Anna Izquierdo

Certificates: BA (Hons) Acting: Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. BADC standard certificate (unarmed), Central School of Speech & Drama. Enhanced DBS, 12hr Paediatric First Aid, Level 2 + 3 Safeguarding for Children, Licensed chaperone LBRuT.

 

Anna is Founder of White Rabbit Drama Club and Twickenham Youth Theatre and has over 20 years experience in The Arts. Her love of drama grew as a teenager attending Manchester Youth Theatre and she spent many happy years performing at MYT and in community theatre before attending Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, where she graduated in 2004, with BA (Hons) in Acting. Following graduation, she performed in short films, BBC Comedy and theatre in education and wrote, produced & performed in a series of plays for Edinburgh, Brighton and London Fringe described as 'One to Watch' by The Stage and 'sleek, streamlined and utterly compelling' by the Scotsman Newspaper.

 

Anna & Co-Founder Katie established White Rabbit Drama Club in 2017 with the aim of teaching primary children the skills & values used in Devising & Improvisation and this style of teaching struck a chord with members, growing from an original class of 8 to over 250 weekly members. Having seen first hand the challenges that young people faced during the pandemic, 2021 felt like the perfect time to offer theatre based sessions for older pupils that incorporate these holistic & invaluable drama techniques. She is incredibly proud of the achievements of TYT so far and excited to be entering 2024-2025 with such a strong and supportive ensemble of facilitators & members.

Certificates: First Class degree, Drama and Applied Theatre, St Mary's University. Enhanced DBS, 12hr Paediatric First Aid, Level 2 + 3 Safeguarding for Children, Licensed chaperone, Hounslow.

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Laura-May is an award winning facilitator with over 10 years of experience working with children, young people and adults. She regularly works with local companies; White Rabbit Drama Club and Speakout Hounslow, and gained invaluable experience as Director of Richmond Shakespeare Society's YAC  and RSS JAC, whom she worked with for over 4 years. In her work with RSS, LM took part in National Theatre Connections and produced/directed from 2020-2023, completing her 2023 season with 'Jake Revolver, Freelance Secret Agent' and receiving a Swan award for 'Best Youth Production of a Play'.

 

Her most recent work took place for Speak Out In Hounslow a local charity who aim to help adults with disabilities speak out and be heard, who commissioned her to devise and direct a film with their members about Hate Crime, that was filmed in August 2023. The project was well received and Laura-May has since been tasked with the happy challenge of devising an outreach program to use the film within school settings all around London.

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Laura-May is a Founder of Twickenham Youth Theatre, forming an important part of our core team in 2021 and continues to act as an inspiring, happy, shining light to all who meet her in the theatre.  

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With a passion for improvisation, Laura-May aims to create an engaging environment that empowers pupils to experiment with new ideas and to learn the value of support & respect for others whilst creating new and exciting work.

Certificates: BA (Hons) Acting: London College of Music. Enhanced DBS, 12hr Paediatric First Aid, Level 2 + 3 Safeguarding for Children, Licensed chaperone, Hounslow.

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Samantha is an Actor & Director with over 10 years experience working with children and young people. She launched TYT alongside Anna and Laura-May in August 2021 and has helped to guide members and consistently shape new work with an ethos of the playful, positive, resilient and supportive theatre we aim to be. 

 

In her roles as facilitator for Bigfoot Arts & Polka Theatre, and as director for ATE Superweeks, an educational charity offering holiday camps for children across the UK, Sam is well placed as our Creative Learning Officer. A role that requires empathy and a sense of playfulness, combined with a genuine love of learning and passion for connecting and engaging young people with the characters and worlds of stories and plays, whilst enhancing their learning not just at TYT, but in all areas of school and day to day life.​

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Following graduation, Samantha performed in plays at the Chiswick and Chapel Playhouse & Theatro Technis, and has taken part in scratch nights on the London Fringe.  In 2021 she Directed 'London Zoo' at The Bread & Roses Theatre, recieving 5* reviews and a sold out run. The play went on to win two awards at the London Pub Theatre Standing Ovation Awards, for Best Production and Best Ensemble.

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Sam continues to direct and perform across the London Fringe, including White Bear and Lion & Unicorn theatres. All this, whilst remaining constant with her love for teaching, working with adults as guest practitioner for Fourth Monkey Drama School in addition to helping her Twickenham Youth Theatre & White Rabbit Drama Club pupils to grow and thrive in The Arts.

 

Her teaching methods are enhanced by the belief that all performers should be given the opportunity to express themselves through drama and the knowledge that the Arts can help to build vital skills needed whilst growing up.

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Samantha's aim is to help young people and adults to; share stories, have fun and create together in a playful, supportive and welcoming space.