Our Staff

We are fortunate at King's to have some of the best human resources available to an educational establishment; many staff members are professional or ex-professional performers, directors or designers and have a wealth of experience not only academically but also vocationally.

Simon Atkins B.A
Head of Drama & Theatre Studies

Simon graduated from the University of Birmingham with a degree in Drama and
Theatre Arts and went on to train as a director at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre
School before returning to Birmingham to train as a drama teacher. He has been
an Assistant Director on professional productions at Bristol Old Vic and Birming-
ham Rep theatres. Prior to King’s he spent ten years as a Lecturer in Drama and
Performing Arts at Kidderminster College. He is well-known as an actor and
director with the local theatre scene and has been actively involved with the Swan
Theatre for over 30 years.

Benjamin Humphrey B.A, ALAM, FFA(Dip), GODA

Ben trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and regularly works as a professional actor in theatre & radio. After training Ben was appointed as Director of Youth Theatre for the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He is now an Associate Director at the Swan Theatre, Worcester as well as Artistic Director of Youth Theatre. Ben was recently appointed to GODA (The Guild of Drama Adjudicators). His appointment has made him the youngest member of the Guild to sit and pass the entrance exams.

Trudie Marskell CertEd

Trudie’s specialist dance training included Laban Theory and Practice; she introduced and developed dance here at King’s and both Junior Schools and at Chipping Camden School. She is responsible for the spectacular biennial
Dance Showcases and has been in charge of choreography for 11 major school productions. Trudie instigated the use of professional companies to workshop dance, particularly break-dancing for boys.

Stephen Le Marchand B.A

After graduating from the University of Warwick with a degree in English and Theatre Studies, Stephan went on to the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School to train as an actor. He spent two years working professionally before taking up a position at King’s in 1983. Since then he has taught in the English Department and occasionally in the Drama Department, and has directed over 40 school productions.

Sarah Le Marchand B.A

Sarah was involved in a variety of student drama whilst completing her degree in English at Aberystwyth University and after graduating went on to follow a course in Stage Management at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. She has directed a number of student productions at King’s and in recent years has co-directed Sixth Form musicals with her husband Stephan.

Chris Crosswell
Technical Theatre Manager

Trained as a product designer, Chris brings 30 years of professional theatre experience to the school. He was formerly Head of Design at the Swan Theatre, Worcester and the Everyman, Cheltenham; his freelance work was seen throughout the country’s Repertory theatres, London fringe and a U.S. tour.
He is responsible for the operational management and technical production for all events in the John Moore Theatre.

SPEECH & DRAMA STAFF

Mary Kavanagh

Leanne Hollyhead

Rob Hugenin

Benjamin Humphrey B.A, ALAM, FFA(Dip), GODA