About Theatretrain Mold
Building Confidence & Training The Next Generation Of Performers…
Hi, I'm Steve!
Hi, I’m Steve! I’m the Company Director here at Theatretrain Mold, where my job is to ensure your children are enjoying their professional theatre training in a fun and creative way.
I took over Chester Theatretrain in April 2005 and over the next four years successfully opened the schools in Wrexham, a second Chester School on Fridays and then the Mold School. My role is to oversee the artistic and teaching standards within the schools. I also regularly lead classes if teachers are off for any reason and I also create all of our productions by bringing together the various aspects of the show at the final stages of rehearsal. As well as leading workshops in primary schools in the area I regularly act and direct. Having been a member of Tip Top Productions since the company’s inception I have the responsibility of being the group’s Artistic Director. I have worked as a professional actor on stage and TV screen.
In July 2022 I received the Outstanding Centre Director Award at The Theatretrain Annual Conference.
Learn Genuine Theatre Principles While You Make Friends At Theatretrain Mold
The Theatretrain Way puts theatre back into the performing arts. Along with technical performance skills in acting, singing and dancing, young people get the chance to release their creativity in a safe and friendly place. Here, in an environment nurturing confidence and empathy, our students can expand to be more than they ever thought they could be. Our aim isn’t just to create better performers, but to help your children reach their full potential.
We Create The Welcoming Environment Where Aspiring Performers Thrive
Gain Skills For All Aspects Of Life, Not Just The Big Stage.
Meet the Theatretrain Mold team
Learn more about our team and get to know what we’re all about.
Ellen Buckley
Acting Teacher
Ellen has worked within performing arts for many years. Whilst completing a degree in Drama and Theatre Studies, Ellen focused heavily on Live Art, Theatre in Education and Applied Theatre working as a performer and facilitator for a TIE company, travelling to Romania to teach drama workshops and working within various educational roles. Whilst completing her Diploma in Education and Training followed by QTLS, Ellen worked as a trainee tutor at a local college for 3 years, having ample opportunity to direct, choreograph and musically direct a wide variety of plays and musicals. Ellen also works for another local performing arts group and a touring murder mystery company, whilst getting involved in her local community drama group, either performing or directing, having had the opportunity to take a series of plays to local festivals. Ellen is looking forward to being able to use her skills and knowledge to work with a variety of children and young adults who share the same passion for performing arts
Leslie Churchill Ward
Singing Teacher
Leslie graduated with an honours degree in Acting from The Ohio
University School of Theatre and was as an award-winning actor and
singer in the States.
Now living in North Wales, she continues to share her passion for the
performing arts with students, performers, and communities. Much of
Leslie’s current work revolves around her love of music, but she always
approaches it
from the perspective of an actor — encouraging students and choirs to
connect with their emotions and express the meaning of the lyrics they
are singing, all while finding their self-confidence and having fun.
Leslie believes strongly in inclusion and diversity: she is the Creative Director of the Inclusion Project at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, the co-founder and Artistic Director of Work in Progress (a mental health performing arts group for adults), and the founder and Musical Director of community choir Acquire and Acquire’s Jazz Choir.
She loves lighting the spark of the performing arts with students of
all ages. She has held drama residencies at primary and secondary
schools and was guest lecturer for The Hammond School, working with
graduating performing arts students. Leslie also gives private acting
and singing lessons for children and adults. Although teaching remotely
during the pandemic produced many
challenges, it also enabled her to work with students in Wales and England — and as far away as California and Vietnam!
Carl Jones
Dance Teacher
Carl has transferred to Mold after being our Tinies & Minis Teacher in Chester for six years.
Carl been singing acting and dancing from the age of 9 and has taken several exams in ballet and tap. He completed the BTEC in Performing Arts at Coleg Cambria. In 2013 Carl was a member of the National Youth Choir for Wales where he performed at The Royal Albert Hall on the opening night of the proms. He has been a member of NEWdance youth company and has performed with them for the last 4 years. In 2015 he became a member of The National Youth Dance Company of Wales, performing in two venues in Wales and a residency performing in Sadlers Wells. As a volunteer, Carl supported the pupils at our Mold School with our appearance at The O2 in 2013 and also teaches at our after school clubs in Ysgol Bryn Coch, Ysgol Penarlag and Ysgol Bryn Deva
Claire Roberts
Minis & Tinies Teacher
Claire has been dancing from the age of three and trained with the Clifton School of Dance in Ballet, Tap and Modern Jazz. Claire then achieved her degree (BA Hons) in Performing Arts from Sunderland University, during which time she was lucky enough to teach dance and drama in schools in Lesotho, South Africa. She followed this by completing a First Class Honours Masters Degree in Television and Film production. Combining her love of dance and musical theatre, Claire has appeared in a number of amateur dramatic productions including Tip Top Productions’ “Carousel” and “Hello, Dolly!”, together with numerous dance shows. Claire has also worked as a backstage technician in the Sunderland Empire Theatre on major UK tours such as “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”, “Legally Blonde” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”. She is passionate about passing on her love of dance and music, and thoroughly enjoys teaching at Theatretrain, and inspiring her students to achieve their best.
Charlotte Scott
Minis & Tinies Assistant
Charlotte has been involved in the performing arts since the age of nine and has completed GCSE and As level courses in drama and performing arts. She played a key part in her school’s drama group and took part in school productions. She has completed up to a grade six in the Trinity Grandhall drama examinations. Charlotte was pupil at Theatretrain Mold for nine years, she has performed at the O2 Arena and twice at The Royal Albert Hall with Theatretrain. During her last year in sixth form she worked as a classroom assistant at Theatretrain’s after school club at Penarlâg Primary School. She has now returned to Theatretrain Mold as part of the teaching team working as the teaching assistant for the Tinies and the Minis. Charlotte is currently in her second year at university studying Early childhood studies.
Julie Jones
Desk Manager
Julie has been involved in theatre, both onstage and backstage, for over 40 years. She is a keen choir singer, having sung in many productions and in the Llangollen Eisteddfod. Both her children trained in dance and drama from an early age, with her son, Mikey, attending Theatretrain Chester from the age of 10 to 18. He then continued on to further training, and into work in the performance industry. Her daughter, Claire, teaches the Tinies and Minis at Theatretrain Mold, in which class her granddaughter is now having fun and carrying on the Theatretrain tradition! Julie thoroughly enjoys meeting the children and parents on Saturday mornings, and is always happy to help with any questions.
The Theatretrain Story
Theatretrain was founded on the belief that the performing arts should be accessible to everyone, no matter their age, skill or ability. Our large-scale productions are unique to Theatretrain and invite our students to enjoy the learning experience and be a part of something bigger than themselves.
The world’s your stage at Theatretrain Mold!
See our session times and book your initial taster below…