Teaching Staff
AJ Gibson
Principal
Singing
Drama
AJ has been involved in theatre and music since she was born. She attended music, drama & dance classes from very early age. She sang in school choirs, performed with local drama groups in a range of productions, from Shakespeare as young as 10 at Cliveden Open Air to pantomime. She attended Wycombe Swan Youth Theatre from the age of 8 until she was 17 performing in shows such as Oliver!, Bugsy Malone & Hot Mikado as well as devised pieces. Between the ages of 11 and 15 she recorded various Key Stage 2 historical musicals for 'Writers of note'.
As AJ progressed, she found her true love lay with music, primarily in singing. While at secondary school, she took over the Gospel choir and helped them to attain 6th place at Sainsbury's Choir of the year only a year after being formed. The choir is still running now and has gone from strength to strength. She also sang and played oboe and saxophone with numerous bands and ensembles.
While at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama she was lucky enough to learn with Tim Rhys Evans and Jeff Howard who really helped her with the crossover styles which she loved. This was a real turning point as it showed her how a classical training can truely help with all styles of singing, which she now imparts to her current students. AJ worked with the drama department in their show of Sondheims Company! This gave her the opportunity to work closely with the exceptional drama teachers and students within the department.
AJ has toured with many bands and choirs. She had the opportunity to study in Australia at Newcastle Conservatorium and performed extensively while there.
AJ started teaching while in Cardiff for stagecoach and a local independant stage school, which had students who have gone on to work professionally in the industry. When she graduated she continued her teaching for TheatreTrain, High Wycombe. During this time she trained in basic stage combat with the BADC and APC.
From the age of 16 she has been a background artist and body double for film and TV including Midsomer Murders, Him & Her season 4, Pirates of the Caribbean 3, Captain America, Black Sea.
AJ is excited to put all her previous experience into Act 1 Performing Arts and pass her knowlegde on to the next generation. She is always eager to learn new things and inject inspiring ways of helping young people develop, not only their acting & singing, but their confidence and life skills.
Emma Frith
Dance
Drama
Emma is a professional Princess and has 20 years of dance experience; she has trained and competed in the following styles: ballet, tap, jazz, freestyle, latin, ballroom, street dance, cheer dance and contemporary - she has qualifications in both IDTA and ISTD dance examination boards. Emma started off her training at a local dance school in her tiny hometown in Kent and soon moved on to train at a specialist school for the Performing Arts, where she received the highest GCSE Dance grade in the country. At age 14 she was accepted and trained at The National Youth Theatre of GB, which has also trained the likes of Dame Helen Mirram, Matt Smith, David Walliams and Orlando Bloom. After discovering her passion for musical theatre at college level, Emma moved on to gain a BA honours degree in Performance and Dance at Buckinghamshire New University, where she was also given the award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Performance and Dance’. Emma was the chairperson and Head of Dance for the Buckinghamshire New University Performing Arts Society, and the Latin and Ballroom team choreographer for BNU Dance, where her choreography won competitions all over the UK.
After university, Emma went on to study at a drama school in London, during her time studying she also performed in many professional shows and music videos - she was even seen on The Royal Variety Show in 2013 as part of “I Can’t Sing: The X Factor Musical”
Emma has been teaching for 7 years with various stage schools including Sway Dance and Stagecoach - she is also the Youth Coach for Wycombe Swan Youth Projects and had a wonderful time helping to put together the wonderful world of Doctor Dolittle with 180 children back in July.
In her spare time, Emma runs a national award winning children’s party entertainment company called ‘Fairydust Entertainment’ which currently holds the title of ‘Best Children’s Party Entertainment UK’. She is extremely passionate about teaching and helping to create magical memories for children.