About Theatretrain Norwich
Building Confidence, Creativity and a Love of Performing!
Hi, I'm Hayley!
Hi, I’m Hayley, Company Director of Theatretrain Norwich and the first person you’ll usually meet when you walk through the door!
I trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and have a background in teaching and performing arts. I love watching our students grow in confidence, discover new skills and become proud of what they can achieve.
I launched Theatretrain Norwich in 2023 and we now run weekly classes in Hellesdon, Cringleford and Wymondham for children and young people aged 4–18.
Although we provide high-quality training in acting, singing and dance, Theatretrain Norwich has always been about much more than performing. We have a real family ethos, where every child is encouraged to be themselves, make friends, try new things and feel that they belong.
And as you’ll see from our photos, Theatretrain students wear black – so I can usually be spotted in a brightly coloured jacket! I like parents and students to know exactly where to find me whenever they need me.
I look forward to welcoming you and your child into our Theatretrain family!
A Supportive Performing Arts Community at Theatretrain Norwich
At Theatretrain Norwich, children and young people can explore their creativity, develop their performing arts skills and make friends in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Every child is welcome and no previous experience is needed. Whether they arrive full of confidence or take a little more time to find their feet, we encourage each student to get involved at their own pace and feel part of the group.
While we love seeing our students develop as performers, Theatretrain is about much more than what happens on stage. Through acting, singing and dance, children develop confidence, creativity, communication and teamwork – skills that can stay with them well beyond their time with us.
We also offer 50% sibling and Universal Credit discounts on our Main Company and Theatretrain Express classes. Please see our Pricing page for full details and eligibility.
We Create a Welcoming Place to Grow in Confidence
Building skills for the stage and beyond!
Meet the Theatretrain Norwich team!
Meet the experienced performing arts teachers who bring our acting, singing and dance classes to life and support our students each week!
Mariah
Musical Director
A graduate of the Musical Theatre Performance programme at Sheridan College in Ontario, Canada, Mariah has a wealth of experience in musical theatre, having worked on a wide range of productions both on stage and behind the scenes.
She brings her love of singing and musical theatre into every class, helping students develop their voices, musicality and performance skills while encouraging them to grow in confidence and enjoy singing together as a group.
Mariah loves seeing students discover what they can do and sharing in the excitement as their skills and confidence grow!
Jess
Theatre Director
Jess is our acting teacher at our Main Company Hellesdon classes on Saturdays..
Jess began performing from a young age and went on to complete her musical theatre training at D16 Performing Arts College, before continuing her training at ArtsEd and Italia Conti.
Since leaving drama school, Jess has worked professionally as an entertainer and event singer, alongside developing her experience as a teacher. Having discovered her love of teaching during her own training, she has since taught at a variety of performing arts schools across both Norfolk and Surrey.
Jess loves sharing her passion for drama with the next generation and helping students develop their acting skills, creativity and confidence. She particularly enjoys seeing young performers grow, discover what they are capable of and develop their own love of performing!
Julia
Choreographer
Julia is our Main Company dance teacher at Theatretrain Norwich in Hellesdon.
Born in Norwich, Julia began her singing and dance training at the age of five at the Central School of Dance. At seven, she successfully auditioned for her first professional pantomime at Norwich Theatre Royal and continued performing locally before completing a three-year Performing Arts course at Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom.
Julia has also worked as a stand-in, walk-on and supporting artist across television, film and commercials, with credits including This England, EastEnders, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, Holby City, Law & Order: UK, Maybe Baby, Sharman, Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet and Soldier Soldier.
Julia loves being able to share her passion for dance and performance with our students, helping them develop their technique, confidence and performance skills while encouraging them to enjoy expressing themselves through movement.
Amy
Company Assistant
Amy is a primary school teacher with over 10 years of experience working with children, including in early years education. She loves helping children grow in confidence, discover their creativity and experience the excitement and joy of performing!
At Theatretrain Norwich, Amy supports both our Main Company for children aged 6–18 and our Theatretrain MINIS Junior Company for children aged 4–5, both based at Hellesdon High School. She brings warmth, enthusiasm and plenty of encouragement to every session, helping to create a fun, welcoming environment where every child feels included and supported.
Amy is passionate about celebrating each child’s individuality, encouraging them to try new things and helping them discover just how much they can achieve. She loves seeing children make new friends, develop new skills and grow in confidence both on and off the stage!
Matilda
Junior Company (Theatretrain MINIS) Teacher
Matilda leads our Theatretrain MINIS Junior Company for children aged 4–5 in Hellesdon.
She has experience teaching musical theatre to children aged 4–12, alongside leading a Women’s Actors Group for adults. Matilda has also performed in and directed short films and worked as an extra in several feature films, giving her experience both in front of and behind the camera.
Her favourite part of teaching is creating a fun and supportive environment where children feel comfortable being themselves, grow in confidence and, most importantly, enjoy performing!
The Theatretrain Story
Theatretrain was founded in 1992 by Artistic Director Kevin Dowsett, with a belief that performing arts training should be welcoming, inspiring and accessible to young people of all backgrounds and levels of experience.
For more than 30 years, Theatretrain has helped children and young people develop their skills in acting, singing and dance while building confidence, creativity and friendships along the way.
Performance has always been at the heart of Theatretrain. Our large-scale national productions give students the opportunity to bring everything they learn in class to the stage, working alongside young performers from Theatretrain companies across the country and experiencing the excitement of being part of a major production.
Ready to give Theatretrain a try?
Explore our classes in Hellesdon, Cringleford and Wymondham or book a 2-for-1 taster and let your child experience Theatretrain for themselves.
