Sara trained at both the Royal Northern College of Music and Royal Academy of Music, gaining a First Class BMus Honors Degree and a Post-Graduate Diploma with Distinction. She then gained a place on the professional development programme at English National Opera. As a soloist Sara has performed all around the country including, The Royal Albert Hall, Harrogate International Centre, The Barbican, Bridgewater hall and Buxton Opera House.

Roles performed include Tatyana (Eugene Onegin) Mimi (La Boheme), Fox (The Cunning Little Vixen), Bianca (La Rondine), Mona Morales (Bandanna) and Eartha Waites (Hollow Hill).

Sara recently collaborated with John Kefala Kerr on the world premieres of two of his works: Steamsong and Arcadia. Sara is currently the manager and head of singing at Jackie Palmer Academy in High Wycombe. The course focuses on training young performers with a professional approach. The full-time, two-year BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts course allows students to learn all aspects of the performing arts.

Dan has been working as a director, producer and singing teacher within musical theatre and opera for almost 20 years.

A student of the Royal Northern College of Music and a classically trained tenor, Dan has performed in a wide range of musical genres including productions such as Eugen Onegin, La Rondine, Threepenny Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, Whistle Down the Wind and Oliver.

In more recent years, Dan’s main focus has been his work as a director, producer and educator. As managing director of Vivo D’Arte Ltd, Dan has worked consistently to create relationships within all areas of theatre and currently works in partnership with the Ambassador Theatre Group. As a director, Dan take’s great pride in creating exciting and innovative theatre.

Dan’s continued passion is supporting and developing all levels of performers and creatives within arts education.

Grace began her performing arts training from the age of 3 where she competed in many dance competitions throughout the country winning numerous awards. Alongside her training Grace was lucky enough to begin her acting career featuring in many roles in TV and film. Annie the musical was her first professional musical theatre credit where she played Molly, followed by Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat.

In 2012 Grace was offered a full time dance scholarship for Redroofs Theatre School where she trained for 5 years , she then moved on to graduate at The Urdang Academy’s full time Musical Theatre Course. Grace is now a fully qualified dance teacher within the ISTD for ballet modern and tap and is a fully qualified Acrobatic Arts teacher.

Grace is very passionate about teaching and choreographing and is now working towards her Level 6 Diploma in Dance Pedagogy, she is excited to expand her knowledge and pass down her passion and skills to others.

James Penniston is a performer with a Degree in Classical Singing, from the Royal Northern College of Music, and a Masters in Musical Theatre, from the Royal Academy of Music.

James has been a professional actor since 2018 and is an experienced performer. He has appeared in many different productions, professional and amateur, for the last twenty-five years – working both off West End and for the Royal Shakespeare company, amongst others.

James has been working with Vivo D’Arte since its conception in 2012. His most recent credit was working for Vivo D’Arte in their production of Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street as the titular character. Alongside working as performer, James has dedicated much of his time to teaching both privately and collectively. James has been teaching all ages for the last ten years and has taught LAMDA acting and musical theatre from grades 1-8. His teaching method has been formed over the many years of working with Vivo and their values have been integral to James’ performing outlook.

Kelly-Marie Gibbs FISTD LIDTA

Born and raised in Berkshire, Kelly-Marie began her dance journey at age 3, and was a competitive dancer, a finalist in prestigious competitions like Miss Dance of Great Britain and All England Dance Finals.

Balancing academics and dance, Kelly-Marie chose to pursue her passion, earning a scholarship to London Studio Centre for Musical Theatre. After performing and choreographing professionally, she discovered her love for teaching and retrained as an ISTD instructor in Modern Theatre and Tap Dance, achieving distinctions in all qualifications. She later earned ISTD Licentiate and Fellowship qualifications with honours.

With nearly 25 years of teaching experience, including 13 years as Head of Dance at a full time performing arts school, Kelly-Marie has trained countless successful performers in TV, film, theatre, and international competitions. In 2007, she founded Azure Theatre School, which now boasts nearly 300 students and its own studio in Marlow, Bucks and seen many students move into the industry and compete to national level.

Kelly-Marie adores her time with the students at BPA.

Gerard Logan trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art where he won the Bancroft Gold Medal. He has played leading roles at the National Theatre and the RSC, where he was nominated for an Olivier award. Gerard won The Stage newspaper’s “Best Solo Performer of the 2011 Edinburgh Festival” award for his acclaimed performance in Gareth Armstrong’s production of Shakespeare’s The Rape of Lucrece.

He won the “Best Actor” award at the 2014 Buxton Fringe Festival and was nominated for the Michael MacLiammoir Award for “Best Male Performance” at the 2016 International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival for his performance inWilde Without the Boy. Gerard is currently touring internationally with The Rape of Lucrece, Wilde Without the Boy, Night Terrors – The Ghost Stories of EF Benson and Hauntings.

Vicki trained at the Urdang Academy graduating with a BA Honours Degree in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre in 2014.

Theatre credits include; Katie White in Superyou (Leicester Curve), Regina in Rock of Ages (UK Tour), Katherine Howard in Six (UK Tour), Alternate Carole in Beautiful the Carole King Musical (UK Tour), Katherine Howard and previous Alternate in Six (Arts Theatre London), Swing in Bat Out of Hell (Dominion Theatre)

Other professional credits include; Katie White in the workshop if Superyou, BBC’s Proms in the Park (Hyde Park) and ITV’s This Morning with the cast of Bat Out Of Hell, Magic at the Musicals with the cast of Sunny Afternoon (The Royal Albert Hall) and a featured dancer for BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.

Since 2020, Vicki has written and released her own musicincluding 5 number 1s in the iTunes Country Charts. She is now releasing music with her band First Time Flyers and since launching in January 2023, they have played and sold out multiple headline shows and supported the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Jamie Lawson. They are about to release their debut album 'Bound to Break' and embark on their 3rd headline UK tour. You can find their music on all major platforms.

@vicki_manser

Maisie Morris graduated from London Studio Centre in 2021 and quickly began her professional dance career with a cruise contract on the Aida Nova. After nine months at sea, she continued performing with Headliners Theatre Company on P&O's The Azura. Maisie has also performed at the Rhyl Pavilion Theatre in her first pantomime, Aladdin, as an Ensemble Dancer, and has danced at numerous corporate events, hip-hop, and commercial projects. Passionate about dance and musical theatre, Maisie loves working with young dancers and supporting them as they pursue their dreams.

Molly studied at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and graduated with a bachelors degree in Musical Theatre in 2023.

Recent credits include: Mrs Lovett (Sweeney Todd). Ado Annie (Oklahoma!) Mrs Fleshereep Jack and The Beanstalk Pantomime), Scuttle (The Little Mermaid) and Wednesday Addams (The Addams Family).

Alongside working as a performer, Molly has dedicated much of her time teaching, singing and musical theatre, both privately and collectively. Molly loves sharing her skills and techniques with the students at BPA and is excited to see them develop and grow as performers!

Amy trained at Laine Theatre Arts, graduating in 2025 with a Level 6 Diploma and First Class BA(Hons) in Musical Theatre. She has performed professionally with Jordan Productions in Snow White and most recently toured the UK with The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, performing in the Ensemble/Swing and covering the roles of Clarisse and Sally Jackson.

Hannah trained at the Guildford School of Acting, gaining a BA Hons in Musical Theatre.

Previous Credits Include; Laurey (Oklahoma!), Wendla (Spring Awakening) Jenny (Company!), Beggar Woman (Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street), Evleen (The Pirate Queen), Eva (Bring it On), Ensemble/ Cover Mrs Vernon Williams (Cry Baby), Brat (Whistle Down the Wind).

Hannah has worked in social media for almost 3 years, taking over BPAs social media when the course began. She works for both BPA and Vivo leading their social media growth.

Alongside this, Hannah works in sports media, running Holmer Green FCs social media page, and creating content for various sports outlets such as @onlywomensfootball @beyondthepitch and @aftastudios.

Hannah won the creative content challenge with Three UK and Chelsea WFC for innovative content creation on their media masterminds weekend in 2025.

Hannah loves working here at BPA and enjoys seeing how much the students grow each week.

Jon is a graduate of the Guildford School of Acting where he studied Professional Production skills. Jon has worked as a lighting designer on several productions including Mr Maker and the Shapes the UK Tour, The Stationmaster, Elf Junior and The Son of James Dean. Jon has also worked in Germany as an assistant lighting designer to Andy Voller on the production of Carmen Cubana. Jon has designed lighting for Vivo D’Arte’s productions of RENT, Carrie, Parade, West Side Story at the Frogmore Paper Mill; The Wiz at Watford Palace Theatre; Oliver! and Whistle Down the Wind at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre; Little Shop of Horrors at Milton Keynes Theatre.

Christian has worked with the team for nearly 10 years, and although he has a career in IT and a degree in Materials Science, has been involved in various parts of technical theatre and events for many years. He runs a web hosting and IT consultancy company (wpops.land) and assists BPA in the running of the school day to day. As a sound engineer, Christian has designed and mixed many of the school's shows, and also designs, 3d prints and otherwise creates many of the props used in productions.