Paul McLavin - Dance

Paul grew up in Kilmarnock where he started dancing at 12 in a local youth club, after competing at an international level Paul went on to train full time at The Lillian McNeill School of Dance, where he reached an advanced level in all forms of dance.  Since then, Paul has worked extensively as a dancer both in the UK and abroad, working with people such as The Spice Girls, Robbie Williams, Boyzone, Cher and Whitney Houston. His TV credits include The Royal Gala, Brit Awards for ITV and Eurotrash for Channel Four, The High Life, and The Generation Game for BBC 1. He has also played roles in Westside Story, La Cage Aux Folles, and Cabaret; Kiss me Kate, and Calamity Jane.
 Paul has been teaching for the Scottish Executive in schools throughout Scotland, teaching children and adults about fitness and health. As well as teaching Paul still finds time to perform and direct shows for many production companies all over the UK. He is also resident choreographer and Artistic Director for MEP Production where he has just finished choreographing and dancing in the UK tour of Europe’s smash hit show “Kyliemania” which has been playing to sell out audiences. His most recent stage performance was “The Best of British Musicals” for the Rotary Club at the NEC in Birmingham in front of an audience of 30,000 people

Andrea Murray - Dance

Andrea has been dancing since an early age and over the last 12 years has performed in numerous panto's and musicals and has danced in all of Glasgow's major theatres including The Kings, Pavillion, SECC, Theatre Royal and Motherwell Civic. Performances include Babes in the Wood, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, All That Jazz, Pippin, Mother Goose, In Town Tonight, Snow White and Cinderella. During these performance Andrea has worked alongside Brian Conley, Dean Park, Zoë Birkett, Russell Lane, Libby McArthur, Sally Howitt and many more. Andrea is delighted to be teaching for The Fame Academy and is looking forward to many exciting years ahead.  

Avril McCusker - Voice

Avril McCusker BA, PGDE, DRSAMD is an experienced professional singer and teacher of singing, with over twenty years experience of training singers in classical music, popular music and music theatre. In addition to running a successful private practice, Avril has taught extensively in the primary and secondary education sector, the National Youth Choir of Scotland, the RSNO junior chorus, in stage schools and has taught Kodaly musicianship for over 10 years.

Barry Henderson -  Acting

Barry is a BA (hons) graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Barry brings with him a vast and varied experience in performing and teaching.  In addition to lecturing at the RSAMD he has worked in mainstream education and with South Lanarkshire Council in the capacity of project manager, mentor, teacher, and director.  Barry has worked with Tron Theatre, Arts in The City Project and Fleeto Workshop Leader, as a board member and creative partner for Promote YT, and as project manager with 7.84 Theatre Company.

Pauline King - Acting

Pauline King has been working as an actress for the last 8 years. Since graduating in Acting and Performance from Langside she has went on to have a successful career in Film, TV and Theatre. Her recent film credits include The Stone of Destiny - Mob films, Harris Tweed – Great Western Productions, Daddy – Elliott Productions. Her Television credits include Ivoluntery - The Comedy Unit, Taggart (2003/2009) -SMG, River City – BBC. Commercial credits include Scottish Blend Tea- Tomboy Film productions, ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND – Picardy Productions Theatre credits include JACK AND THE BEANSTALK, Cumbernauld Theatre, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - Hopscotch theatre. Pauline has also taught at several theatre schools across the UK and is keen to bring her experience both as a performer and teacher to fame academy.

Elaine Stirrat - Acting

Elaine trained at Langside College. Since graduating she has worked extensively as an actress in Theatre, Film and TV. Elaine has also worked for many years as a drama facilitator. Leading workshops in drama clubs and theatre schools across the country. Also she was asked to return the college where she trained to lead a series of classes. She is looking forward to sharing her years for workshop and classroom experience with the students.
“I love to work with young people who want to learn and have an enthusiasm for the arts. It is extremely rewarding to share my experience and watch talent flourish”

Holly Jack - Acting

Holly has recently graduated with an HND in Musical Theatre. Whilst studying Holly played the role of Rosaline in the play “After Juliet” and from here on she has focused on becoming an actress. So far in her career she has had a role on primetime BBC One and has auditioned in front of some of this country’s leading casting directors.
Holly has also had a vast amount of experience on stage singing, acting and dancing.
Holly hopes to bring her passion and experience of what the performing arts world is really like, here and now, and help prepare the students for when it is their turn.

Derek McGhie - Acting

Derek gained his BA in Acting, with distinction, at Queen Margaret University, in Edinburgh and more recently his Masters in Musical Theatre ar RSAMD, Glasgow. For the past 12 years Derek has worked as an actor in theatre, tv and radio. He has had a varied career with theatre roles ranging from Sick Boy in Trainspotting at York Theatre Royal to the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz at the Citizen's theatre. Television credits include: Still Game, Velvet Soup and Being Victor.
As well as a performer, Derek is also a drama facilitator and tutor. He has taught across the spectrum from preschool children to adults in further education. He has worked in further education establishments and theatre schools throughout the country and is looking forward to bringing his knowledge and enthusiasm for theatre to the students of Fame Academy.

Sarah Rose Murray - Dance

Miss Sarah Murray is is an associate member of the BATD and has been training in ballet from a very young age and has been training in musical theatre for the last 7 years. Sarah has attained a very high standard in all dance exams, Honours in every exam with numerous scholarship nominations. Last year Sarah was in the judge’s top six in senior ballet scholarship class. For the past two years Sarah has worked as assistant teacher at The Fame Academy and attained her associate teachers in ballet. In addition to examinations Sarah has performed in many shows, and taken numerous master classes and workshops. We welcome Sarah onto the staff as a junior teacher.

 

Grant Miller - Sound Engineer

Grant has a Bsc in Music Technology and Commercial Music and has worked for over 5 years in this very competitive industry, he has done many hundreds of recordings including a wide range of bands , soloists and electronic music. He has a full in depth knowledge of many audio and video production software's used in today's digital media world ,including the industry standard which is Digidesign Pro-Tools. He also understands many musical styles and is a multi instrumentalist playing for our HNC/HND contrmpory class.

Visiting Staff

Lyn Fitzsimons -  Dance   R.A.D.   I.S.T.D.

 Lyn is a highly experienced teacher who is dedicated to her art and her students. Lyn Fitzsimons is a graduate of The Royal Ballet School Teachers Diploma Course (3 years). She is also a R.A.D registered teacher and is an Associate of I.S.T.D. Lyn has had an impressive performing career, dancing for 7 years in Europe including two international company tours with “Le Lido De Paris” and she has danced the Pas De Deus for “Bravissimo” and classical flying “pas se quatre” for “C’est Magique”. Lyn is artistic director of “The Ballet Schools” in Linlithgow and is now working with The Fame Academy within the Higher Dance Program and as guest lecturer.

Guest Staff

Shawn Byfield - Executive Director and Choreographer Full of energy, positive, and a natural entertainer comprise only a few terms to describe Shawn Byfield, who brings over 23 years of experience to every event he participates in. You've watched him in live events, on television shows, and seen him on silver screens throughout North America. Shawn's performing skills have lead him to appear on numerous television shows for CBC, YTV, ABC, CITYTV, MUCHMUSIC, CHIN Television, CTV, The LIFE Network and Toronto 1. He has been in Canadian and American television commercials for Honda, Rogers On Demand, Molson Canadian, Molson Export, Motts Clamato, Canadian Tire, Zellers, HSBC Bank, Rogers Video, Lycra and Footlocker. Some of his film credits include Blues Brothers 2000, Superstar!, Bojangles, The Ladies Man, Death to Smoochie, The Music Man, Eloise at the Plaza, The Cheetah Girls, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen and most recently HAIRSPRAY, featuring John Travolta, Queen Latifah and Michelle Pfiffer. The electricity that is created from Shawn's dance choreography is powerful stuff! Just a few companies he's worked for include Ford Motor Company, Paramount Canada's Wonderland, The International Auto Show, Kodak, NBA Toronto Raptors Dance Pac, Ontario Place, Roots Canada and Labatt Breweries. He's appeared on many televised award shows including The Harry Jerome Awards, The National Jazz Awards, and both the Juno and Gemini Awards. Barry Lather, Henry LeTang, Danny DeVito, Heather Cornell, Marguerite Derricks and the late Gregory Hines are a few of the choreographers that have personally worked with Shawn. Shawn Byfield was recently the recipient of a Dora Mavor Moore Award for his show "i think i can", which was up for five nominations and received the 2007 Dora Award for Outstanding New Musical. He is also the Director of fresh new tap dance company Funk Factory in Toronto. He's known to instruct the most energetic tap dance and hip hop dance classes in Toronto. Shawn is a former faculty member at the Randolph Academy For The Performing Arts; and is also Producer and Co-Director of Toronto's hip hop company Thrive! Entertainment.

Angela Darcy - Acting For the last nine years I have worked mainly as an actress. The main body of my work has been in the theatre for companies such as Borderline, 7:84, Perth rep, Pitlochry, Cumbernauld, The Old Vic (Stoke), Mull Theatre, Random Accomplice, Vox Motus, The National Theatre of Scotland to name but a few. My passion really lies in the theatre regardless of whether I am performing or as an audience member. I like to give myself targets in life. I chose to do the Dramatic Studies course at Drama school as opposed to the acting course as I knew I wanted to direct and that one day I would. I felt this course would equip me in ways to one day make that move and would also provide me with the tools for education, teaching work and skills as a theatre practitioner as well as a workshop facilitator. I have had a pretty full career with lots of challenging and varied work. Amongst those experiences the most rewarding and fulfilling work has been for companies such as the aforementioned vox motus and random accomplice as I have had a very creative input with both companies. I feel I have an aptitude for devising and love to be involved in that kind of process. I have a great passion for new work and new writing and feel that I thrive in this kind of work, be it working with community groups, young people or with acting companies. I am extremely dedicated in my professional working life. I am not afraid of hard work and long hours and most importantly have a real thirst for learning and to feel myself evolving as an artist. Isabelle Joss - Acting Isabelle Joss trained at the RSAMD graduating with a BA in Acting. She has worked extensively in Theatre, TV, Film, and Radio in the UK and Internationally. Last year she was part of the 2009 repertory company atPitlochry Festival Theatre where she was awarded the Leon Sinden Award for Best Supporting Actress in Liz Lochead's GOOD THINGS. Other recent theatre credits include LIFEBOAT directed by Gill Robertson which toured to the Edinburgh and Dublin Festivals, London, Broadway, New Zealand and Sydney Opera House. Other credits include THE WATER BABIES, HANSEL AND GRETEL, THE SELFISH GIANT and THE BIG FUNK for The Arches Theatre Co, GILT for 7:84, directed by Zinnie Harris, SHINING SOULS Vamp/Tron Theatre and Theatre Babels Uk and American tour of UNCLE VANYA. TV credits include LIFE OF RILEY for BBC, DEAR GREEN PLACE for BBC1 Scotland, TAGGART for SMG, THE BILL, KITCHEN directed by Kieran Walsh for Ecosse/Channel 5 and the BBC2 comedy FEEL THE FORCE. She is keen to pass on her skills and experiences to the next generation of talented performers and is delighted to be teaching at the Fame Academy! Greg Burns - Voice Greg is currently training at Arts Educational School London and to become a Certified Master Teacher in Estill Voice Model. Greg is also a qualified Master Level Three Personal Trainer (E.R.E.P.S).'Greg trained for three years for his Bachelor of Music Degree at Edinburgh Napier University specialising in piano studies, during which he received an organ scholarship. Greg also holds a BA (Hons) Musical Theatre and has trained at The MGA Academy of Performing Arts. He has played many roles on stage including : Tyrone in 'Fame', 'Broadway Bound', Man 1 in 'Edges: A Song Cycle', Robbie in 'MacPhersons Rant', 'Fierce Seasons', Edwin in 'Summer Holiday', 'Witches of Eastwick', Bobby in 'A Chorus Line', 'Thoroughly Modern Millie', Troy in 'High School Musical'. Off stage he has used his musical skills to be involved in church groups and other theatre productions; Seussical: The Musical, Something for the Weekend, Talent: A New Musical, Edinburgh Gang Show, Copacabana, and most recently Rent the Scottish Student Premiere. Greg has a great passion for Musical Theatre and performing arts, which he hopes to pass onto his students.

CHRISTINE BRKICH - Dance Upon graduating from Ryerson Theatre School's Dance Program, Christine Brkich established InMotion Dance Company with her sister Lisa in 1996. Ms. Brkich was responsible for organizing, choreographing, and performing in Dancing Through Front-Tears, the Company's successful tour of Croatia's Adriatic Coast. She has also adapted and directed various children's shows for the company, including Cinderella, The Princessand The Pea, and The Day The Legwarmers Came to Town. Christine is a frequent guest teacher for various workshops in the GTA and Edmonton, Alberta, and holds membership with PAEC Performing Arts Educators of Canada in both modern and ballet divisions. Christine has also choreographed various musical productions such as Oklahoma! for which she received the Encore Award, Fiddler On The Roof, Grease!, and The Secret Garden, for which she received the Drama Series Award for Best Choreography.

LISA BRKICH - Dance Lisa is a dancer, choreographer and teacher whose work has been performed and presented in North America and in parts of Europe. Lisa is a graduate of the Ryerson Theatre School's dance program and holds full membership in Ballet and Modern with the Performing Arts Educators of Canada (PAEC).  Choreographic repertoire of Lisa's include All's Fair In Love and Violet's Garden, Ordinary Morning, The Day The Legwarmer's Came To Town, and Plies and Pleases. Lisa has had the great pleasure of choreographing for directors and producers Yo Mustafa and Paul Groulx in Fiddler on the Roof, Grease, Cabaret, and Secret Garden. Lisa has had the pleasure of working with such artists as Kim Puil, Tanya Bakala, Jen Bell, Danny Grossman and Timothy Spain.

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