Meet the Team
our Tutors and assistants
Team Talk
All our tutors at WOAPA are personally selected for their skills and experience in working with, and inspiring children in, the performing arts.
All tutors and staff at WOAPA have full enhanced DBS clearance. There is always someone in attendance who is trained in First-Aid.
Tutors
Lauren Berry
Admin support
+ Dance Tutor
[Friday PM & Saturday AM school & 'Encore!' class]
She has danced in various productions including ‘One night in Vegas’, ‘A Chorus Line’, ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’, Pantomimes and the tribute act: ‘Maybe GaGa’.
Lauren has also danced in music videos as well as appearing on ITV, MTV and Channel 4.
She appeared in the first Harry potter film: ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ and also in "The Imitation Game" with Keira Knightley & Benedict Cumberbatch.
Lauren also appears as a solo dancer in the 'Billy's World' music video 'The Locomotion'.
Lauren is a Director of the, multi-award-winning, Cirencester Elite Cheer Leaders.
Edward Conroy - Singing Tutor
[Friday, Saturday AM & PM schools]
Edward was one of our original WOAPA students
He took part in Productions with OYMT (Hot Mikado & West Side Story - Oxford) and also NYMT (The Beautiful Game & Legend Trippers - London) before training at The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (BA Hons Acting)
In 2023, Edward Graduated with a Master's Degree in Musical Theatre, from The Royal Academy of Music, London.
Since then, Edward has appeared in pantomime in (Dick Whittington, Stratford, 2024), The national tour of 'Zog & The Flying Doctors' (Sir Gadabout) 2024 and Robin Hood & The Magic Arrow (Sherriff of Nottingham, Bracknell, 2024/5)
Kieran Donnelly - Drama Tutor / LAMDA exams tutor
[Friday, Saturday AM & PM schools]
Kieran trained at the Oxford School of Drama and then graduated with a BA (Hons) in Acting from the Birmingham School of Acting (now the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire). His particular strength is in developing ways to make even some of the most complicated aspects of acting understandable and achievable for children of all ages. As well as modern theatre, he has been teaching Shakespeare and Stanislavski techniques to students at WOAPA since its launch in 2012.
Kieran has been coaching students on how to pass LAMDA examinations at WOAPA for the past few years and has a one hundred percent pass rate, with the majority of our students at WOAPA achieving Merit or Distinction grades.
Kieran’s recent performing credits include Jaques in William Shakspeare’s “As You like it” and Devin in “The Name’s I Have Known You By” - a production that was rehearsed in Luxembourg and performed at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Previous credits include Sir Toby Belch in 'Twelfth Night' (Oxford 2019). Tunney in 'No Man's an Island' (OFS Oxford 2018), Leontes in The Winter's Tale (Oxford 2017) and Romeo & Juliet (Oxford 2016/17). Other theatre credits include Henry IV in Richard III (London 2016), Petruchio in The Taming Of The Shrew, Caliban in The Tempest (Oxford, July 2016) and The Ghost of Christmas Present in A Christmas Carol (Oxford 2015).
Kieran's previous performances include Jack in The Importance of Being Ernest and Dromio in Comedy of Errors (2015 Oxford). Kieran’s other credits include Marc Antony in Julius Caesar (2014 Oxford) Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing (2013 & 2012 Stratford & Oxford), Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, Aslan in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and Abraham Van Helsing in Bram Stoker's Dracula.
Kieran is also a writer and director, and has produced his own online film series.
He co-founded the local 'Don't Hate the Players Theatre Company', who's aim is to provide professional performing opportunities to Oxford-based actors and performers.
Chloe Smith- 'Young Performers' Tutor
and Dance Tutor [ Saturday PM school ]
Chloe studied at the University of Winchester, gaining a BA(Hons) in Dance Performance specialising in dance for young people. She then studied for a PGCE in Oxford.
Chloe teaches a range of dance styles including Jazz, Commercial, Ballet, Tap and Contemporary.
She attended "Move It" in 2019 as a Showcase Performer
With her sights set on a career in teaching dance, Chloe aims to deliver dance tuition to meet the diverse needs of students, allowing them to progress productively.
Paul Whiston
'Encore' Tutor
Paul originates from Liverpool, and he trained at Elliott Clarke College of Dance and Drama.
His acting credits include musical theatre: Jesus Christ Superstar, Hunting of the Snark and Kiss Me Kate. Paul has also worked as lead singer with 'Body Language', touring Europe and the Middle East.
Televison includes a commercial for Ford Mondeo, Traffic Wardens ITV, Hotel Babylon and Bleak House BBC (Specialist Sword Fencing Sequences).
Paul worked as a drama teacher at a variety of colleges, schools and Academies for many years, working with students from 2 years to 17 years old and also at University, teaching theatre B-Tech and degree students.
Paul has also lead workshops in Shakespeare and the Classics.
He formed his own youth theatre groups based at The Arts Centre in Swindon and ran successful drama clubs in schools in Swindon and Oxford.
Paul has worked as Youth Theatre Leader, director and producer, and has worked with adult theatre groups. He has also worked with international students in summer residencies based at Oxford University, receiving high accreditations for his good teaching standards.
Most recently, Paul has been working as a full-time drama teacher in a secondary school.
His specialist area is Russian theatre, and his MA in Performing Arts research was on Actor Training and the techniques of Stanislavski and Michael Chekhov.
Paul is also an experienced LAMDA exam tutor.
Tutor Assistants
Evie Arnold
Class Assistant ( Fridays & Saturdays )
More details to follow
Finn Pumfrey
Class Assistant ( Saturdays )
Finn has been a WOAPA student for many years.
We are delighted Finn has returned to WOAPA as a class assistant
More details to follow
George Hiley
General AssistantGeorge was a WOAPA student for 4 years and gained a Bronze Arts Award.
Following that, he has been a WOAPA assistant for 7 years.
George attended a Lord’s Taverners cricket course and achieved the 'Coach Support Worker Award' (awarded by the England County Cricket Board) enabling him to support another coach and work with cricketers of all ages to improve their skills.
In addition, The Lord’s Taverners awarded him 'The Spirit of Cricket Award' 2019 for being “an outstanding individual who upholds the spirit and traditions of the game”.
George recently visited Buckingham Palace to receive his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award!
When not singing & dancing, George likes watching Ice Hockey, American Football, playing Rugby and going to the theatre.
Children's Saturday Theatre School
Singing | Drama | Dance
Ages 4 - 16yrs
Witney - Oxfordshire
Witney Youth Choir, Witney Children's Choir
Ages 7 - 16yrs
Witney - Oxfordshire
Adult Singing Group, Witney Choir
Age 16+
Witney - Oxfordshire
Classes for children with learning disabilities
Ages 7 - 18yrs
Witney - Oxfordshire
