Mitch Jenkins

Founder & Artistic Director

 

Mitch trained initially with Pennie Bardsley at West Sussex Theatre Studios, Worthing
and subsequently at Redroofs Theatre School.

Mitch has worked and performed with many industry favourites including Kate Winslet, Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson, Vicki Michelle and Rula Lenska and has worked extensively for major organisations including the BBC, ITV and Channel 4.

On May 25th 2015 he appeared on the live semi-final of Britain’s Got Talent where he and his dog Cally ‘The Wonder Dog’ broke the Guinness World Record for popping balloons – They are now the official world record holders popping 100 balloons in 41.67 seconds.

He has lead a West-End Sing-a-Long masterclass at The Royal Festival Hall alongside the cast
of Mama Mia, Jersey Boys and Priscilla Queen of the Desert for S.O.L.T.
Mitch was asked to direct The Reading Hexagon’s Pantomime ‘Cinderella’ with Rula Lenska as Fairy Godmother
after directing the sell-out production of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ at Dorking Halls for The Proper Pantomime Company.
He Directed and was the Vocal Coach for the musical ‘Return to the Forbidden Planet’ at the talent factory,
Kansas City and was also resident Musical Director for The Realistic Theatre Company of Edinburgh for five
years and also directed ‘The Railway Children’ for them. He was Assistant Director on ‘Billy Liar’ at
Southill Park Arts Centre.
More recently Mitch has been Vocal Coach to the  $1 million rock group ‘Purplemelon’ and to up and coming
artists Dane Norris, Middlehill, Contrabanned and Locust Resin.

Writing credits include: Mitch has written and arranged the music to four musicals…
‘Children of the Clearances’, ‘The Railway Children’, ‘The Drummer Boy’ and ‘Barrie’,
all of which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. ‘Culture Vulture’ for The Realistic T.I.E company.
Theme and incidental music for ‘Frankenstein’ for Doug Rollins at the Greenwhich Theatre.
He has also written two comedy pilots for television with his writing partner Alex Raven,
‘Out of the Frying Pan’ and ‘The Ham Club’.

Theatre credits include: Nurse Nancy in ‘Robin Hood’ at The Connaught, Worthing, Caprice (Ugly) for QDOS
at The Hawth, Crawley, Widow Twankey in ‘Aladdin’ for Dick Ray at The Shaw, London.
Jamie in ‘Carnaby Street’ at the Arts Theatre, West End and Nomis Studios, Olympia.
The Soldier in ‘A Game of Soldiers’ with Kate Winslet at The Novello. Dream Man in ‘Mrs. Vershinin’ at
The Riverside, Hammersmith. Mr. Jarvis and Sparrow in ‘Stargazer’ for Polka Theatre, which toured
Wimbledon, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.
‘Spencer’ in ‘Boogie Nights’, on tour for QDOS. ‘Walter’ in ‘Ketchups Kitchen’ at The Wolsey, Ipswich.
‘The Zookeeper’ in ‘Please Don’t Feed the Animals’, for ‘Green Carpet’.
Other theatre includes: ‘Mr. A’s Amazing Maze Plays’, ‘Into the Woods’, ‘The Secret Garden’,
‘ The Meg and Mog Show’, ‘Annie’, ‘Oliver’.

TV credits include: Jim in ‘Birds of a Feather’ (BBC), Rod in ‘London’s Burning’ (ITV), David in
‘Bad Boys’ (BBC), plus ‘Crimewatch’ and ‘Newsnight’ for the BBC. He is also featured as the vocal coach in
the ‘Purplemelon’ documentary.

Commercial credits include: Featured Soul Singer in the KFC commercials (ITV), IKEA commercial for
Norway, Telephonist for Northern Telecom,

Singing credits include: Lead vocals for the ‘Pirelli Calendar’, ‘Princess and the Goblins’ cast recording for
Robert Macintosh, Lead and Backing vocals on the ‘Carnaby Street’ original cast recording for Carl-Leighton
Pope organisation. Lead vocals for ‘Who Dares Sells’, to accompany the best selling book of the same name.
Perks in ‘The Railway Children’ original cast recording.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAURA DAVIES

Joint Artistic Director

 

Laura trained at the Guildford School of Acting in Musical Theatre (BA Hons). After graduating, she joined P&O Cruise’s Headliners Theatre Company as a lead singer aboard MV Oceana and then the MV Oriana. After travelling the world (twice) Laura went on to perform as a solo cabaret artist at leading Warner Hotels across the country. From there, Laura’s credits include Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet” Festival Theatre Open Air Season;  Mole in “The Wind in the Willows” UK Tour; Solo artist at The International Press Party for the Royal Wedding at St James’ Palace as well as numerous appearances as a soloist at various functions.

In 2009, after playing the title role in Cinderella at Reading’s Hexagon Theatre alongside Rula Lenska and CBeebies Presenter Simon Davies (who she went on to marry!!),

Laura joined forces with Director Mitch Jenkins and helped him to co-found Fleet Youth Theatre, Sussex Youth Theatre and then Surrey Youth Theatre.

With the success of Fleet, Sussex and Surrey Youth Theatre, Laura hung up her show tights in 2012 following the West End, UK and European Tour of Abbamania as Agnetha (“the blonde one”), to focus on teaching and developing Surrey Youth Theatre.

Laura now lives in Godalming with her husband and daughter, India, and is enormously proud to be the Director of Surrey Youth Theatre and Fleet Youth Theatre.