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providing high quality performing arts tuition for 5 to 16 year olds in the Hampton and Twickenham area of South West London

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Jacquie Kirke: Director / Drama Workshop Leader

Jacquie was an established professional actress and artistic director for 12 years before becoming a drama, voice, movement, & dance coach. She is now a highly respected drama workshop leader. She is also a registered chaperone - approved by the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames - number 5452. She is police checked with references available. In addition to running actfirst classes her experience has included:

Stagecoach Theatre Arts
Support Manager, drama, dance and singing teacher and tutor for LAMDA examinations up to Bronze Medal.

Secombe Theatre, Sutton
Director - “Secombe Theatre Arts Resource” (STAR) An in-house part-time Stage School for 6-17 year olds, incorporating acting, singing and dance. Also Director and Choreographer of the annual show on the main stage.

Kingston Music & Arts Trust
Director - Musical Theatre Summer Course for 8-12 year olds culminating in a public performance of their work.

Sue Nieto Theatre School
Drama workshops, also private tutorials in Voice, Speech and Acting for LAMDA examinations. Ages 5 -16.

Midlands Academy of Dance & Drama
Professional Guest Teacher - Acting and Voice workshops, play-reading and assessment, and individual tutorials for LAMDA examinations, up to Gold Medal. Ages 16 -22.

Nottingham County Council
Part-time Lecturer at four Further Education Colleges (Leisure & Learning Department) - Adult Tap Dancing classes, Beginners to Advanced, including a public performance of their work.

East Midlands Arts
Drama and Movement workshops for children, ages 5-7, 8-12, and 13-16. Nottingham Children’s Arts Festival.

Hucknell College of Further Education
she ran a course of Drama Therapy workshops for adults with special needs, culminating in a performance of their work.

Additional Staff

Any assistant teachers are professional and experienced, and any non-teaching assistant will have childcare experience. All chaperones are police checked.

Jacquie Kirke and actfirst drama groups – Health and Safety:

Jacquie Kirke holds a First Aid Training Certificate, and is a Registered Chaperone (Approved by the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames – licence number 5452)

It is the responsibility of parents / carers to ensure that Jacquie Kirke is fully informed of any health issues or additional needs their child or young person may have. All application forms for actfirst classes request this information.

With regard to fire and building emergencies, Jacquie Kirke will take all reasonable precautions, including informing members of the group, and helpers / chaperones, of fire drill procedures.
Where necessary, additional risk assessments will be carried out for projects undertaken by actfirst students outside of the regular drama classes (eg theatres), chaperones / helpers informed of procedures, and students told what to do in case of emergency.

In classes / rehearsals where parents or carers are not present, Jacquie Kirke will hold emergency contact telephone numbers for all students.