About Theatretrain Royston
Building confidence & training the next generation of performers
Hi, I'm Jess!
I’m the Company Director here at Theatretrain Royston, where my job is to ensure your children are enjoying their professional theatre training in a fun and creative way. I
I started dancing as a shy three year old, and went on to train at Urdang (London) under a full scholarship graduating with a Professional Diploma in Dance (MT).
I was lucky enough to travel around the UK and the world whilst working as both a performer and choreographer for many years. I have also taught at a many part-time and professional schools and colleges.
I started at Theatretrain with my Welwyn-Hatfield branch in 2013, opening my Royston branch, at the dance studios I trained at as a child, in 2017.
It is a joy to work with the children every week, and to see them grow both as performers and as individuals.
Learn genuine theatre principles while you make friends at Theatretrain Royston
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 stages.
Meet the Theatretrain Royston team
Learn more about our team and get to know what we’re all about.
Hayley Crawford
Musical Director &
Musical Theatre Director
Hayley is a singer/songwriter, trained in performing arts at Bodyworks (Cambridge), with a Professional Diploma in Song Writing. She has also toured from England to America performing.
Hayley joined us in 2021 and loves to help people find their singing voice as she feels that music is the food of the soul – what better way to feel the music, than to sing it yourself?
Tia Curtis-Smith
Musical Theatre Director &
After School club teacher
Tia trained at Performers College, graduating with a degree in Musical Theatre (Dance). She has worked with world class choreographers and agencies performing in a host of events.
Teaching since 2015, Tia is thrilled to share her knowledge with the next generation of dancers at Theatretrain and watch them grow.
Maddie-Hudson Clements
Director of Acting &
After school club teacher
Maddie completed her degree in Screen Acting at MetFilm School. She has performed across all disciplines of acting including stage and screen. In addition she has worked as a producer and 1st AD on multiple film projects. She recently completed working for Les Enfants Terribles on a Santas Lapland project in Finland. Maddie is thrilled to be working with our TT children since 2024.
Lydia Barker
Choreographer
Lydia grew up in Hertfordshire and found her purpose, love and passion for theatre at a young age.
She later became a graduate of Performers College where she gained four years of high quality training in musical and dance theatre, leaving as a professional performer.
She has a real passion for making an impact on young performers lives through her way of teaching and hopes to be an inspiration to many. She joined us in 2024
Millie Gaffney
Junior Company Director
Millie received her Level 3 Extended Diploma in Dance from Stage Right (Royston) before furthering her training at Bodywork (Cambridge) with a full Scholarship. Here she gained her Level 6 Diploma in Dance.
Millie is now a TA at a local school, as well as teaching at Stage Right and Theatretrain throughout the week.
Millie joined the Theatretrain team in 2019, delivering wonderful classes for our minis students not just building their performing arts skills, but confidence and other skills for life!
Cora
Junior Company Assistant
Cora is originally from Taiwan and has been living in the UK for a few years. She has a master’s degree in Drama Education and English Language Teaching. Aside from working at Theatretrain, she also works in nurseries supporting children’s learning and development through creative and play-based activities.
She joined Theatretrain in 2026, and loves to support the little ones, seeing them grow in confidence, and sharing their amazing energy each week!
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 Royston!
See our session times and book your initial taster below…
