THE OPEN STAGE TEAM
At Open Stage, all of our practitioners work with us on a freelance basis, bringing a wealth of experience and specialist skills to our diverse programme. Our team delivers a wide range of disciplines, drawing from their professional backgrounds — with experience spanning from Disney to Broadway — to inspire and guide students of all ages toward achieving their goals and dreams.
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Each member of our teaching team is trained through accredited boards, ensuring a high level of subject knowledge and professional practice. All staff hold up-to-date DBS certificates and are qualified professionals within their fields. We are also proud to support the next generation of educators, with qualifying staff undertaking their teacher training while working as part of our ever-growing team.
RACHAEL JEFFERY
COMPANY DIRECTOR
For over 25 years, Open Stage has been at the heart of Miss Rachael’s life and career. What began as a passion has grown into a multi-generational performing arts school, with original students now bringing their own children to train under her care and expertise.
Miss Rachael is a highly qualified and experienced performing arts professional. Her training includes prestigious organisations such as ISTD, RAD, BTDA, IDTA, ABRSM, Acrobatic Arts, and I-PATH. She has studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern Theatre Dance, Stage Dance, Acrobatics, Drama, Acting, Directing, Vocal Training, Musical Theatre, and Teacher Training — including specialist work with children and adults with additional needs.
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She is a full registered teacher member with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), an Examiner and registered teacher with International Performing Arts and Theatre (I-PATH), and a Certified Acrobatic Arts Teacher with additional certification in AcroDance Pre-School. Miss Rachael also teaches Musical Theatre, Singing, and instrumental Music lessons – playing an impressive five instruments herself.
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Her theatre journey began in 1999 with R&D Theatres, combining backstage technical experience with her teaching practice. That same year, she founded the original Open Stage Performance Group, which would become a cornerstone of community-based youth theatre. Over the years, she also served as Associate Director with R&D Theatres and worked on freelance projects for numerous theatre companies. Alongside running her Saturday and evening classes, Miss Rachael directed and choreographed stage shows including Musicals on Tour, The 80s Strike Back!, and The Divide, a musical which premiered at the Derngate Theatre.
For over a decade, Miss Rachael was an artist, facilitator, and performer for the acclaimed Bamboozle Theatre Company. In 2006, she became Performing Arts Coordinator at Northgate Arts School, the first UK secondary special needs school to achieve Arts Status. From 2008, she served as Artistic Director for RIP Productions and Peterborough City Council’s Musicals Project, leading community casts alongside professional artists.
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In 2011, she earned a Master of Arts in Performance Arts and went on to design and deliver workshops for the National Theatre in London. Her vision for Open Stage continued to grow with the launch of accredited exams and the acquisition of a permanent private studio. She also developed her Early Years programmes, including the highly successful Great Big Story Book and Multi-Sensory Hoo-Ha, a baby sensory dance programme praised by an ISTD Fellowship member.
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Miss Rachael is a passionate advocate for lifelong learning and professional development. Most recently, she has worked in collaboration with DK Productions, directing shows such as Just We Two.
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She is deeply proud of her dedicated team, her talented students, and the continued evolution of Open Stage over more than a quarter of a century. Behind the scenes, she is supported by her patient and loving family. Her partner, Steven, is a writer and poet, and their son Joe – an Open Stage alumnus – is currently studying Musical Theatre at Urdang, London.
Lillian is an ISTD, I-PATH and UK Cheerleading Association teaching member. She teaches many Tap and Modern Theatre Dance classes for Open Stage. She also leads our Intermediate and Senior Cheerleading teams and Intermediate Musical Theatre class.
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Lillian grew up in Scotland and graduated with a BA Hons in Musical Theatre. During her studies, and more recently with the Northampton Musical Theatre Company, she played several principal roles including parts in Sister Act, Whistle Down The Wind, Oklahoma!, Grease, Guys and Dolls, Blitz! and Little Shop of Horrors. She also performed as a dancer in the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Her professional work includes the title role in the pantomimes Dick Whittington and Aladdin, working as a dancer for Disneyland Resort Paris and being a Park Resorts Team Star running kids’ clubs and performing in the Team Star productions.
Lillian has more than 11 years teaching experience and is an ISTD qualified teacher, having attained her Diploma in Dance Education in Tap and Modern Theatre dance. She is also a qualified cheerleading coach through the UK Cheerleading Association.
Since moving to Northampton Lillian has been teaching dance in primary and theatre schools. She has choreographed for youth productions of Annie, Matilda, and The Wizard of Oz, as well as many dance and theatre school variety shows.
Lillian joined the Open Stage team in 2016, originally teaching Tap and Modern Theatre dance as well as introducing Cheerleading to the school. She has enjoyed the challenge of producing large-scale tap routines for our Derngate shows which featured more than 30 tap dancers aged 8 to 74!
Outside of Open Stage Lillian is kept busy looking after her two young boys as well as running her own dance school on Saturdays.
LILLIAN THORN
HARRIET QUINN
Harriet teaches a wide range of Ballet and Modern Theatre dance grades at Open Stage. She also leads several classes including Wednesday Little Stars, Jazz Technique, and Intermediate and Senior Greek. Over the past four years, Harriet has played a key role in introducing Classical Greek to our school alongside Miss Anna. She leads our Accelerate programme and supports our early years community arts sessions with Miss Rachael. Harriet is also a member of the Open Stage admin team.
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With over 10 years of teaching experience, Harriet hopes she brings a wealth of knowledge, creativity, and enthusiasm to every class she teaches. A qualified dance teacher with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), Harriet is also a registered teacher, examiner, and East Midlands regional leader with the International Performing Arts and Theatre (I-PATH). She serves on I-PATH’s Artistic Committees for Classical Ballet, Lyrical, and Broadway Dance.
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Harriet began dancing at the age of three, studying Ballet, Tap, Modern, Classical Greek, National Folk Dance, Musical Theatre, and Jazz. As a child, she was a regular finalist and medal winner at the All England Dance National Finals and performed several times at the Royal Albert Hall’s Dance Proms. Harriet also gained performance experience in local amateur and semi-professional productions.
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Her formal training continued at the Italia Conti Arts Centre in Guildford, where she discovered a passion for teaching and choreography. She has completed ISTD Diplomas in Instruction and Dance Education in Classical Greek, Modern Theatre, and National Folk Dance. Recently, Harriet achieved her ISTD Licentiate in Classical Greek and is now working towards the prestigious Fellowship qualification.
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In addition to her work at Open Stage, Harriet teaches at several schools across Northamptonshire, coaching students to advanced levels. A member of the Open Stage family since 2018, Harriet is passionate about helping students to achieve their best in class, exams, performances, and competitions and continues to love every moment!
Miss Anna currently teaches the Open Stage Junior classical Greek, Grade 1 ISTD Ballet, Modern Theatre and Tap classes. She also leads our Thursday day time adult courses and enjoys working with our Thursday morning Acro Dance and Little Stars early years students. Anna also coaches Open Stage exam classes and private lessons.
Anna began her dance journey at 3 years old in the Lake District, learning RAD ballet. After moving to Northamptonshire at the age of 8, Anna also began training in ISTD Modern, Tap, Greek, National and Jazz. Anna's vocational training began at Trinity Laban where she earned a Diploma of Higher Education in Dance Theatre. She then transferred to Bird College where she completed her BA (Hons) Degree in Dance and Theatre Performance. Anna later trained on the ISVP programme at Broadway Dance Center (New York) focusing on Lyrical, Contemporary and Commercial Jazz, learning from world renowned choreographers in these genres. Here she was awarded their Certificate of Excellence on graduation. Whilst in America Anna worked with the Charity Life Vest Inside promoting and performing in their international event ‘Dance for Kindness’. After returning to the UK Anna has helped develop dance programmes to be delivered in junior schools, taught dance on the Acting degree at UON and become part of the faculty of Dancebox College.
Anna's professional work includes The Hamburg Christmas Spectacular, Germany. Various music videos, namely for artists Kate Nash and Dj Madeon, as well as commercials for Burberry and the Body Shop. She has also performed on ABC’s Good Morning America and in Bray Entertainment’s ‘A Phony Celebration’ holiday video.
Anna turned her focus to teaching, sharing her wealth of dance knowledge with the next generation. As well as her vocational work, Anna teaches at local dance schools covering the Acrobatic Arts and ISTD syllabus work from primary to advanced levels. Anna strives to help each student become their best dance selves in a caring and nurturing environment.
ANNA MAIR
MELISSA STEVENS
Miss Melissa leads many Open Stage Saturday classes and leads our Ballet Faculty. She has encouraged tremendous improvements within ballet across our whole school and introduced our students to Progressing Ballet Technique training. She is also involved in our Tots,Toys & Tea, Multi-Sensory Hoo-Ha and Fairytale Ballet sessions.
Melissa is a qualified dance teacher with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, has a BA Professional Practice (Dance Education) First Class Degree as well as undertaking PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique) training course in 2019 with further training in 2025. Melissa also gained her NQF level 6 Diploma in Dance with Trinity College London during her professional training at Stella Mann College.
She grew up in Northamptonshire where she attended a local stage school (and was a member of both regional and county dance groups as well as her secondary school dance club. As a teenager she performed at the Royal & Derngate, Castle Theatre and Her Majesty's Theatre in London before undertaking her professional training at Stella Mann College where she achieved the first stage of her ISTD teaching qualifications, as well as gaining performing experience with both stage and TV work. Melissa completed her ISTD teacher training with examiner Rosalea Gibson at Pirouette Academy of Dance.
Melissa’s passion for teaching began at 17 when she both assisted and taught during her training. Following her graduation Melissa began teaching at dance schools in the Bedfordshire area where she taught Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Tap and body conditioning classes for many years. She has 15 years teaching experience and has prepared many students for their ISTD exams, and has choreographed many shows and audition pieces. Past students have gone on to train at professional colleges and associate programmes including Royal Ballet Associates, Ballet Boost and the Jazz Associates as well performances with the National Youth Ballet.
Miss Melissa joined Open Stage in May 2024 and has a passion for safe dance practice and inclusion in dance, making sure that every dancer has a home in the studio and a body that will keep them dancing for life. She is also a mother of 3, one of whom has additional needs so she brings her understanding and experience from her home life into the studio.
Miss Shannon is a registered teacher with International Performing Arts and Theatre (I-PATH) and an accredited Cheer and Dance coach with the British Cheerleading Association (BCA). She is a part of the Open Stage teaching team as well as the reception and office staff. Shannon teaches a variety of classes including early years and grade-level Ballet, Tap, and Modern, as well as Musical Theatre, AcroDance, Street Pop, Street Dance, Junior Cheer, and Intermediate Street Dance.
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Shannon began her dance training in Ballet, Tap, and Modern Theatre, later advancing her studies at Northampton College. There, she completed a Level 2 BTEC in Dance and progressed to a Level 3 BTEC in Musical Theatre. She is currently completing her main teacher training qualification and holds a Bronze Arts Award. Dedicated to professional development and inclusive education, Shannon has also completed a Level 2 Teaching Assistant Diploma, an Understanding Autism Diploma, and a Complete SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Diploma.
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While training at Open Stage, Shannon took part in multiple Performance Awards events, earning various medals and securing first place in the 2017 drama category. She has performed in numerous theatre productions, with credits including His Dark Materials, Romeo and Juliet, and The Bright Lights of Broadway. Shannon has played lead roles in Open Stage Theatre Company productions and had the exciting opportunity to perform alongside Collabro at Northampton’s Derngate Theatre in 2017.
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Miss Shannon brings passion, creativity, and care to every part of her work and thoroughly enjoys being part of the Open Stage team.
SHANNON BATT
DAVID KENT
Mr David is the Open Stage Choir Musical Director, our in-house resident writer and composer and he also composes bespoke Open Stage songs and runs various group singing workshops for our school.
Although he trained as a musical theatre performer at the London School of Musical Theatre, David has been a writer since his schooldays, one of his first compositions being sung for his year’s school graduation ceremony at St Andrew’s School, Nassau (Bahamas).
He continued to write while at Cambridge University and over the years his songs have been performed in London, New York, at the Yale Cabaret Conference, and in Los Angeles. Cabaret artist and West End star Morag McLaren performed the song he wrote for her - “As I Am” – in her show at Pizza on the Park in London. Two one-man shows have been built around his material, performed at New York’s Metropolitan Room, and in London at The Pheasantry and Crazy Coqs. David’s first musical was the 5 star two hander “Uglies Do Edinburgh” which chronicled the further adventures of Cinderella’s Ugly Sisters. In 2013 “Liberty Rides Forth” was a finalist in the Soho Theatre’s “New Musical Project” and subsequently had successful runs at the Edinburgh and Brighton Fringes, eventually transferring to the Waterloo East Theatre (London) in 2018. During 2021’s lockdown he wrote and produced the award-winning online micro-musical “Hollow”. David’s show “Soul Sisters the Musical toured the country in 2022.
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He also brought the production “A Christmas Lost and Found” to Open Stage in 2022.​
Lauren is a vocal coach providing private singing lessons at Open Stage and also teaches as part of our Intermediate Musical Theatre team.
As well as being an experienced vocal coach and dance teacher, she has performed in many performing arts shows in Ireland, the UK and New York.
Her training began in Ireland and includes qualifications from the Royal Academy of Dance, Imperial Society Teachers of Dance, London College of Music and the Irish Board of Speech and Drama. She also completed her BA Hons in Performing Arts at the Stella Mann College of Performing Arts with distinctions.
LAUREN DALY
GABRIELLA ANDREOLI-COOPER
Miss Gabriella joined the Open Stage team in July 2024 and quickly became an integral part of our community. She teaches our Commercial and Street Dance courses, leads Vocal Harmony group training sessions, and delivers both Musical Theatre and Dance classes. Gabriella also works closely with Miss Anna, supporting our Grade 1 students, and facilitates themed Open Stage birthday parties tailored specifically for our students.
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You’ll often find Gabriella bringing her energy and creativity to our Early Years sessions, including Tots, Toys & Tea, Multi-Sensory Hoo-Ha, and Little Stars dance classes. Her warm approach and vibrant teaching style make her a favourite with younger children and families alike.
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Gabriella began her dance training as a child, studying the ISTD syllabus, before progressing to a two-year Level 3 BTEC in Musical Theatre at Arts 1. She went on to complete a BA (Hons) Degree in Performing Arts at Stella Mann College of Performing Arts. Passionate about professional growth, Gabriella is currently working towards further teacher training qualifications.
Doris leads our 'Tai-Chi & Tea' sessions, she is a qualified Tai Chi Instructor and Ballroom dance teacher with many years’ experience.
Combining the glitter ball world of ballroom dance and the meditative movements of Tai Chi might seem unlikely, but both arts need a good understanding of movement and breathing to achieve the appearance of effortlessness and grace.
Observing how we move and how we control our movement will help us to understand our bodies better. Listening to our movement and breathing as we practise Tai Chi and QiGong, we take time to observe, improve and enhance how we feel. We relax muscles, mobilise joints, and activate circulation. Breathing deeply will fill us with energy and, at the same time, calm us.
DORIS SCHIERER
ASSOCIATE FREELANCERS
Danielle hails from the Kingdom of Fife, North East Scotland and trained at the London School of Musical Theatre.
She has more than twenty-five years experience in professional theatre, working in the West End, national tours, regional and repertory theatres throughout the UK. As an actress she's performed Shakespeare, Sondheim and everything in between. Most recently she has appeared in Spymonkeys The Frogs at Royal & Derngate and Murder Most Haunted for Laugh Out Loud Theatre.
Credits include Sylvia in the world premiere of RSVP ASAP (Cochrane Theatre, London) Betty Butterworth in the Scottish premiere of The Secret Garden (The Byre Theatre, St Andrews) and Divine Correction Varlet in the 2003 revival of the Thrie Estaties (Edinburgh & Fife)
Danielle is co-director of Hummingbird Drama Productions, a not-for-profit company that aims to empower people and install confidence using drama methods and theatre practice.
DANIELLE CORR
ELLIE CHANDLER
Gymnastricks guest coach
Ellie found her passion for gymnastics at the age of 4, and has been training ever since, still partaking in her own classes to further her training. After joining the squads at Gymnastricks, she has performed in London twice, at Her Majesty’s Theatre and the Troxy. Ellie’s performance credits also include the Deco’s 2019 pantomime ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’.
She first began coaching with Gymnastricks and after obtaining a Level 2 coaching award with UK Gymnastics, has led her own classes for the past four years. Ellie provides gym and acrobatics coaching for various dance schools in Northamptonshire.
SUPPORT TEAM
LOUISE TOWLER
Louise is part of the Open Stage admin team, dealing with general queries, policies and finance.
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She has been part of the Open Stage Choir for several years and has taken part in many choir performances including the annual show at the Derngate Theatre.
She also regularly helps out behind the bar at Open Stage events.
KARAN
'AUNTIE IRIS'
There are lots of volunteers who offer support to Open Stage but Karan is probably the most familiar face, whether supporting busy Saturdays at Open Stage, organising uniform sales, chaperoning at shows or helping with Open Stage events such as our seasonal fayres or theatre productions where she can often be found running a raffle, managing the tombola or selling refreshments behind the bar.
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Auntie Iris is a weekly volunteer at Open Stage doing numerous jobs from sewing and making costumes, filing, DIY and much, much more! She is also a ballet student in our Thursday adult class.