Theatre — Who We Are — House of Talents

Rukhsana Ahmad

Rukhsana Ahmad is a British writer of Pakistani origin. Her stage plays include Homing Birds (shortlisted for Best Stage Production by Asian Media Awards) and River on Fire (runner-up for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize). Her books include: The Hope Chest, The Gatekeeper’s Wife and other stories and Mistaken: Annie Besant in India. She has scripted several original plays for BBC Radio 4 and World Service. Her many adaptations include Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children (nominated: Sony award) and Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (nominated: Best Adaptation by the Writers’ Guild Award).

Rukhsana will be offering a course in creative writing inspired by a real life story.

Page 1, Room 2, Room 5Hattie Holden EdmondsJune 9, 2020Creative Writing, Theatre

Anton Burge

Anton has written ten plays championing the need for roles for women in theatre, all focusing on the lives of celebrated women of the 19th and 20th centuries. His plays include Bette & Joan, starring Greta Scacchi and Anita Dobson (Arts Theatre) and Mrs. Pat, starring Dame Penelope Keith (Chichester Festival Theatre).

His first contemporary play, Year of the Virgin, was recently read at The Charing Cross Theatre, starring Sian Thomas.

His plays have been performed worldwide and are published by Samuel French Ltd.

Anton is offering coaching on how to create a play for the stage, whether from an original idea or an adaptation from an existing work.

Room 2, Room 5, Page 1Hattie Holden EdmondsMay 29, 2020Creative Writing, Theatre

Joanna Burnett

Joanna is an actress working principally in Theatre and television, including Romeo and Juliet (National Theatre), Let The Wind Carry Me Home (National Studio, Southwark Playhouse), Twelfth Night (Noel Coward Theatre), Bodyguard, DCI Banks and Extras.

She is offering sessions to enable you to find your authentic voice and maximize your potential as a communicator, and more…

Room 2, Page 1Hattie Holden EdmondsMay 27, 2020Voice Coaching, Performance Coaching, Theatre

Sarah Daukes

Sarah is a former dancer with the Royal Ballet. After graduating from RADA, she worked as an actor in lead roles in theatre companies including RSC, Out Of Joint and Citizens Theatre Company. Sarah currently coaches JPYA singers at the Royal Opera House in movement and performance. She also privately coaches students and professionals and has recently worked with principal dancers of the Royal Ballet.

Sarah is offering performance coaching sessions.

Room 2, Room 1, Page 1Hattie Holden EdmondsMay 11, 2020Performance Coaching, Dance, Theatre, Movement

Simon Paisley Day

Simon is a theatre and screen actor, most recently seen as General Quinn in Star Wars 9 and Douglas Carswell in Brexit An Uncivil War. On stage his many roles include Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare’s Globe), Malvolio in 12th Night (National) and The Once-ler in Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax (Old Vic), which was described by the Guardian as ‘the best family show since Mathilda’.

Simon and his son Theo will be reading Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax.

Room 2, Supper Sessions, Room 5, Room 6, Page 1Hattie Holden EdmondsMay 9, 2020Theatre, Supper Sessions

Milly Ellis

A specialist voice coach for 20 years, Milly has worked alongside some of Britain's finest actors, including Sir John Gielgud, Sir Michael Gambon and Dame Helen Mirren. Since 2004 she has been coaching business leaders and managers in the UK, Europe and the Far East through her company Be Heard. She has also collaborated on projects with John Malkovitch, Willem Dafoe, Nicholas Cage, Miranda Richardson, the Royal Ballet and Sadler’s Wells as well as directing several documentaries for C4 and the BBC.

Milly is offering one-to-one mentoring to help you become an effective public speaker.

Room 2, Room 4, Page 1Hattie Holden EdmondsMay 1, 2020Drama, Theatre, Business Coaching, Voice Coaching, Film

Nathan Evans

Nathan is a poet and performer. His first poetry collection, Threads, was longlisted for the Polari First Book Prize 2017 and his work has been presented at major venues including Royal Court Theatre, Southbank Centre and Latitude Festival as well as on Channel 4. He is also a puppeteer and puppet-maker and has created puppets for Soho Theatre and run puppet-making workshops for Little Angel Theatre.

Nathan is offering puppet-making sessions for children and adults and he is curating personalised poetry readings for our Supper Sessions.

Ailon Freedman

Ailon Freedman is an artist, comedian, clown and storyteller (secretly disguised as a yoga teacher). He has taught clowning internationally after developing his own humour-based workshops known as ‘Clown Healing’.

Ailon is offering Clowning, Games and Playfulness sessions (for kids of 7 +) as well as Clowning for Beginners for individuals and groups.

Room 2, Room 6, Page 1Hattie Holden EdmondsApril 27, 2020Theatre, Performance, Clowning

Richard Henders

Richard Henders is an Olivier nominated actor of over thirty years experience. He has worked extensively at the National Theatre, RSC, Donmar Warehouse and the West End, most recently performing in Company at The Gielgud.

Richard is offering one to one drama tuition. If you are preparing for an audition or simply wanting to give acting a go, Richard’s wealth of experience and knowledge with a kind and practical approach will help you unlock your potential as an actor.

Room 2, Page 1Hattie Holden EdmondsApril 23, 2020Theatre, Drama, Performance Coaching, Voice Coaching

Vayu Naidu

Vayu Naidu is a storyteller, performer and writer. Her novels include The Sari of Surya Villas, Sita’s Ascent and Under the Banyan, as well as several collections of children’s stories. Vayu is also credited with coining the term 'performance storytelling' and her stories of Indian and European mythologies have been performed on stages in the UK, Scandinavia, Europe and India. She won the Arts & Humanities award for her teaching Storytelling at University of Kent, Canterbury.

Vayu is offering a creative writing course using world Myths as inspiration for your own stories

Page 2, Room 2, Room 5Hattie Holden EdmondsApril 10, 2020Creative Writing, Theatre, Performance

Jane Perry

Jane is a London based, North American actress, with extensive experience in theatre, film, tv and voice-over. She has worked with and learned from actors including Tom Hanks, Daniel Day Lewis, Paul Thomas Anderson, Matthew Weiner, and Patrick Dempsey. She recently won Performer in a Leading Role for Returnal's Selene at the BAFTA Games Awards 2022.

Jane is offering performance coaching for any upcoming projects you may have, including auditions, Zoom conferences or presentations. She is also part of our Supper Sessions, reading stories.

Claire Winsper

Claire Winsper has worked on some of the most successful West End theatre productions including The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, La Cages aux Folles and The Witches of Eastwick, as well as many productions at the National Theatre, The Old Vic and RSC.

She is offering sessions to enable you to find your authentic voice and maximize your potential as a communicator, and more…

Room 2, Page 2Hattie Holden EdmondsMarch 22, 2020Voice Coaching, Performance Coaching, Theatre

Our Hosts

Quick links to rooms: