FLOURISH is based in South Cumbria and provides private
tuition in English
for 11 years to adult
coaching in Speech and Drama
for 8 years to adult
Theatre-in-Education
for primary & secondary schools
Performance
of Shakespeare's plays and more....
English Teaching
I am fascinated by English language in all its forms. I love reading and I'm passionate about literature, especially Shakespeare. I like to provide relaxed but stimulating environments for students to explore and grow in their understanding of English. My aim is to create interesting, fun lessons which will encourage and stretch students, helping them to increase their knowledge, experience and enjoyment of English language and literature.
I think that learning should be enjoyable but with enough academic rigour to challenge students. I am a firm believer that plays need to be taught not only as texts to be studied but as scripts for performance. However, in my experience as a class room teacher, I have discovered that far too often there is little time for this in the English curriculum. So I like to make this experience available to students through Flourish drama lessons, Drama Workshops and Theatre in Education.
Speech and Drama
Drama has always had a very important place in my life. I have enjoyed acting, directing, script writing and running drama clubs in a variety of setting, including schools and churches. I am passionate about all forms of theatre and dramatic arts. Drama is a wonderful form of self-expression which allows us to explore language, thought, movement and emotion in new and unusual ways.
Through Flourish, I offer coaching in Speech and Drama and enjoy preparing students for LAMDA graded examinations in Performance: Acting, Mime and Devised Drama. I also coach students for South Cumbria Musical Festival.
As well as coaching in acting and speech, I offer lessons and workshops where students can use drama as a medium through which to explore a wide range of subjects and experiences of life. Drama is an invaluable tool for releasing creativity and imagination as well as for developing self-awareness and confidence. Whether coaching for performance or for self-development, I like to provide a safe, encouraging environment where students can experiment, take risks, discover their potential and explore their dreams.
Theatre in Education
Theatre in Education is a style of theatre which brings audiences of young people face to face with actor(s) in an interactive theatre programme designed to harness the power of drama, story and imagination in order to enrich and enhance students' learning.
Flourish’s Performance and Drama Workshops use live performance interspersed with and followed by drama workshop activities to provide an inclusive and creative learning experience for History and English Literature. Each of my programmes include drama workshop activities and the live performance of a play.
Live performance can be an exciting experience for children of all ages, opening up their imagination and inviting them into new worlds where they can encounter a whole range of characters and experiences. I use a variety of performance techniques such as puppetry, music and audience participation to engage and inspire young audiences. This creative learning is further enhanced by the use of a variety of drama workshop activities.
Drama Workshop is an active and participatory form of learning which uses mime, movement, voice, acting and improvisation to engage students in the exploration of a wide variety of subjects and experiences. It provides excellent opportunities for historic re-enactment, bringing the study of History to life. Drama Workshop is also great for gving students fun and accessible experiences of English literature such as the plays of Shakespeare.
About me
I am an experienced English and Drama teacher, having taught for 8 years at Thorncliffe Secondary School in Barrow-in-Furness. During that time, I also taught History, Religious Education, Personal, Social & Health Education, ran drama clubs, produced several school plays and ran the school Christian Union. I currently teach GCSE English & Drama for LLDD for Barrow Community Learning & Skills (Adult Education).
I started Flourish in 2014. Through Flourish, I have been giving private tuition in English and Speech & Drama coaching as well as teaching a variety of drama workshops. I run a drama club for a local Primary School and work with Autus, providing drama workshops for young people on the Autistic Spectrum.
I am an experienced actor and director. As well as acting for Flourish Theatre-in- Education, my acting experience includes: Olga in The Three Sisters (Anton Chekov), Nancy in Oliver! (Lionel Bart), Mrs Squeers in Smike (Simon May), Mrs Crotchet in Change the Music (Nicola Rich) for Ulverston International Music Festival 2015 and various roles in Kendal Yarns Festival of Plays 2016 and Kendal Yarns for BBC Radio Cumbria.
In my spare time, I enjoy singing, gardening, painting, fell walking and textiles. I am a member of Ulverston Choral Society and a lay preacher at my local church. I also run Creator's Space, a local ecumenical Christian group.