicester Square Theatre) Aladdin (The Kings Theatre Portsmouth) Spring Awakening (Urdang Academy London)) 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Bernie Grant Arts Centre) Wonderful Town (Mountview Academy) ‘Olivier Awards’ (West End Gospel Choir) ‘The View from the Shard’ Live Concert (The Shard) ‘West End Live’ (Trafalgar Square) Other Musician Credits – Paul O Grady Show (ITV) Backing Vocalist/Choir Arrangement (John Owen-Jones Album) Backing Vocalist (Collabro – Album) ‘Movies and Musicals’ (Apollo Victoria Theatre London) From Stage to Screen (The Leicester Square Theatre) Alex also works regularly as a Singing, Musical Theatre and Music Theory teacher working in various establishments and theatre schools in London.

ANDY BARKE
DIRECTOR / SMASH SCHOOL DRAMA TUTOR

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Andy Trained at The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. Theatre Credits include: Currently playing Gyp Decarlo U/S Nick Massi in Jersey Boys West EndHappy Man & Mr. Thompson in Pretty Woman the Musical Original London West End Cast; Drake/ U/S Franklin Roosevelt/ U/S Rooster in Annie (UK Tour); Ensemble/Mr Parker U/S Mr Poppy/ U/S Mr Maddens in Nativity! The Musical (UK Tour); Louis Perryman in An Officer and a Gentleman (Leicester Curve); Hollywood Producer and First Cover Paul Maddens and Mr Poppy in Nativity! The Musical (UK Tour original cast); Elle’s Dad & Dewey in Legally Blonde (Leicester Curve and Monaco); Mr Baskin, BIG The Musical (Theatre Royal Plymouth); Featured Ensemble in Exposure (St James Theatre); Simon in Jesus Christ Superstar (German Tour); Soldier & u/s Simon in Jesus Christ Superstar (UK Tour); Hip Hopper & u/s Greaseball in Starlight Express (Asia Tour); Turnov & u/s Greaseball in Starlight Express (UK Tour); Cookson & u/s Starkey in Peter Pan (Southampton Mayflower, Michael Rose Ltd); Zebulin & Pharaoh in Joseph (Guernsey); Cookson in Peter Pan the Musical (Grand Canal Theatre, Dublin); Ensemble & Understudy Prince, Buttons & Ugly Sister in Cinderella (QdosPantomimes/Sam Kane); Swing & Understudy Greaseball, Engines & Hip Hopers in Starlight Express (Germany); Ensemble in Robin Hood (QdosPantomimes/ Jonathan Kiley); Ensemble & Understudy Prince & Buttons in Cinderella (Qdos Pantomimes/ Russell Labey) Workshop Credits: Mr Poppy in Nativity The Musical (Debbie Isitt); Clark in From Here to Eternity (Lee Menzies). TV and Film Credits include: Hero in FarmDrop commercial; Bouncer in Press 81 commercial, Dancer in VV Brown ‘Crying Blood’ Music Video; Dancer in Comedy Shuffle Show (BBC Three) ITV's the Masked Dancer

ANDY BRADY
SMASH SCHOOL DRAMA TUTOR

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Training: Mountview Theatre School. Theatre includes: Rams Dad/Principal Gowan/Veronica’s dad in Heathers The Musical (UK Tour and the other palace) David Fonda in The Wedding Singer (Troubadour Theatre), Gordon Shakespeare in Nativity! (Birmingham Rep/UK tour/ Hammersmith Apollo), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (West End), That Day We Sang (Manchester Royal Exchange), Anything Goes (Kilworth House Theatre), Dracula (Ashcroft Theatre), Blood Brothers (West End/UK tour), Acorn Antiques (UK tour), Mamma Mia! (international tour), Bouncers (Harrogate Theatre), Romeo & Juliet (Derby Playhouse), The Rocky Horror Show (West End/UK tour), The Wind In the Willows (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Murder on the Nile (UK tour), Deadly Nightcap (UK tour) and Hair (UK tour). Television includes: Journalist in The Crown (season 6) Vicar Wainwright in Feature film Saltburn. Dr Taylor in Rules of the Game (BBC One), various programmes for Victoria Wood, Sergeant Dunlop in Babylon (Channel 4), newsreader in In the Long Run (Sky). Andy has also appeared in numerous commercial campaigns.

LIZZIE ROWLANDS
MINI MUSICAL THEATRE

Lizzie is currently in her graduating year at Emil Dale Academy, having previously trained at The Urdang Academy on their AVT BTEC course for 2 years. In her training she has played many roles some of which include: 'Jack' in Into the Woods, the 'Earl of Gloucester' in King Lear, and most recently being cast as 'Roz Keith' in her final musical of 9 to 5. Lizzie enjoyed playing 'Iris Kelly' in the production of FAME last summer with Smash as well as taking part in the 24 hour musical for 'Spread A Smile' charity. She is very excited to be part of the team!

SARAH ACORS
PASTORAL CARE / SAFE GUARD LEADER / WARDROBE

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After retiring from the police force Sarah became a registered child minder and has looked after many local children over the past 30 years. Throughout the first lockdown Sarah started her own small business ‘Handmade by Sarah’ which makes a range of personalised gifts and clothing, as well as being in charge of all our Smash Arts Uniform. Sarah is known as the ‘Mum’ of Smash Arts and much loved by all our students.

MEL WARD
HEAD CHAPERONE / WARDROBE

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Melanie has been the Wardrobe Manager for the Jayne Marie Dancing School for 12 years making and co-ordinating costumes for shows and competitions as well as managing the quick changes and chaperones backstage during productions. Two of these productions that she has worked on have won Best Costumes in a Show at the British Arts Awards. Melanie has worked for 3 seasons in the National Youth Ballet Wardrobe department for their Summer School. Melanie has held a professional Chaperone Licence for 10 years and has worked on many stage productions as well as films. Melanie joined Smash in 2021 as Head of Wardrobe and Head Chaperone and is an invaluable and much loved member of the team.

ALBEY BROOKS
DIRECTOR

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Training: Arts Educational School Credits include: Resident Director/ Joe Vegas in Fame The Musical (UK Tour) Ensemble/U/S Kassim Original London Cast of Aladdin (Prince Edward Theatre) Ensemble/U/S Johnny & Billy in Dirty Dancing (UK Tour) Swing/Cover Don Lockwood in Singing In The Rain (UK Tour) Ensemble/Sonny in Grease (UK Tour) George/Ensemble in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (London Palladium) Nipper/Workhouse Boy in Oliver! (London Palladium) TV and Film credits include : Fame The Musical (Live Recording) The Last Man (Feature Film) Eastenders (BBC) Shades (TV Mini-series) Microsoap (TV Series) The Bill (TV Series) Alongside his professional credits Albey works regularly as a choreographer/ dance technique teacher in multiple London drama schools.

LIAM DOYLE
DIRECTOR

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Liams credits include Corny Collins in Hairspray (Kilworth House) Warner Huntington III in Legally Blonde (UK No1 Tour); Kurt Kelly in Heathers (The Other Palace); After You (Crazy Coqs); Sam Wheat in Ghost The Musical (International Tour); Tony in West Side Story (Kilworth House); Fiyero in Wicked (Original No1 Tour); Matthew in Alter Boyz (Greenwich Theatre); Shake in The Carnival Of The Animals (Riverside Studios); Eddie in Mamma Mia (West End); Link Larkin in Hairspray (No1 Tour) and Troy Bolton in High School Musical (No1 Tour). Workshops include Footballers’ Wives – The Musical; Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again; Devilish and The Five Labours Of Harvey Fish.

MIKE WARD
DIRECTOR

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Mike trained at Liverpool Theatre School, graduating in 2007 receiving the award for ‘Graduate of the Year’ Theatre Includes: Resident Choreographer in Sister Act (UK Tour) Dance Captain in Ghost! (UK and International Tour). Dance Captain and U/S Jesus and Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar (UK and International Tour. Dance Captain and Gad in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (UK Tour). Ensemble in Cinderella (Tameside Hippodrome, Manchester) Tootles in Peter Pan (Grove Theatre, Dunstable). Directing Credits Include: Associate Director for Ghost! (Russian Tour) Associate Director for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (UK Tour). Director for Tomb to Womb and Mr Vinegar (Edinburgh Fringe Festival) Mike is extremely excited to be going back on tour next year in the upcoming UK Tour of Sister Act the musical as Associate Choreographer and Dance Captain.

JODIE STEELE
GUEST TUTOR

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Jodie's Theatre Credits Include: Sheila in Hair (Turbine Theatre), Katherine Howard in Six (UK tour), Sherrie in ROCK OF AGES (UK Tour), Heather Chandler in HEATHERS (West End/ Other Palace), MYTH (The Other Palace), Elphaba in Wicked (UK and International Tour), The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Waterloo East Theatre), War of the Worlds (Dominion Theatre), Legally Blonde (Kilworth House), Jesus Christ Superstar (UK Tour), FAME (UK Tour), The Theory of Relativity (Drayton Arms Theatre), Miracle on 34th Street (UK Tour), Tina Turner Arena Experience (Holland), Bare the Rock Opera (Greenwich Theatre), RENT (The Tabard Theatre), Follies (Yvonne Arnaud), 3 Composers 3 Countries (The Landor) Workshops: Fiver (Woman 1), Gatsby (Daisy Buchanan), Zelda (Zelda Fitzgerald) T.V appearances: The One Show, The Late Late show, ITV Alan Titchmarsh, BBC All Together Now, Children In Need, Blue Peter. Film: Two Wolves, Lupine Productions Mo-cap: Drachenfels, Pitstop Productions

SKY BARNES
STAGE MANAGER

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Sky graduated from the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in 2009 with a BA in Technical Theatre. Company Experience: Educational Theatre. International and Touring Theatre. Regional Theatre. West End. Stage Manger Credits Include: Sister Act (UK Tour) Waitress the Musical (UK Tour). Beautiful The Carole King Musical (UK Tour). Avenue Q (UK Tour). Evita (UK Tour). Ghost The Musical (UK and International Tour). Secret Garden (Lyric Hammersmith). Sinbad (New Wolsey Theatre). La Cenerentola (Opera Holland Park). Alice in Wonderland (Opera Holland Park). Omeros (The Globe). Little Lord Fauntleroy (London Children’s Ballet). Snow White (London Children’s Ballet). The Last Five Years (New Wolsey Theatre). Sword and the Stone (New Wolsey Theatre). Last Days of Troy (The Globe). Deputy Stage Manager Credits Include: Let it Be (Garrick Theatre, West End). Wizard of Oz (Blackpool Winter Gardens). Sky is a Technical Stage Manager, who loves working on many different styles and varieties of show. Sky loves to be creatively involved with new productions as well as working on already well established shows. Sky has been lucky enough to travel both nationally and internationally as a Stage Manager and is determined to make every show the best it can be.