James Westphal
Course Leader
James is a neurodiverse Actor, Writer and Coach originally from Portsmouth and based in London. He trained in Acting at ArtsEd as the Leverhulme Scholar and graduated with a first-class degree. He also holds a Masters in Psychological Sciences from Brunel University. As well as running the Part-Time Foundation Acting course at ArtsEd, James is an associate lecturer at University of the Arts London and a visiting lecturer and project director at Performers College. He has worked at a host of other drama schools and institutions, such as Identity School of Acting, where he was the Part-Time Resident Acting Tutor. He also runs his own public speaking and acting coaching company, James Westphal Creative Development, working with CEO’s, business leaders and actors from Theatre, TV and Film. He is passionate about helping others achieve their full potential, creating safe and creatively fulfilling spaces in which people can grow, thrive and excel.
Theatre credits include: Dead Low(Chichester Festival Theatre), Driftwood (ThickSkin&Pentabus, UK Tour – ChIchester Festival Theatre, Lowry, Traverse, 2025) The Band Back Together (Arcola, London), A-Typical Rainbow (Turbine Theatre, London, Aria Entertainment), Other Hands (Bridewell Theatre, TuffLuv Theatre), The Sam Wanamaker Festival (The Globe), A Wake In Progress (Edinburgh Fringe, Underbelly, Fine Mess Theatre), A Child of Science (Bush Theatre, R&D).
Film and TV credits include: Code Of Silence (ITV), NOMAD (TXL Films), The Paramedics, You Got A Face On (Liftoff, Pinewood), Sweetheart (MetFilm School) and Murphy’s Law (Short).
James’ play Better Yet? was shortlisted for the Original Theatre Playwrighting Award in 2022 and is currently being developed. And his shortfall PLAYM8 is currently in production.
Polly Jordan
Audition Technique
Polly trained as an actor at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London. As an actor, Polly’s theatre credits include Trespass (UK Tour), Blithe Spirit (Swansea Grand Theatre), Blood + Chocolate (York Theatre Royal/Pilot Theatre) and Beacons (Devonshire Park Theatre). Polly’s work as an assistant director includes UK Tours of Invincible (Original Theatre Company) and Not about Heroes (Blackeyed Theatre).
Polly is an associate lecturer across several of the UK’s top drama schools including Central, Mountview and ArtsEd. Her pedagogical approach is person-centred and rooted in exploration and play. She is co-founder of Ace Audition Coaching where she works as an audition coach and mentor to emerging actors pursuing actor training.
James Cooney
Classical
James trained as an actor at LIPA and has an MA in Actor training and coaching from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London.
James has worked across a range of media. He was nominated for Best Actor at the Off West End Awards for Bottleneck by Luke Barnes. In 2016, James began working with The Royal Shakespeare Company. His credits include Hamlet, King Lear and The Taming of the Shrew amongst others. His most recent theatre work was Hamlet Hail to the Thief, a co-production between The RSC and Factory International, fusing Hamlet with the 2003 Radiohead album. James has worked for The Old Vic, Almeida Theatre, National Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe, Headlong and more.
TV credits include the Disney+ Star Wars spin-off series Andor, as well Casualty, The ABC Murders and Silent Witness for The BBC. James has also worked in radio and voice over for commercials and video games.
As an acting tutor, James is the acting for screen tutor at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama for the BA Acting course. He is also a visiting lecturer for Arts Ed, Performers College, Rose Bruford and Italia Conti amongst others. James has ran workshops for New Earth Theatre, Almeida For Free and The Royal Exchange Youth Theatre. He is a trustee for Theatre Centre and a Rising Waves mentor.
Skye Hallam
Meisner
Skye is an Anglo-Indian actress, writer, director and acting tutor from Kingston Upon-Thames. Skye trained at RADA, graduating in 2016 and made her stage debut with TARA Theatre in ‘Paradise of the Assassins’. Her acting credits include ‘The Crown’ (Netflix) and ‘The Alienist’ (Netflix) and Sarah Ruhl’s ‘Orlando’, at the Jermyn Street Theatre. As a director Skye’s directing credits include, Offie Nominated ‘Heads or Tails’ for the Living Record Festival and Brighton Fringe Online, ‘Hamlet’and ‘The Tempest’ at LAMDA and ‘Phantasmagoria’ as assistant director with Kali theatre. Skye is an associate acting tutor specialising in Meisner technique at various drama schools including RADA, LAMDA and Arts Ed. Skye also sits on the audition panel for the Foundation, BA and MFA courses at LAMDA.
Selina Jones
Screen Acting
Selina is a multi-hyphenate creative – her acting process focuses on breath and body while specialising in physically demanding stories.
Kiren Virdee
Movement
Kiren is a Movement Tutor and Lecturer who also works as a Movement Director, Choreographer, and Theatre-Maker, Devisor, and Performer. She is interested in both professional and community contexts and regularly works in facilitation in a variety of setting. Her approach is one of empowerment, agency, accessibility, and rigour. She trained at Trinity Laban and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and has since worked in teaching and facilitation capacities with organisations such as The Place, Trinity Laban, Siobhan Davies, RCSSD, Fourth Monkey, and London School of Dramatic Art. Movement direction credits include Wish You Weren’t Here, Theatre Centre (Sheffield Theatres, Soho Theatre, Touring) Grey Area (Kings Head Theatre) Ghar Ghar (Rosemary Branch Theatre) Raya (Hampstead Theatre) Associate Movement credits include The Jungle Book (Chichester Festival Theatre) 2 Billion Beats (Orange Tree Theatre) Performance credits include Feel Me, The Paper Birds (New Wolsey, Touring) Kiren has recently developed her own work which received support from, and performed at Omnibus Theatre, Bread and Roses Theatre, and the Edinburgh Fringe. Her work aims to explore the nuances, complexities, and intersectionality of identity, creating high quality art which widens engagement. Currently: Movement Director, Brown Girl Noise, Riverside Studios.
Claudia Novati
Voice
Claudia Novati (she/they) is a bilingual creative, born and raised in Italy. After a BA in Acting and a Laurea triennale in Italian Literature and Linguistics, Claudia moved to London in 2018. Here she received an MFA in Voice Studies: Teaching and Coaching at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She has taught Voice all around London, including at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Italia Conti, London College of Music at the University of West London, Fourth Monkey, IDSA, St Mary’s University in Twickenam. She also works for the London Trans Choir, providing gender affirming voice lessons to trans and non-binary speakers.
Claudia has been performing and teaching Improvisation for Hoopla Impro since 2022. She founded ISL – Improv as a Second Language, a community for improvisers who perform in English as a Second, Additional and/or Foreign Language. Her voice practice is heavily influenced by improvisation and multilingualism.
Jack Dixon
Improvisation
Jack is an actor, director and facilitator who previously studied at Arts Ed. He has mentored and supported actors, in a variety of settings, to achieve professional jobs, obtain agent representation and successful entry into drama schools in the UK and USA. Most recently, Jack directed and produced a performance at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre.
In his teaching, Jack creates a safe and playful space for actors to explore their craft. His approach encourages students to release their inhibitions, trust their impulses and take creative risks. With a primary focus on uplifting and championing the actor, Jack ensures every artist feels comfortable and confident about their ability and work.
Steven Kavuma
Project Director
Visiting Industry Professionals Include:
Rikki Beadle-Blair MBE
Becky Rossmaur (CDG)
Ben Castle Gibb
Marcus Ellard
Paris Hoxton (Nicholas Hockaday Casting)
