Teachers

Laura Sydonie

Hello and welcome to Theatre Tots!
I am the director and lead facilitator for Theatre Tots and proud Mum to my two boys.

I set up Theatre Tots Ltd in 2007 as I am passionate about drama for the early years age groups. The pre-school age is a wonderful time of discovery and imagination and I wanted to create sessions that would nurture and develop those things. The arrival of my first son inspired me to formalise my ideas into what is now Theatre Tots.
As well as Theatre Tots I am also a consultant for Bigfoot Arts Education. I facilitate all ages from 2 – 18 in areas such as behaviour management, creative learning, drama and music and have written several courses for them including their early years programme and their music programme. I have taught all over the UK, New York, Las Vegas, France and Australia. I am the only accredited teacher of the American Lugering Method and am currently working towards my MA in dramatherapy.
As an actress I have performed all around world including France, Australia , America , Turkey , Greece and Greece as well as London and all over the UK. Roles lead me from Georges Marvellous Medicine in Birmingham to Electra at Aspendos in Greece. From a year on a canal boat performing musicals to a year in green make up as Hazel McWitch in Rentaghost the Musical. And everything in between!
I look forward to see you in class soon!

Kate Pasco

I have been teaching children within the arts for the past six years, alongside my education, in areas including drama, singing and dance, for a number of different schools and organisations. I think that creative teaching and the arts can stimulate children's imaginations in an enjoyable way to develop their learning no matter what age, background, or ability. I am passionate about the role that creative learning can have in a child's life and am always inspired by their boundless imagination and ideas.

Whilst at Exeter University studying Drama I participated in the Student Associates Scheme, specialising in Early Years Foundation Stages. The course gave me a great insight into the developmental learning of this age group which I found very beneficial and interesting.After graduating from Exeter I spent four months volunteering in a Peruvian orphanage working with 0-12 year olds. As well as the daily care of the children I helped teach them basic English through the mediums of Drama and Music which they loved!

As a teacher I have worked for Stagecoach Theatre Schools, Putney Arts Theatre, Gymboree, Ruth Osborne's School of Dancing, and The Kathryn Hurley Dance Academy as well as various primary schools. I also have extensive experience with SEN children through working for SENSE and running holiday drama workshops. I look forward to seeing you soon!

Matthew Reynolds

Matthew fell in love with acting, singing and storytelling at an early age and has been teaching and workshop leading for the past 15 years. After leaving the University of Birmingham in 1999 he co-founded Labyrinth Theatre – a company created to devise and produce original theatre – where he also runs the education department. Matthew has toured extensively with theatre companies over the years, portraying classical roles such as Macbeth and Tybalt (Romeo and Juliet) and also physical theatre roles such as Mowgli and Shere Khan in Labyrinth Theatre’s Jungle.
Matt recently played Joe in our Christmas show 'The Dinosaurs First Christmas'.

Natalie Blades

Hello, I’m Natalie. I run Theatre Tots in Cheadle and the surrounding area.
I trained in drama and media performance at the University of Salford and The Acting Studio, Manchester. Since graduating in 2000 I have acted in various projects in television, theatre and radio. Television credits include ‘Heartbeat’,’ Emmerdale’,’ Bodies’,’ Holby City’ and ‘The Quest’. I have worked extensively with Hull Truck Theatre, most recently playing three contrasting characters in their 2008/09 comedy Christmas production, ‘A Kick in the Baubles’. I have also done a series of comedy voice overs and jingles for various radio stations and more recently, animated commercials for ’3’ mobile phones.
My sons Herbie and Sonny have inspired me to begin working with young children. I have always loved children but since having my own sons I really appreciate how much fun they can be and how individual they are. Its wonderful to see where their imaginations can take them when they’re given the chance to experiment and come up with ideas.
In my Theatre Tots classes I aim to create a fun environment where children can really let their imaginations and personalities come alive. I look forward to seeing you soon!

Rachel Newby

I have had over 10 years experience as a performing arts practitioner and performer and have had the pleasure of working with very well respected companies including DanceXchange, English National Ballet, Laban and Artis and have choreographed and devised work that has been performed at Symphony Hall Birmingham, The Patrick Centre and the Royal Albert Hall.
I find it incredibly rewarding to motivate and enthuse others to achieve and learn through arts activity. Children gain the life skills of communication, confidence, problem solving, team building and the obvious benefits of physical exercise. I believe that the performing arts should be accessible to everybody who has an interest no matter their age or ability.
I recently starred as Tolly in 'The Dinosaurs First Christmas' for Theatre Tots.

Tiffany Franck

Tiffany received professional training in classical ballet from schools such as the Quinte Ballet School and Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Canada before venturing into performance. She has a double major honours degree in Music and Theatre performance from the University of Windsor and an associate diploma in classical voice recital from Trinity College. She has also attended Morley Opera School, and AIMS here in the UK.
Tiffany has performed in opera, musical theatre, theatre, as well as TIE and voiceover projects. Favourite roles have included Nora in Riders to the Sea, Laurey in Oklahoma!, Despina in Cosi Fan Tutti, Olivia in Twelfth Night and Margot in Dial 'M' for Murder.
As a teacher she has worked for Bigfoot Arts Ed, Jigsaw Arts, Helen O'Grady Drama, Dramarama and Artis.
Tiffany is passionate about helping children reach their full potential through the performing arts.