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!

Andrea Murray - Dance

Andrea has been dancing since an early age and has worked hard to get her teachers qualification. Andrea trained at Glasgow Academy of Musical Theatre Arts and after she graduated she became a member of the dance staff where she taught ballet, tap, modern and jazz. This year during Easter and Summer season Andrea choreographed productions Mamma Mia and High School Musical 3 for Gamta. Go Wildcats! Over the last 10 years Andrea has appeared 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, Globalshow, Mother Goose, In Town Tonight, Snow White and Cinderella. 

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.

 

Gillian McAtee - Voice

Gillian McAtee BMus is an accomplished musician and teacher, having worked with various local authorities and music associations.Gillian gained her Bachelor of Music degree from the Ian Tomlin School of Music within Napier University in Edinburgh, and went on to carve a successful career as a Vocal Instructor in East Ayrshire.Involved in both Primary and Secondary school projects, Gillian then progressed to work with the South Lanarkshire Community Choirs Project.Focusing on her work with Primary children, Gillian took up the post of Vocal Instructor with The National Youth Choir of Scotland, teaching the Go for Bronze Kodaly based musicianship programme in Primary schools across Renfrewshire.As well as teaching, Gillian is a seasoned performer in her own right.A classically trained Soprano, she has been involved with several musical enterprises, including Hamilton Harmonics, Loudoun Musical Society and Relative Harmony, who featured in the BBC Radio 3 Young Choirs Competition 2006.Gillian’s repertoire includes a vast selection of composers, from Classical greats including Mozart and Handel, to Musical Theatre composers such as Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Sondheim.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. LORAINE BOYD - Acting Loraine trained at Newcastle College of Performing Arts.  She has filmed for Tyne Tees (Black Velvet Gown) Channel 4(Comedy Lab Production) and BBC1 (Spender) and as a London based performer appeared in professional Stage productions Girl, Interrupted as Suzanne at the Camden Peoples Theatre and Sylvia in Two Way Mirror at the World famous Soho theatre.  Her Advertising Campaigns include Irn Bru and Pantene shampoo. She also lived in Ibiza where she worked as a holiday Entertainer and her work was been subject to a Sky1 documentary. A keen music fan Loraine also has written and recorded her own material and is now involved in music management and (even appearing on judging panels of music talent showns) Loraine has also worked in theatre in Education in both London and her native Newcastle. She is now based in Glasgow.

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