Meet the team

Principal

Ellie Marsden

Thank you for visiting our website! We hope you’ll see what a vibrant, ambitious and fun Stage School we are. Catering for all personalities and offering you a huge array of exciting and varied opportunities. I am so proud of what we are achieving and I hope you will be able to join us and become part of our family!

– Ellie Marsden

The team

Ben Marsden

Ben Marsden

Manager

Being a family run business, Ellie’s husband Ben helps with jobs behind the scenes in managerial roles and offering support across the schools. Ben has taught in schools for many years and, before that, competed at the Beijing Olympics for the GB Field Hockey Team! Ben brings much knowledge and experience to his role, always with a sense of calm which is definitely a bonus for Ellie and the 10 other busy female staff members!! If you should see Ben at the schools, feel free to say hi! He is always sociable!!

Ellie Marsden

Ellie Marsden

Principal

Ellie grew up in Minchinhampton and later moved to Cheltenham, immersing herself in the performing arts from a young age. She secured her first professional role age nine, playing Brigitta in "The Sound of Music" at the Everyman Theatre.

After completing her A-levels, Ellie attended the prestigious London Studio Centre to study Theatre Dance and later pursued performing arts at Middlesex University. Upon graduating, Ellie successfully auditioned for the girl band 'TULA' and toured London and the UK. She also performed with the 80s band 'Modern Romance'. During this time, Ellie discovered her passion for teaching and felt a natural affinity for working with children.

At age just 23, Ellie purchased two theatre arts franchise schools in London. Within three years, she expanded to five schools, growing the franchise from 150 to 360 students, making it one of the largest branches globally at that time.

Leveraging her industry contacts, Ellie trains students and sends them to auditions for West End, film, and TV roles. Her students have secured significant roles, including all child parts in "The Sound of Music" tour, various roles in "Oliver," Bruce and Lavender in "Matilda," parts in "Billy Elliot," Cosette in "Les Miserables," Young Fiona in "Shrek," Jemima in the "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" tour, Augustus Gloop and Violet Beauregarde in the first cast of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," Young Nala in "The Lion King," and roles in "Miss Saigon" and "Carousel," among others.

Ellie is immensely proud of the achievements at 'My Stage School,' now with over 360 students. Ellie dreams big and strives for excellence in all endeavors.

Stacie Anderson

Stacie Anderson

Administrator

Stacie has a daughter at Stage School who has been attending since we started! Therefore Stacie knows our set up very well and with 3 of her own children, is more than capable of multi tasking!!! Stacie has a warm and welcoming nature and is excellent with the children along with managing all our parents and administration, which is no easy feat!

Abi Lloyd

Abi began performing in Cheltenham at the tender age of 2 and a half starting with baby ballet, modern and tap and carried on her training in musical theatre at Swindon dance. She ...Read More

Abi Lloyd

Coach
Abi Lloyd

Abi Lloyd

Coach

Abi began performing in Cheltenham at the tender age of 2 and a half starting with baby ballet, modern and tap and carried on her training in musical theatre at Swindon dance. She then gained a place on the 3 year National Diploma in Musical Theatre course at Cambridge Performing Arts at Bodywork.

After living in London for 3 years and doing various performing jobs from short films to music videos, she got a job with Mirage productions on board Fred Olsen Cruise ships. Travelling around the world performing 12 shows a week and getting to see some amazing places including the Caribbean, South and Central America, Europe and the Baltics.

After working on the ships for 3 years she auditioned and got a role in a Musical in Barbados and lived there for 5 months, performing and soaking up the gorgeous sunshine!

Abi then found a passion for Fitness and came back to the UK and began teaching fitness classes in the Tewkesbury and Cheltenham area. She still does this now and teaches all sorts of classes from INSANITY to Aqua Fit!
Abi reignited her passion for performing whilst teaching Musical Theatre at a dance school in Worcester and choreographed numerous musical numbers for festivals and performances.

Abi has been singing coach for all of the schools more or less from day dot and takes on the role as Manager alongside Ellie multi -tasking and helping make our schools and shows fabulous!

Lana Maisey

Lana recently graduated from the Wilkes academy of performing arts where she was able to train with industry professionals day in day out learning from the best in all departments ...Read More

Lana Maisey

Coach
Lana Maisey

Lana Maisey

Coach

Lana recently graduated from the Wilkes academy of performing arts where she was able to train with industry professionals day in day out learning from the best in all departments of musical theatre.

Lana’s musical theatre background began at age 6 in ballet before moving onto street dance where she quickly worked through and completed every grade in the UDO street dance syllabus.

Lana has a BTEC university musical theatre course and degree at the Bristol Institute of Performing Arts.

Lana also works in tv presenting having interviewed industry professionals from Wicked’s Alice Fearn to Hollyoaks Kai Owen and strictly/the greatest dancer’s assistant choreographer James Bennet. Lana is also a Lunch Mate on Channel 4’s daytime TV show ‘Stephs Packed Lunch.

Lana brings a larger than life energy to her students and a lovely presence at our schools. She thrives off helping children build their confidence with her infectious positivity and energy!

Claire Roberts

Claire Roberts

Coach
Laura Whittard

My name is Laura Whittard (AISTD). I am a Visiting Musical Theatre Singing and Speech and Drama teacher with My Stage School.

I teach Speech and Drama, Musical Theatre Singing a...Read More

Laura Whittard

LAMDA COACH
Laura Whittard

Laura Whittard

LAMDA COACH

My name is Laura Whittard (AISTD). I am a Visiting Musical Theatre Singing and Speech and Drama teacher with My Stage School.

I teach Speech and Drama, Musical Theatre Singing and Public Speaking. I continue to teach at the Cheltenham Ladies College (over 18 years). I studied Classical Acting, Classical singing, Dance and Acting movement at The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. I was a professional actress for over 15 years before choosing to enter into teaching. I was an examiner with Trinity College London for many years and ran my own theatre schools for 12 years for 4 to 18 year olds.

My acting credits include West End and National Tours with Company’s such as Andrew Lloyd Webber Really Useful Group, Bristol Old Vic, BBC Radio and The Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre Company. Performing in Panto at The Cheltenham Everyman was also a regular engagement for me and coming back to my hometown at Christmas time was always a great pleasure.

Amy Addle

Amy started dancing at the age of 3 in Cam and stonehouse and hasn’t stopped since! Amy was always lucky because she knew that all she ever wanted to do was perform!

Amy studi...Read More

Amy Addle

Coach
Amy Addle

Amy Addle

Coach

Amy started dancing at the age of 3 in Cam and stonehouse and hasn’t stopped since! Amy was always lucky because she knew that all she ever wanted to do was perform!

Amy studied performing arts and dance at Cirencester college leaving with 4 distinctions and then went on to train professionally at SLP college in Leeds graduating with a level 6 Trinity National Diploma in Musical Theatre and gained many opportunities like performing at ‘MOVE IT’ at the London Excell and working at the City Varieties theatre in “the good old days”.

Amy has also worked for Ultimate artistes Company as a backing dancer for their top Uk Justin bieber tribute act. Amy is over the moon to be inspiring children at ‘My Stage School’ to do what they love, just like she does!

Helen Bailey

Helen is fantastic at organising our parents and students and always with a big smile!

Helen grew up dancing, acting and performing so is always on hand to teach or help with ou...Read More

Helen Bailey

Coach
Helen Bailey

Helen Bailey

Coach

Helen is fantastic at organising our parents and students and always with a big smile!

Helen grew up dancing, acting and performing so is always on hand to teach or help with our classes too.

Busy with her own young children Helen also teaches at the pulse in Dursley, Zumba, Move to the movies, Piloxing, Aerobics, Piyo, Barre, Core Conditioning, Spin Aqua, Zumba and more!!

Liz Kristen Saunders

Liz has been dancing since the age of 2, sampling all styles of dance from ballet to hip hop. From the age of four she was involved with the South Cerney Players, taking part in ma...Read More

Liz Kristen Saunders

Coach
Liz Kristen Saunders

Liz Kristen Saunders

Coach

Liz has been dancing since the age of 2, sampling all styles of dance from ballet to hip hop. From the age of four she was involved with the South Cerney Players, taking part in many on-stage productions.

Starting at CCDA in Cirencester learning ballet tap and jazz, it wasn’t until Liz moved to Cheltenham at 11 that she found street dance and break. A clear love for all things singing and dancing, Liz also began studying with Theatre Studios, furthering her techniques in drama and musical theatre, taking LAMDA exams and auditioning successfully for the Playhouse Easter and summer shows.

She continued her training at Cirencester College with a BTEC in Performing Arts, gaining four distinctions and an invitation to return to choreograph two further shows in song and dance. As a dancer, Liz has had the opportunity to train and learn from award-winning b-boys and hip hop dancers, UK and international, including members of Flawless, and continues to do so.

She has competed in many competitions in the UK and abroad, bringing home medals, trophies and a scholarship to train at Urdang for a year in hip hop when she was 18. Recently managed by a member of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ semi-finalists ‘Nemesis,’ she has performed at many events showcasing all styles in street, commercial, breakin, locking and even stomping, including such events as MOVE IT and London Lion’s basketball game which was broadcast on Sky Sports.

Liz has also choreographed street dances two years running as support acts for the ‘Strictly come dancing tour’ and support acts for Britain got talent finalists KNE.

To this day Liz continues to perform, choreograph, teach and share her knowledge across the UK as well as judge for dance comps and schools.

Sophie Morgan

Sophie started her love for dancing at the age of 3 in Ballet and Jazz and then broadened her dance knowledge onto Freestyle Disco Dance, Rock and Roll, Contemporary and Street Dan...Read More

Sophie Morgan

Coach
Sophie Morgan

Sophie Morgan

Coach

Sophie started her love for dancing at the age of 3 in Ballet and Jazz and then broadened her dance knowledge onto Freestyle Disco Dance, Rock and Roll, Contemporary and Street Dance. Which gained her championship status and gave her the opportunity to dance all around the country.

So has a Degree in Dance and Professional Practice and is ISTD Dance Teacher qualified which obtained her the highest grade.

She has taught GCSE and BTEC dance and was the principal for  her own Dance School in Swindon and Gloucestershire gaining her students hundreds of dance awards.

After taking a break due to Covid and having 2 beautiful children. Sophie is now very excited to continue her teaching with My Stage School and cover the brilliant Miss Amy.

Daisy Jane Lynch

Daisy fell in love with dance at the tender age of only two and a half. From that first ballet and tap lesson, it was all she ever wanted to do. Saturdays from then on evolved arou...Read More

Daisy Jane Lynch

Coach
Daisy Jane Lynch

Daisy Jane Lynch

Coach

Daisy fell in love with dance at the tender age of only two and a half. From that first ballet and tap lesson, it was all she ever wanted to do. Saturdays from then on evolved around all the different disciplines of dance, taking her grades in ballet, tap,modern jazz, street and disco. Where possible she would take extra workshops with professional choreographers from The Birmingham Royal Ballet and also backing dancers for famous pop stars. She also gained experience in other types of dance she hadn’t already trained in, ranging from Irish, Lyrical, Breakdance and many more.

By attending two different stage schools, Daisy has picked up many different styles of teaching, in the three disciplines, Signing, Dancing and Drama. She received the highest marks in drama at GCSE and A level and even took English Literature to help her with Play script reading.

Now aged twenty-two, Daisy is running her own successful business in Children’s Entertainment and holds camps and classes to allow children the freedom to express themselves through the arts and have fun. As Daisy has matured she has decided it was teaching and passing on her passion for performing arts that she wanted to do and feels that through working for My Stage School, teaching children who are at the start of their experimentation with the arts, is a dream come true. Our young students just adore Daisy, she has a very natural way with them.

SUZIE SEMKEN

Suzie has worked in the arts for over 10 years. Initially working in television production at the BBC, Suzie then went on to receive a first class training at The Royal Central Sch...Read More

SUZIE SEMKEN

Coach
SUZIE SEMKEN

SUZIE SEMKEN

Coach

Suzie has worked in the arts for over 10 years. Initially working in television production at the BBC, Suzie then went on to receive a first class training at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. This rich and deep education has allowed her to work with and learn from some incredible companies and directors along the way including the RSC, Simon Stevens, Dame Judi Dench and Katie Mitchell.

Suzie trod the boards as part of two Rep companies, building on comedy, character and movement skills before indulging in her passion for Voice work. She has worked on radio comedies and an award winning radio drama for BBC Radio 4, as well as on video games and audiobooks. Alongside this she had the pleasure of singing with the Military Wives Choir and as a backing singer for a wedding band.

Suzie believes wholeheartedly in the power of ‘finding your voice’; the confidence and creativity that can be found when playing with the voice and text and how beneficial it can be for everyone, especially children. Recently she has been working in Speech and Language at a school in Cheltenham and now is delighted to be using her experiences and passion with My Stage School.

MADISON EPERJESI

MADISON EPERJESI

Coach
Lilly Rees

Lily has recently gained an extended level 3 BTEC in Musical Theatre from the performing arts academy of BOA. Lily’s musical theatre background started from when she was just two...Read More

Lilly Rees

Coach
Lilly Rees

Lilly Rees

Coach

Lily has recently gained an extended level 3 BTEC in Musical Theatre from the performing arts academy of BOA. Lily’s musical theatre background started from when she was just two and a half, starting lessons in ballet, tap and modern, and later starting jazz and Musical Theatre, at Janet Marshall Dance Studios, in Cheltenham. By the age of 5 Lily was performing at festivals and competitions in solos, duets and groups. Lily has been lucky enough to be part of pantomimes and shows at the Everyman Theatre, as well as finishing the ISTD syllabus for tap and modern, gaining distinctions in every exam. Lily has continued her training all the way through and has recently finished her ISTD DDE qualification. Lily currently trains at Performers College Birmingam in Musical Theatre and Dance. Lily has a lovely, natural way with children who seem to migrate naturally towards her kind and sweet nature!

Daisy

Daisy

ASSISTANT COACH
Daisy

Daisy

ASSISTANT COACH
Immy

Immy’s favourite subjects are Drama and Dance. She has been performing since she was 4 years old and takes an active part in all areas of performing arts. Immy loves working with...Read More

Immy

ASSISTANT COACH
Immy

Immy

ASSISTANT COACH

Immy’s favourite subjects are Drama and Dance. She has been performing since she was 4 years old and takes an active part in all areas of performing arts. Immy loves working with our 4-6 year olds and they equally love seeing her every Friday!!

Beau

Bea discovered her love for theatre during GCSE drama and has continued to pursue this in her A-levels. Bea has been lucky to have the opportunity to perform at the Cheltenham Perf...Read More

Beau

ASSISTANT COACH
Beau

Beau

ASSISTANT COACH

Bea discovered her love for theatre during GCSE drama and has continued to pursue this in her A-levels. Bea has been lucky to have the opportunity to perform at the Cheltenham Performing Arts
Festival as well as in school productions and brings a friendly and caring nature with her to the Friday class.

Teach for us?

If you have a performing arts background, are excellent working with and directing children and would like to work with us please contact us by Clicking here

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