Lindsey currently works full time with young people in the city centre. The experiences she has gained are community based, recently finished directing a DVD ‘what comes around, goes around’ for Stockport pride in conjunction with Stockport youth action and youth offending team. Also Lindsey has worked with young offenders at thorn cross prison delivering drama sessions. Her school work includes Altringham grammar school and currently works with asylum seekers and refugees besides social services. Lindsey has been teaching drama for the past 3 years.

Training - City College Manchester: NCFE Drama, National Award Acting C & G 7407 teacher’s cert.

Claire works hard at choreographing our dances. She has had many TV and theatre experiences including: BBC children in need, Choreographing ‘Annie’ performed at the Palace Theatre and many musical theatre collaborations at the Arden School of Theatre.

Training - Currently in final year at the prestigious Arden school of theatre.

Ferne choreographs all the dances for Clayton’s footlights and arranges the vocal pieces for our performances. Ferne is a member of norfox young people’s theatre company and has appeared in many musical theatre shows with Footlights theatre school such as; ‘Bugsy Malone’, ‘Treasure Island‘ and ‘Into the woods’. She is soon to appear on the BBC school drama ‘Waterloo Road’.

Training - Currently in year 11 at Failsworth School. Studying BTEC dance and drama and working towards a musical theatre singing honour.

Nichola is behind the scenes at every show and session. Nichola is a social worker, working with children and adolescent mental health. Nicola has been involved in Footlights Academy East from the very beginning. ‘ I feel very passionate about children and young people having opportunities to develop their creative abilities, i feel footlights is a wonderful environment to gain social skills, self esteem and confidence’

Training - BA Hons in Social Work