Centre Stage Theatre Arts
Teachers
James Rayner - Principal
James trained at Bird College of Performing Arts, Sidcup & MADD Nottingham. After working
professionally as a performer he turned his hand to teaching young people skills in singing,
dance & drama. After joining Centre Stage in 2001 as a dance/singing teacher he took over as
principal in 2006. He has worked on many productions as a musical director & choreographer
for Centre Stage and these days turns his hand to producing shows of varying scales. James also works at King Edward VII Sports & Science College (Coalville), STAR (Derby) and Theatre Studo (Cheltenham). James also teaches LAMDA, Trinity Guildhall & IDTA Freestyle exam students.
John Hale - Director
John has been playing ,singing and dancing since the age of 4 and having trained in all three
aspects of the performing arts helps oversee the running of CSTA centres. John has performed
in venue's such as The Millennium Dome (O2 arena), Derby Playhouse, Assembly Rooms,
Minack Open air Theatre and in 2007 toured Tunisia (Africa) with a devised piece about life
behind the scenes of a production. You can contact John with enquiries regarding CSTA on
john.hale@csta.org.uk
____________________________________________
Nigel Taylor ALCM - Singing Tutor
For Centre Stage Nigel has directed Copacabana, We Will Rock You, Little Shop of Horrors &
Fame, and co-directed Les Miserables School Edition. In 2006 He directed "Jekyll & Hyde"
for Derby Opera Company and has won both Derby Amateur Theatre awards & NODA Awards.
He also directs productions for Central Operatic Society, Derby.
Jacquie Middleton ALCM - Singing Tutor
A primary school teacher by day; a music teacher by night! Jacqui teaches is a primary school
teacher in Stapleford & has taught for Centre Stage since 1997, thus being involved in every
production since! She is a key member of the team giving help & support to everyone involved.
She has musically directed a whole host of productions over the years. Jacquie is also a
long-standing teacher at Derby Music Centre and is a great supporter of encouraging new
musical talent into the Performing Arts and indeed into CSTA!
Josephine Elliott (Bt, F, Mj), BA (Hons) Performing Arts. - Dance Teacher
Josephine has been teaching dance to children aged 4 -18 for seven years and still relishes the
opportunity to nurture talent and improve the confidence and skills of hundreds of children that
this profession provides.
Within Centre Stage, Josephine (Jo) has co-choreographed "Copacabana" and "High School
Musical" and is currently choreographing "Into The Woods" with the Chellaston centre's
Intermediate & Senior Sections and "The Aristocats" for the Juniors Sections at both the
Mickleover & Chellaston centres. Jo also teaches tap to some of our students at the
Mickleover Centre. She also prepares students for examinations in IDTA Freestyle and IDTA
Tap.
On stage, Jo has played roles such as the Enchantress of the Forest in "The Pantomime
Adventures of Robin Hood," Mrs Luce in "Little Shop of Horrors," and the Navigation Officer
in "Return to the Forbidden Planet."
Gemma Griffiths - Dance Teacher
Gemma is a highly regarded dance teacher with experience of teaching at all levels with
children from 2yrs to 16yrs of age. Her successes include choreographing many festival
dances, gaining Associate qualification in Ballet, Tap Modern and Theatre craft, receiving 7
nominations for IDTA scholarships and achieving 100% pass rate for all her dance classes
at all levels over the past 7yrs. Miss Gemma also choreographs for several local societies
including Melbourne Operatic Soiety, Long Eaton Operatic Society, and Erewash Musical
Society, of which Miss Gemma is a member regularly performing in musicals.
Having enjoyed dancing herself since the age of 4yrs Gemma is keen to use her experiences
of this and other work with young people; including volunteer work in education and
counselling - to create lessons that children will find fun and challenging. She says
" I aim for all students to love the art of dance no matter their age or level."
Rebecca Turney - Drama Teacher
Rebecca is our newest member of CSTA, bringing her experience not only as a drama
teacher but also as a script writer to the team. She has recently completed a degree in
Drama and Script writing and is currently working towards her PGCE. She is currently
assisting in the direction of 'The Seven Ages of Man' and is looking forward to her first
show with CSTA.
Lucy Bramley - Drama Assistant
Lucy left CSTA in 2009 to continue her education at Birmingham University doing a Drama
degree. After 10 years with Centre Stage she has developed into a fantastic performer in
singing, dance and drama, her latest role being as Widow Corney in our production of Oliver.
We welcome Lucy to the team as a drama assistant and already she has helped many
students develop their skills in all three areas of the performing arts.
James Rayner - Principal
James trained at Bird College of Performing Arts, Sidcup & MADD Nottingham. After working
professionally as a performer he turned his hand to teaching young people skills in singing,
dance & drama. After joining Centre Stage in 2001 as a dance/singing teacher he took over as
principal in 2006. He has worked on many productions as a musical director & choreographer
for Centre Stage and these days turns his hand to producing shows of varying scales. James also works at King Edward VII Sports & Science College (Coalville), STAR (Derby) and Theatre Studo (Cheltenham). James also teaches LAMDA, Trinity Guildhall & IDTA Freestyle exam students.
John Hale - Director
John has been playing ,singing and dancing since the age of 4 and having trained in all three
aspects of the performing arts helps oversee the running of CSTA centres. John has performed
in venue's such as The Millennium Dome (O2 arena), Derby Playhouse, Assembly Rooms,
Minack Open air Theatre and in 2007 toured Tunisia (Africa) with a devised piece about life
behind the scenes of a production. You can contact John with enquiries regarding CSTA on
john.hale@csta.org.uk
____________________________________________
Nigel Taylor ALCM - Singing Tutor
For Centre Stage Nigel has directed Copacabana, We Will Rock You, Little Shop of Horrors &
Fame, and co-directed Les Miserables School Edition. In 2006 He directed "Jekyll & Hyde"
for Derby Opera Company and has won both Derby Amateur Theatre awards & NODA Awards.
He also directs productions for Central Operatic Society, Derby.
Jacquie Middleton ALCM - Singing Tutor
A primary school teacher by day; a music teacher by night! Jacqui teaches is a primary school
teacher in Stapleford & has taught for Centre Stage since 1997, thus being involved in every
production since! She is a key member of the team giving help & support to everyone involved.
She has musically directed a whole host of productions over the years. Jacquie is also a
long-standing teacher at Derby Music Centre and is a great supporter of encouraging new
musical talent into the Performing Arts and indeed into CSTA!
Josephine Elliott (Bt, F, Mj), BA (Hons) Performing Arts. - Dance Teacher
Josephine has been teaching dance to children aged 4 -18 for seven years and still relishes the
opportunity to nurture talent and improve the confidence and skills of hundreds of children that
this profession provides.
Within Centre Stage, Josephine (Jo) has co-choreographed "Copacabana" and "High School
Musical" and is currently choreographing "Into The Woods" with the Chellaston centre's
Intermediate & Senior Sections and "The Aristocats" for the Juniors Sections at both the
Mickleover & Chellaston centres. Jo also teaches tap to some of our students at the
Mickleover Centre. She also prepares students for examinations in IDTA Freestyle and IDTA
Tap.
On stage, Jo has played roles such as the Enchantress of the Forest in "The Pantomime
Adventures of Robin Hood," Mrs Luce in "Little Shop of Horrors," and the Navigation Officer
in "Return to the Forbidden Planet."
Gemma Griffiths - Dance Teacher
Gemma is a highly regarded dance teacher with experience of teaching at all levels with
children from 2yrs to 16yrs of age. Her successes include choreographing many festival
dances, gaining Associate qualification in Ballet, Tap Modern and Theatre craft, receiving 7
nominations for IDTA scholarships and achieving 100% pass rate for all her dance classes
at all levels over the past 7yrs. Miss Gemma also choreographs for several local societies
including Melbourne Operatic Soiety, Long Eaton Operatic Society, and Erewash Musical
Society, of which Miss Gemma is a member regularly performing in musicals.
Having enjoyed dancing herself since the age of 4yrs Gemma is keen to use her experiences
of this and other work with young people; including volunteer work in education and
counselling - to create lessons that children will find fun and challenging. She says
" I aim for all students to love the art of dance no matter their age or level."
Rebecca Turney - Drama Teacher
Rebecca is our newest member of CSTA, bringing her experience not only as a drama
teacher but also as a script writer to the team. She has recently completed a degree in
Drama and Script writing and is currently working towards her PGCE. She is currently
assisting in the direction of 'The Seven Ages of Man' and is looking forward to her first
show with CSTA.
Lucy Bramley - Drama Assistant
Lucy left CSTA in 2009 to continue her education at Birmingham University doing a Drama
degree. After 10 years with Centre Stage she has developed into a fantastic performer in
singing, dance and drama, her latest role being as Widow Corney in our production of Oliver.
We welcome Lucy to the team as a drama assistant and already she has helped many
students develop their skills in all three areas of the performing arts.
Centre Stage Theatre Arts - Derby's Leading Theatre School
