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Paula Diamond
I am
the school's founder and take an active part in all Diamond
School of Performing Arts classes, productions, performances,
auditions, outings, etc and I am on hand at all times.
Self
taught, I began entering my own children in drama and poetry
sections in the Arbroath Musical Festival where they gained
numerous prizes with distinctions and honours. This I took
a stage further - coaching and entering my cub pack, children
who had never previously had a drama lesson, and they too
won first prize. The family then moved south where I gained
employment in a computer-training centre in London's Oxford
Street. However, something was missing! The void was filled
with the birth of Diamond Theatre School. In only our second
year, I entered students into the Milton Keynes festival with
superb results being achieved and then went on to enter students
into English Speaking Board examinations where we achieved
outstanding results. Diamond Theatre School has grown ever
since with phenomenal success. It was decided last year to
change our name to Diamond School of Performing Arts simply
as the old one seemed a little dated.
A few years down the line,
when my son, Dominik, was setting up his production company,
he asked if I could help out for a couple of weeks. A couple
of years later and I was still there. During the time I worked
with the production company Teresa took the helm at DTS though
I was still very much involved. During my time with Dominik's
production company I was Office Manager, Broadcast Assistant
for Radio Five's Sportscall; took part in sketches for BBC
Choice's Diamond Sport and had a weekly reporting slot on
Radio Five Live's The All New Dominik Diamond Show. Events
I reported from included The Soap Awards; Maybe Baby, Gone
in 60 Seconds and The Graduate Premieres; Spitting Image Auction;
Peak Practice Launch; International Wine Trade Fair; AXA Celebrity
Football Match; Rock Festivals, etc) where I interviewed numerous
celebrities including Jerry Hall, Paul McKenna, Vinny Jones,
Angelina Jolie, Ben Elton, Emma Thompson, Jennifer Saunders,
Joely Richardson, Lord Owen, Michael Hessletine, Soap Stars,
Kirsty McColl, Lonnie Donegan, Billy Bragg, Will Mellor, Peak
Practice Cast and lots, lots more. The icing on the cake came
when the show featured as "pick of the day" throughout
the series in "Heat" magazine with my own slot having
it's own weekly mentions with quotes like "Dom's mum's
whacky showbiz reports", "no nonsense reports",
"unmissable showbiz party coverage". Once the company
moved north I was back at the helm of Diamond Theatre School.
For the
last three years I've been Big Brother's Little Mother giving
my views on Big Brother on Dominik's radio shows in Scotland
and I had a great morning with Dominik co-presenting his breakfast
show on Talk Radio in Edinburgh on December 24th, 2007.
Among
other things I got pulled into were feature films Alpha Male
and Enigma in which several of our students took part - seeing
myself and Dougray Scott in the middle of a cinema screen
was something else - all be it for a second or two!! I have
also regularly taken part in Big Brother's Big Mouth and I'm
a Celebrity Get Me out Here with our students and parents
where we have always had our say.
In
2002, I also founded Milton Keynes Community Theatre Company
- the aim being to give locals the opportunity to appear in
the prestigious Milton Keynes Theatre in their own well known
productions. I initially produced and directed West Side Story
which received the Citizen Go Award Reader’s Choice
for Best Local Play 2002. The second production, Annie took
the Citizen Go Award Reader's Choice for Best Local Play 2003.
Next came Bugsy Malone in 2004 - again gaining the Citizen
Go Award for best local play. This was followed by The Wiz
in 2006 - how we so wanted that award again but, lo and behold,
it longer existed. However, we had full houses again and once
again excellent feedback. The next production is High School
Musical which will take place on April 26th & 27th. I
am loving it!!
Teresa
Diamond
Teresa
has been heavily involved in all aspects of Diamond School
of Performing Arts since it first began.
Trained
at Sylvia Young Theatre School, she has many professional
credits in television, radio, film and theatre. Working as
both a child and an adult actor, Teresa uses her extensive
knowledge to guide the young people she teaches and prepare
them for the real world'.
Teresa
is professionally trained to deliver drama, singing and dance
classes and does so to the highest of standards. Having learned
from vocal coaches who have worked with the likes of Blue,
the Spice Girls, All Saints, Denise Van Outen, to name a few,
singing is Teresa's specialised subject and she understands
the need for individual programming when training the voice.
Because of this, Teresa offers private singing lessons at
very reduced rates to senior students when they are ready
for that extra push.
Teresa
is Musical Director for Milton Keynes Community Theatre Company
whose past shows include award winning productions West Side
Story, Annie, Bugsy Malone and The Wiz.
Teresa
delivers musical theatre work shops to schools in and around
Milton Keynes and has worked closely with Milton Keynes Council
and the Bridgebuilder trust.
Having
previously worked as a full time drama teacher, now being
the proud parent of baby Violet, Teresa's full time work days
have taken a back burner, freeing up more time for her to
commit 100% to Diamond School of Performing Arts.
Teresa
also did voluntary work in Ghana which made a huge impact
in her life. So much so she is now fundraising to build and
orphanage. As one of Teresa's fundraisers, she produced an
excellent "Stars in Their Eyes" contest held at
Stantonbury Theatre, presented by BBC's Toby Friedner. It
proved so popular, it's on again this year with Toby once
again on board.
Maria Edwards
Maria,
one of our drama tutors excelled as a student of Diamond Theatre
School for 10 years. Maria had leading roles in numerous productions,
shows, displays and performances. She went on to study Media
and Film Studies with Psychology at Winchester University.
Holiday work included a major web-based project for HBS Education
Services focusing on Victorian crimes and trials in Bedfordshire.
Working with a historian she authored dramatisations of the
crimes and trials, and directed the filming of them using
blue-screen technology. Several current and past students
took part in various roles giving them another superb opportunity.
Post production of the videos for web-streaming was also completed
by Maria.
After
University Maria worked for a year teaching 6months to 5year
olds and their parents at Gymboree Milton Keynes. After this
Maria began teaching ICT and Drama at the Royal Latin School
in Buckingham where she also trained on the Graduate Teacher
Programme. After qualifying Maria moved to Lord Grey to teach
Media Studies, Drama and ICT where she now remains as Head
of Media Studies.
Lucy Mann
Lucy Mann was a
student of Diamond Theatre School from the age of 3 years
old until she turned 18 in July. With 15 years training and
practical experience under her belt, I am delighted Lucy is
staying with us as a member of our staff for one year at
least until she's off on her travels. During her time with
us, Lucy has gained an amazing amount of experience. At least
14 full scale theatre productions many with leading roles,
15 years performing at numerous charity and corporate events
an average of 40 performances each year with solo singing
slots from an early age, lots television work, short films
and talent competitions. An extremely talented actress Lucy
also gained a BTEC National Diploma
with Triple Grade Distinction Distinction Distinction in Performing
Arts (Acting) last year.
Zoe Ballard
Sarah Stratton
Nick Wilson
Alison Smith
Ailson first became
involved with Diamond Theatre School 5 years ago as a parent
firstly her youngest daughter, Rosanna, joined us, followed
over the years by her 3 sisters. Alison was always one of
the first to offer help in all our activities and was always
totally reliable, has lots of experience with children, had
child care and first aid qualifications, police check, food
handling training what more could you wish for. When we
were looking for someone to meet and greet new students and
parents, handle all queries and supervise the students between
classes, who better to ask. Parents know their children are
being taken care of between lessons with Alison at the helm.
Alison also currently runs Lovat Hall Playgroup.
Tammy Sydee
Tammy
is one of our relief staff. Initially Tammy took our Little
Ones class as well as the 2.00pm drama class.
Tammy was an outstanding student of Diamond Theatre
School from the age of 12 to 18 and took an active part in
all DTS activities as well as being a leading light in numerous
DTS productions and public performances. While with Diamond Theatre School Tammy
had two leading roles in short films, several roles in eductational
films as well as television appearances on Dream Team,
Station X and GamesMaster. While Tammy undertook her nursery NVQ qualifications, she
kept her hand in performing with the roles of Principal Girl
in Stoke Goldington’s Pantomimes, West
Side Story and Annie at MK Theatre as well as
leading roles in Maria's videos for HBS Education
Services. Tammy is now in her final year at university.
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