Tutors

The tutors working on the course at any given time will be drawn from the following pool. (You may work with additional staff in the event of any of our actors, directors and choreographers working on major industry projects.)

ALEXANDER ABBOTT (Singing)
MARK AKRILL (Acting Methods & Voice)
ANDREW ASHENDEN (Stage Combat)
DAVID BAUCKHAM (Voice)
MARK BOWDEN (Acting, Film & Television)
DANNIE CARR (Theatre History)
IAIN DAVIE (TV and Film)
ANNA HEALEY (Movement)
FRANCESCA JAYNES (Guest Choreographer)
JONATHAN JAYNES (Animal Studies)
SIMON JERMOND (Acting/Improvisation)
ANTONY LAW (Acting Teacher & Director)
MOSTYN LAWRENCE (Dance)
JUDITH POLLARD (Acting & Audition)
HUW PRALL (Modern and Historical Dance)
COLIN SKIPP (Radio Technique)
GAVIN WILKINSON (Dance)

Mark Bowden

This internationally renowned actor-director Mark Bowden and leading exponent of physical theatre inspires students at The Bridge with his direct and challenging approach to training which culminates in extraordinary and moving productions.

Francesca Jaynes

Company guest Francesca Jaynes is a major choreographer who’s work includes Stephen Speilberg’s AI with Jude Law, Mike Leigh’s Topsy Turvy, and Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Johnny Depp. Amongst her productions with Bridge students are The Winter’s Tale, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The House and The West End Showcase for agents and Casting directors at the Criterion Theatre, Piccadilly.

ALEXANDER ABBOTT
SINGING

Alexander Abbott studied Music at Surrey University and Theology at London Bible College. He has worked extensively as singer, pianist, composer, arranger and musical director his music being widely performed. In addition he has toured Canada and Europe appearing on TV, Radio and numerous recordings. As a teacher he has also worked The Drama Centre. His students have appeared on stage, TV and film. His first full scale musical was performed in 2003 and his second, The Dating Game, has recently finished a successful run at The Rosemary branch Theatre.

MARK AKRILL
ACTING METHODS AND VOICE

Joint Artistic Director of The Bridge

Mark has a degree in Drama, English and Education and studied at Hull. Mark’s productions include national tours of Jazz Audience, The Recruiting Sergeant and Poem. Other directing credits include Accidental Death of an Anarchist, The Mystery Plays, The Good and Faithful Servant, Road and A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream. Recent credits include Fatale, The Cherry Orchard and The Winter’s Tale. He was director of PS Theatre Company and his most recent writing credits are Fatale at the Bridewell Theatre and The Mystery Plays, a modern take on the medieval originals.

ANDREW ASHENDEN
STAGE COMBAT

Andrew is one of a few Equity registered Fight Directors in the UK, and is currently on the committee for both the British Academy of Dramatic Combat, and the Equity Fight Directors. He is a founding member of TRUE EDGE. Professional work includes TV, Film, Theatre and Musical Theatre. His recent credits include: Pobol Y Cym (BBC Wales), Romeo and Juliet (Oxford Shakespeare Festival), The Jungle Book (Birmingham Stage Company), Robin Hood (Ophaboom Theatre Company), Dick Whittington (Yvonne Arnaud Theatre), Death-Trap and Popcorn, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Henry V. He also teaches at Guildford School of Acting.

DAVID BAUCKHAM
VOICE

David is a graduate of the prestigious Voice Studies course at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Since then he has taught voice, accents and dialects at many of the leading drama schools and for various theatre and opera companies. As an actor, his extensive theatre credits include West End appearances in The Lonely Road, Judy and Exclusive. His many television appearances have included roles in popular series such as Inspector Morse, The Bill, Eastenders and Casualty.

MARK BOWDEN
GUEST DIRECTOR AND ACTING TEACHER

Mark works internationally as an actor, director and producer. His award winning performances include leading roles in five West End shows, many world tours and British premieres, along with numerous appearances on British and USA network television. He has played lead roles in European independent film and supporting roles in Hollywood studio film. Mark has founded three theatre companies, directing and producing across Europe. He has directed a number of feature films.

DANNIE CARR
THEATRE HISTORY

Dannie trained at The Bridge and now works as an actress, director, writer and voiceover artist. Directing credits include Top Girls, Marat/Sade, Closer, Look Back in Anger and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Acting credits include Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Fiona Lemming in the underground sci-fi film Reversing the Polarity, and Morli in Big Finish's Dalek Empire audio series. Voiceovers include work for the BBC and Classic FM. Dannie has specialised in the Meisner Technique since working intensively with Scott Williams from 2004 and continues to explore its concepts. She is currently co-writing her second full length play.

IAIN DAVIE
TV AND FILM

Iain graduated from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, receiving the Philip Holt Prize. He has subsequently been acting and directing here in the UK and abroad. Iain is a regular director and lecturer at some of the largest drama schools in the country such as RSAMD and LIPA. He has also been a selector and workshop leader for over seven years with the National Student Drama Festival.

ANNA HEALEY
MOVEMENT

Anna trained at Rose Bruford as an Actor Musician and has toured extensively in Europe, Canada, Israel and the UK. She is a member of NIE (New International Encounter) Theatre Company, performing in Past Half Remembered which has won several awards including the Total Theatre Award at the 2006 Edinburgh Festival. Anna has devised and collaborated on several projects including The Circus Monkey, Gosh and My Life with the Dogs. She directed The Visit by Dürrenmatt at The Bridge in 2007. Anna has led many workshops across the UK and also in the Czech Republic. In addition she teaches on the Physical Theatre course at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham.

FRANCESCA JAYNES
GUEST CHOREOGRAPHER

Fran has worked mainly in theatre, film and television. She worked on the MGM musical about the life of Cole Porter starring Kevin Kline, choreographed Mike Leigh's Topsy Turvy and was responsible for Jude Law's movement and the robots in Steven Spielberg's film A.I. Her television work includes Tipping the Velvet, Sons and Lovers and Byron. Theatre work includes The Threepenny Opera (National Theatre), Leader of the Pack (Theatre Clywd), The Entertainer (Birmingham Rep and WYP). She has also worked as choreographer on Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Sweeney Todd with Johnny Depp.

JONATHAN JAYNES
ANIMAL STUDIES

Jonathan has worked extensively as an actor in theatre, performing at the National Theatre, Salisbury Playhouse, Watford Palace and Leeds Playhouse. He was in the film First Knight and has worked on many television programmes, including Down To Earth, September Song, Coronation Street, The Bill and Eastenders. He has taught at The Bridge for several years and also currently teaches at LAMDA and London Centre of Theatre Studies.

SIMON JERMOND
ACTING / IMPROVISATION

Simon is an experienced TV, theatre and film actor. He has appeared in the West End in leading comedy and musical roles. In the physical theatre world he has collaborated with Angela De Castro, John Wright and Teatr Biouro Podrowski amongst others. TV Credits include No Angels, Eastenders, This is Dom Joly, The Bill, Doctors, and Children in Need. He features in the films Exitz and Monster and has recently performed in Dickens; Unplugged at the Edinburgh Festival. Simon has also run workshops for East 15, NYMT, and NSDF.

ANTONY LAW
ACTING TEACHER & DIRECTOR

Antony trained at The Bridge and has now directed Road, New Anatomies, 13 Grimms Tales, Under Milk Wood, Closer, Scenes from an Execution, A Hard Heart, and Victory. His most recent production for The Bridge was Find Me. As an actor he works in Theatre, TV and Film, credits include: Closer, Brief Encounter (National Tour), Shadows on the Sun, Family Affairs (CH5), Friends and Crocodiles (Poliakoff / BBC).

MOSTYN LAWRENCE
DANCE

Mostyn Lawrence trained at Mountview Theatre School and graduated with a BA (Hons) in Performance. His West End and touring theatre credits include Seven Brides for Seven Brothers; South Pacific, Cabaret, The Comedy of Errors, Showtime, Blood Brothers, Naked Flesh, Babes in the Wood, Four's Company, Jesus Christ Superstar, Edward II, Me and My Girl, Fiddler on the Roof , Let Him Have Justice and Souled Out. Television and recording work includes: Blackpool (BBC); A Decline of Magic; South Pacific (BBC); Let Him Have Justice (TER) and various commercials.

JUDITH POLLARD
ACTING & AUDITION
Joint Artistic Director of The Bridge

Judith trained at Italia Conti Stage School and The London School of Dramatic Art and has worked extensively as an actress in theatre and television. Theatre credits include The Diary of Anne Frank, A Taste of Honey, Twelfth Night, The Winter's Tale, The Merchant of Venice, Tartuffe, The Importance of Being Earnest and The Ruffian on the Stair. Television credits include Blithe Spirit, Testament of Youth, War and Peace, Dr Who, The Onedin Line, Sentimental Education, Wives and Daughters, Pride and Prejudice and Little Women. As a designer her work includes productions of Fatale, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Cherry Orchard, The Winter's Tale and Road.

HUW PRALL
MODERN AND HISTORICAL DANCE

Originally trained as a classical dancer, Huw trained in allied dance forms, acting and singing. Theatre, film and television credits include The Winslow Boy, Woman in a Dressing Gown, Amadeus, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, Jesus Christ Superstar, Chicago, An Ideal Husband, Pride and Prejudice (BBC), The Bill ( Thames ) and Rebecca ( Carlton ). Choreographic credits include The Rivals (Jermyn Street Theatre) and Pygmalion (Albery Theatre).

COLIN SKIPP
RADIO TECHNIQUE

Colin gained a scholarship to RADA and won a BBC Drama Student Award. Colin was asked to audition for the BBC TV serial United and for six months played Ivan, the football team trainer. Television plays included Geoff in A Taste of Honey and Cliff in Look Back in Anger. He has played Tony Archer in the radio serial for the last thirty years. Colin has directed stage plays for Bill Kenwright and Tom Edwards. He directed the world premiere of Shakespeare Country by Peter Whelan.

GAVIN WILKINSON
DANCE

Gavin trained at Mountview Theatre School, graduating with a first class BA (Hons) in performance. His West End credits West Side Story, Mamma Mia!, Tom Sawyer in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Lord of the Rings, Our House and Let Him Have Justice which he co-wrote and composed for the Covent Garden Festival. Film and television includes The Phantom of the Opera, Grange Hill, Smart Alek and Our House. He is a guest director and movement lecturer at Central School of Speech and Drama, East15 Acting School and Arts Educational, and works as a choreographer. He is principal of tomorrowstalent.co.uk, an Essex-based theatre school, and founder and creative director of westendworkshops.co.uk.