WHO WE ARE...
All of the teachers at ROOTS are professionally trained West End musical theatre performers. Our 3 principals Laura, Ewan and Hollie all studied together at the Arts Educational Schools, London, and since then have performed, directed, choreographed and taught in both London's West End and around the world.
"We really wanted ROOTS to inspire young people through the wonder of Musical Theatre whilst giving the students the professional training that will stay with them for life, in whatever chosen career they decide to pursue".
Say hello :)
LAURA BENNETT
Principal/Head of dance
Laura trained at The Arts Educational Schools London, gaining a BA(Hons) Musical Theatre. Since graduating she has worked both in the UK and abroad as a performer and teacher of all styles of dance & most recently choreographed for MTV’s Top 5 most watched show ‘Plain Jane’.
Professional credits include: ‘Loserville’ Original West End Cast & at The West Yorkshire Playhouse (Dance Captain & Swing), ‘A Tribute To Glee’ Dubai, ‘We Will Rock You’ UK & European Tour, ‘Never Forget’ UK Tour (Stacey/Cover Annie), ‘Mamma Mia!’ International Tour (1st Cover Lisa), ‘42nd Street’ Assistant Choreographer, P&O World Cruise, Dancer for Lisa Scott-Lee’s UK Tour and China, Aladdin, Malvern Theatre (Princess Jasmine) and several seasons at the Hexagon Theatre, Reading.
She has also recently been featured in television commercials for Premier Inn, Burger King, Vodafone, TGI Fridays, SKY 3D and the Mars Football World Cup.
As a teacher Laura has years of experience and has worked for Stagecoach Theatre Arts, Guildford School of Acting, The Urdang Acaemy, S.O.T.A Stage School, Mo's Stage School, Jeanine Greville Dance Academies and The Read Dance and Theatre College, Reading.
EWAN JONES MA
Principal/Head of music
Ewan trained at the Arts Educational School London, gaining a BA(Hons) in Musical Theatre. In 2011 Ewan returned to ArtsEd and now holds an MA in Creative Practice.
As Musical Director Ewan has taught in several schools including Stagecoach Theatre Arts, ArtsEd School of Musical Theatre, Shewrsbury House School, Eastside Educational trust summer school, Cheshire Schools and Youngstars theatre school.
As a choreographer Ewan has worked internationally with productions in Moscow, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, he was also associate choreographer on the original West End musical Loserville.
Other credits include: The Three Little Pigs - Mandarin (DBS Theatre, Singapore); She Loves Me (Electric Theatre); Goldilocks And The Theree Bears (SRT Singapore); The Dreaming (The Rose Theatre, Kingston); Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (Palace Theatre, Mansfield); Paris Thunder (Charring Cross Theatre);
Out There (Riverside Studios, Hammersmith); 'i' PPA SHOWCASE
(Ben Travers Theatre); The Three Little Pigs (The Singapore Rep Theatre);
Cabaret (The Swansea Grand); Jack And The Beanstalk (The Palace Theatre Mansfield); The Hair Show (Joy ltd);
FAME! (The Grimsby Auditorium); Mexican Hayride (The Lost Musicals, Sadler’s Wells); Don Pasquale (Opera Holland Park); HMS Pinafore - REVISITED! (Kings Head, nominated for 'Best Choreographer'
in the Offies;DEFECT (Director/
Choreographer,ArtsEd/Perfect Pitch);
HMS Pinafore (Battersea Barge); Sleeping Beauty (Malvern Festival Theatre);
Carousel (The Broadway Theatre, Catford); The Devils Advocate (Upstairs at the Gatehouse); Summer Showcase (Mind the Gap theatre company).
HOLLIE TAYLOR
Principal/Head of Seedlings
Hollie is currently starring in the RSC smash hit musical MATILDA, as swing and cover Miss Honey.
Hollie trained at Arts Educational Schools London, where she received a First Class BA Hons Degree.
Her professional credits include; Veronica in the original cast of BETTY BLUE EYES at the Novello Theatre, Lamb Chops (as well as understudying and playing Serena and Mabel) on the Irish tour of FAME THE MUSICAL, the original revival cast of OLIVER! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane where she played the role of Bet many times, Kelsi in HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL at the Hammersmith Apollo, HIGH SOCIETY UK Tour understudying and playing the role of Dinah, and the title roles in SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS at the Mansfield Palace and CINDERELLA at Camberley Theatre. Hollies FILM and TV credits include; Frannie Squeers in NICK NICKLEBY for BBC One, Bloody Mary in THE BLOODY MARY SHOW and THE MAIDS (Short Film)
Hollie has 10 years teaching experience, specialising in the early years. She has worked as a teacher and director for West End Stage, Stagecoach, West End Workshops, S.O.T.A Stage School, Berkshire Theatre School and as a workshop leader in local schools. Hollie also teaches Acting and Musical Theatre LAMDA.
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