More Coming Soon!
Gemma Louise Bourke:
Singer – Actress – Coach – Teacher – Producer
Gemma began her training in performing arts aged 3 and continued until late teens before concentrating on Acting and Musical Theatre training professionally full time at various institutions including the University of Huddersfield where she gained a BA Hons Degree in Acting, Theatre and Musical Theatre. Then continuing her training on various post graduate courses across the country including East 15 School of Acting, The Blair School, Meredith Academy and Estill Voice Training.
This gave her the opportunity to start a career as a professional performer, singer and actress.
Gemma has had a varied career in performing in Musical Theatre, TV, Theatre, Concerts, short films etc.…
Credits include: Blood Brothers – Narrator, Oliver – Bet, Joseph, Made in Dagenham, Our House, Evita, Blair Dance Company, Elegies for Angels Punks and Raging Queens – Principle, A Night At The Musicals, Shakers, My Mother Said, Threepenny Opera, Dangerous Liaisons, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Life & Times of Marilyn Monroe, East is East, One for the Road, Teechers, Up & Under, Cluedo a Murder Mystery, Short Films & Various Theatre in Education & theatrical events projects.
Gemma has also had the opportunity to direct and co direct many productions throughout her career working with both adult and child performers. Gemma is also the producer as well as being a cast member of of Applause Theatreworks.
Gemma is the owner & founder of Applause Theatreworks providing Singing, Acting, Dancing and Musical Theatre Classes & Workshops together with Corporate events, bespoke workshops and various shows and performances.
Gemma is excited to be part of Applause Theatreworks bringing musical theatre classes, workshops and performances to the local area and teaching students new skills and building confidence in a fun and safe environment.
Gemma is also one of the Applause Theatreworks Professional show cast, who are all excited to premier their new show “West End v Broadway” at the 2021 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Sophie Wysoczanski Barton
Dance Teacher – Singer – Actress
Sophie trained at Stage 84 Yorkshire School of Performing Arts from an early age where she performed lead roles in over 30 productions at Edinburgh Festival, Alhambra theatre and the Royal Pageant for Her Majesty the Queen aswell as appearing in Television programmes such as Emmerdale, Band of Gold, Nickelodeon and “Brontes” by Ken Russel. Sophie also appeared on the Children In need charity single with Martine MCcutcheon at the age of 13.
After graduating with BA Hons in Acting from Huddersfield University in 2008 Sophie went on to pursue her career appearing on BBC’s I’d Do Anything, Over the rainbow, ITV Xfactor and FIVE’s Don’t Stop Believing,
As well as appearing in her own music video “Closer”. Sophie was part of award winning girl group VOXE for Five years.
She also enjoyed touring with xfactor finalist Carolynne Poole and most recently appeared in Panto in Rotherham and Manchester.
Sophie can’t wait to get rehearsals underway.
Izzy McKenty
Actress -Singer
Izzy is a 23 year old actress from bath currently living in Manchester
She has been classical trained in singing since she was 12, and has been involved in many theatre productions throughout her young and adult life.
Izzy has just graduated from a 3 year acting BA at Manchester school of theatre and is currently represented by acting agent Cate Northern.
Izzy performed in the New National Theatre Tokyo, Japan in 2019 in the production ‘The Monster’ directed by David Salter and Maiko Tanaka.
She has also been a scare actor in two award winning scare events and is now a resident actor at ‘Zombie Infection’.
She has travelled in a kids theatre company performing in a production around the South West and has worked as a kids entertainer at parties and festivals since 2017.
Izzy recently produced and stared in her own short film ‘Jennys dinner’ and has been keeping busy during lock down doing lots of short films and will be filming as a small roll in a feature this summer. She also performed in an online women’s stand up comedy show with ‘radicle comedy’.
Credits include:
The Monster – New National Theatre Tokyo, Privates and Confidential, Private Lives directed by Madeline Potter, Half the world away, The Beau Defeated directed by Fiona Buffini, Dice, All Hearts Come Home for Christmas, Rosamaria, Jenny’s Dinner, Us.Me.You, Rhoald Dahls Revolting Rhymes, UVE Events, Scare Kingdom, Zombie infection, The Rondo Theatre Bath, Super Pirates, Crescendo Concerts.
Narelle Hill
Singer – Musician – Composer/Producer – Coach – Teacher
Narelle has trained as a vocalist and pianist since she was 8 years old at the Northern Music Academy whilst also studying performing arts from age 3 until late teens before focusing full time on her music and singing career. Narelle is a vocal coach in Estill Voice training.
Narelle is a full-time musician and singer, teaching Rock Choirs in the West Yorkshire region – the UK’s most popular contemporary choir. Narelle has had the pleasure of teaching and leading her choirs at York Barbican, Halifax Victoria Theatre and Blackpool Tower ballroom, alongside smaller community and charity performances. Narelle has performed on stage at BBC Proms in the park in 2018 and also coming up in 2019 alongside the Rock Choir Vocal group and the BBC concert orchestra.
As a performer Narelle has sang with a number of bands and acts including performing at designer Karen Millen’s birthday party alongside Mica Paris, Tate Modern London, Jazz Café London and The Mayfair Hotel as well as sharing the bill with other great vocalists such as Corinne Bailey Rae and Rose Royce.
Narelle also works freelance providing session vocals alongside composing and producing music in her studio for clients and TV/advert instrumentals as well as her personal music projects. Credits include MTV, Hollyoaks, Pure Gym chains, BBC Introducing, Kerrang radio, XFM, Alzheimer’s music project with many more currently in the pipeline with an agency that Narelle works with specialising on USA TV shows.
Narelle is looking forward to being part of Applause Theatreworks classes and workshops in Huddersfield and is excited to be sharing her singing, teaching and music skills with the children and helping them build confidence and make friends in a fun and safe environment.
Raiona Primus
Dancer – Teacher – Choreographer
Raiona Primus is an up and coming professional artist who has trained in Dance and Theatre from the young age of four, and has continued to nurture her passion for expression in movement and performance since!
After completing her Btec’s and A-levels in Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre, she went on to train under some of the best teachers in the Dance industry in her Level 4 Teaching Diploma Course with Old School Danceworks. She’s had the privilege of being trained by Stewart Arnold, Ryan Jenkins, Julius Ebero and many more who have had a massive impact on her life and career path.
Currently, Raiona helps run a weekly class at Square Chapel, teaching drama and acting skills to kids of ages as young as 5 up to the age of 11 and has an extensive background in teaching and assisting.
Dance is Raiona’s main passion, to perform on stage is where she truly feels alive and at home, and to share such a special experience with the audience through expression and music is a real joy for her. Being able to provide classes that enable children and adults, people of all ages, to have that confidence, recognition and utter freedom to express in their own unique way- without any rights or wrongs is a wonderful thing. And to watch both their abilities and personalities flourish and blossom under her guidance is really the cherry on top!
Raiona is excited to work with Applause Theatreworks teaching new skills and building students confidence.
Sonya Louise Morris:
Dancer – Singer – Actress – Coach – Teacher – Choreographer
Sonya left home to train professionally full time from the age of 13 at The Hammond School of Dance in Chester whereby she gained her Diploma in professional Dance and Musical Theatre. As part of her course she was trained in Classical Ballet RAD/ISTD, Pointe, various styles of Jazz, Tap, Spanish, Pas de Deux and Contemporary.
This gave her the opportunity to start a career as a professional Dancer, Singer and Actress. At the age of 18 Sonya took on her first professional role as “Nadine” in Andrew Lippa’s Musical “The Wild Party” in Vienna, Austria.
Sonya has had a varied and exciting career in performing from Musical Theatre, TV, Dance companies/tours and cruise liners.
Credits include:
The Wild Party Role as Nadine, Company, 42nd Street, Guys and Dolls Role Sarah Brown, Cats, Hairspray Role as Penny, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Role as Muriel, Priscilla Role as Cynthia, Joseph, Made in Daganham Role as Barbara Castle, Legally Blonde Role as Brooke, Performed on Children in Need, Thomson Cruise Ships, Tavadivin Dance Company, Amours Prawn, Dracula, Canadian Records Vocal Records, US Film\Night Junkies, Dance Captain, Children’s entertainment, Peel Entertainment, Showboaters SKY Series, ITV This Morning, Hollyoakes, Emmerdale and BBC Greatest Dancer.
Sonya has also had the opportunity to choreograph and teach Dance/Musical Theatre for children and professional students within Europe. One of her highlights has been choreographing backing dances for West End Star Darren Day. Currently Sonya is the choreographer for K.Y.T.E Production of Phantom of the Opera which will be performed at the LBT this September.
Sonya currently runs her own Dance Academy “Halifax Dance Academy” providing all types of classes in Dance and Musical Theater in a safe environment. Children are given great footings to their future which helps them grow and sets them on their way to achieving their dreams.
“Knowing that by working hard you can reach your goals and have fantastic fun along the way. While working with children and dancers I love the magic you can bring to a life and it brings the magic back to mine”
Having performed over the last few years with Woodhouse Musical Theatre Company Sonya is delighted to be given the opportunity to work with the cast and production team as choreographer in creating an iconic musical and bringing the energetic charisma of West Side to Huddersfield.
Sonya can’t wait to work with Applause Theatreworks this summer and introduce children to some of her favorite musicals, making it fun and teaching children new skills and keeping them active over the Holidays.