Staff
All of the members of staff who teach Drama and Dance are passionate about the performing arts and we all believe that Drama and Dance is vital to your long term education. But above all else we believe in very high standards of work in both Drama and Dance. We all come from very different backgrounds and we all have our own particular interests and skills. So who are we?
Sean Freeman
Becoming a teacher was always one of the options that I can remember identifying in my careers lessons at school. However it was only my third option. Becoming an airline pilot or professional actor were always my top choices. Secretly I’ve always fancied myself in the role of James Bond.
I originally trained as a Technology teacher but later decided that my true passion and energies were to be found in the drama studio where I could become whoever I wanted to be and hopefully carry students along a voyage of discovery with me. You see, I really am a frustrated actor at heart.
Favourite Actor: Michael Gambon in 'The Singing Detective'
Favourite Play: 'Heavenly' by Frantic Assembly closely run by Kneeghigh’s 'Brief Encounter'
Favourite Film: I suppose I should say something very arty but in reality the film I never get tired of watching is 'Jaws.'
Erin Craig
Erin joined the department in 2002. Initially Erin taught Dance but more recently she has been responsible for the implementation of the highly successful BTEC courses. Erin was educated at The Kingswood School but then trained at Middlesex University gaining a BA in Performing Arts. Shortly after graduating Erin worked in the London Dungeon where she had to take on the role of one of Jack the Ripper's victims. She also worked at London Management where she was responsible for looking after the professional requirements of stars such as Roger Moore and Stephen Berkoff.
Kimberley Gallon
Kim joined the department in 2006 as a Dance teacher. Kim is yet another member of the department who was educated at The Kingswood School and has chosen to return to the school to pursue her teaching career. Kim is a highly talented dancer and choreographer. Her abilities are such that she gained a scholarship at LABAN which is renowned as one of the country's most prestigious dance schools.
Rory O'Neill
Rory is truly versatile and multi talented. Rory has worked at The Kingswood School in the past as an EWO. He has also worked at The Orchard School (now Maplefields School) in Kettering and also at Our Lady and Pope John School. Rory joined our department in 2006. Once again Rory represents that ever-growing body of teachers who were educated at The Kingswood School. Rory has an in depth knowledge of the Music industry and has many professional contacts within the industry. Rory has formed several bands during his career. His most recent reincarnation is 'Southern Attic'.
Julia Mallard
I always wanted a career where monotony would not form any aspect of the day to day routine. Teaching was definitely for me. Every class is different, no matter what I expect as teacher, pupils create a sense of unpredictability to the job that I love so much in everything, from how they interpret work to how they create work and the performances that they give. You could say that I was inspired by my own teachers, mostly Drama, but also English, History and Media ones too; so I decided long ago that this was the only career path.
I have a passion for being creative in a drama studio, those who know or will get to know me, are more than aware of the fact that I cannot sit still for very long and need something creative to truly ‘stick my teeth into’.
I have a passion for contemporary forms of theatre and theatre practitioners especially the likes of Complicite, Anna Halprin, Forced Entertainment, Robert Wilson, The Wooster Group, Goat Island… well as you can imagine I could fill a few more paragraphs with my favourites.
Favourite Actor: Morgan Freeman in any of his films, although his recent offering teamed with Jack Nicholson in 'The Bucket List' was actor heaven for me!
Favourite Play: 'Closer' by Patrick Marber or Forced Entertainment’s 'Bloody Mess', hard call!
Favourite Film: I do hang my head in shame for this at times, especially around certain members of EPA, but 'Robin Hood Prince of Thieves' is my favourite film.
Sally Harris
Sally is responsible for making the department the success that it is. Thanks to her tenacity and passion, the department is recognised for its achievements locally and nationally. Her personal triumph must be the fact that she has heavily influenced the internationally renowned 'Frantic Assembly'. Scott Graham who is one of the artistic directors of the company was educated at The Kingswood School and cites Sally as the teacher who influenced and inspired him to pursue a career in professional theatre.
Favourite actor: Helen Mirren/ Liam Neeson
Favourite Play: 'Blackwatch' - directed by Steven Hoggett, 'Three Lives of Lucie Cabroll' - Complicite, followed by 'Tristan and Ysauld' - Kneehigh.
Favourite music: Gabriel Jared - The English Patient
Stacey Miller
Stacey joins our department as a full time Dance and Drama teacher in January 2010. Stacey will follow the GTP route into becoming a fully qualified teacher in the very near future.
