We Are:
We provide opportunities for students to:
Meet The Team
Our wonderfully creative team here at Flying High Expressive Arts CIC are fully DSB checked and have completed or are in the process of completing online safeguarding courses.
Carrie Bird
Director / Workshop Leader (Acting / Dance)
How long have you worked for Flying High?
23 years
What is involved in your role at Flying High?
I manage the team of freelance workshop leaders, lead discussions and decisions on the provision of workshops, liaise with parents, organise performance opportunities and projects and manage the finances of the company. This is with help and support from the Directors, the Workshop Leaders and the Administrative Assistant.
In addition, I lead the Lamda Acting groups, the Phoenix Theatre Company (adult drama group) and the Young Company.
How did you gain experience for your role?
I trained as a teacher of PE, Dance and Drama in Liverpool and worked as a Head of Drama and Dance for 16 years in a secondary school before establishing Flying High and taking on a University lecturing role. I examine GCSE and A Level Drama and Theatre and have written many theatre pieces and directed full length plays and musicals.
What is your first memory of performing?
At a very young age, I performed in small ballet shows but when I was 12, I wrote the script for our class production of the musical Oliver from my memory of the film and played the Artful Dodger.Â
What is your favourite show/play/performance?
I have many but I was lucky enough to see the original cast of Cats in London in the early 80’s which was fantastic. More recently, my favourite play was Denise Gough in ‘People, Places, Things’ and the musical ‘Come From Away’.
What is your most memorable moment at Flying High?
It has to be in 2012 when our Young Company was selected to perform our NT Connections play which was a musical called ‘Alice by Heart’ by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik, at the Royal National Theatre in front of 800+ people.
Sophie Hatton
Workshop Leader/Administrative Assistant
How long have you worked for Flying High?
4 years
What is involved in your role at Flying High?
I lead the Junior 2 Drama group, the Senior drama group, the Senior Youth Theatre and assist with the Young Company and their productions. I also work with Carrie assisting with some of the administration tasks and in particular, the newsletter and social media posts.
How did you gain experience for your role?
I trained in Physical Theatre at East 15 Acting School and established an award winning family theatre company that combines storytelling, puppetry and movement called Ditto Theatre Company where I am the Co-Artistic Director and Producer. I have written, performed and toured shows both nationally and internationally and have facilitated drama and dance workshops for a number of organisations including Nottingham Playhouse. I am currently studying for a PGCE in secondary drama and theatre.
What is your first memory of performing?
AÂ talent show at a holiday camp when I was three years old and I pretended to be a Spice Girl and won! I wasn't officially entered into the competition however took it on me to enter myself!!!Â
What is your favourite show/play/performance?
In my first year at Drama School I went to see The Drowned Man by Punchdrunk, a company that specialises in immersive, physical theatre and it was incredible! A three-hour experience in which you were totally immersed into another world, where performers moved around you. The show took place at a warehouse in which it was totally transformed into a Hollywood movie set over numerous floors. You could pick where you wanted to go and what story interested you. The level of detail was amazing!
What is your most memorable moment at Flying High?
Going to Berlin as part of a Dance Exchange back in 2010. It was such a brilliant experience to meet another youth dance company as well as work with a professional choreographer. Plus experiencing the sights of Berlin was an added bonus!Â
Toni Tailor-Bird
Workshop Leader
How long have you worked for Flying High?
5 years
What is involved in your role at Flying High?
I lead the Inter Drama group and the Inter Youth Theatre and assist with the Lamda Acting exam groups.
How did you gain experience for your role?
I trained in Acting at the Arden School of Theatre in Manchester and established Boundless Productions with other local artists, creating and performing new work. I performed with Contact Theatre as part of the Contacting the World Festival and have acted in many short films, written and directed my own too. In addition to Flying High, I have lead workshops at Mansfield Palace Theatre and educational settings, adapted books for the stage and written original content for performance by young people.
What is your first memory of performing?
My first memory of performing was in a school production of the Pied Piper. I broke my leg in a skiing accident prior to the show so was cast as the child that got left behind by the Pied Piper because they couldn't keep up. I thought this was an excellent role at the time as I had the audience to myself for all of about 15 seconds.Â
What is your favourite show/play/performance?
My favourite performance I have ever seen was Sir Ian McKellen in Waiting for Godot. It was an acting masterclass. He was unrecognisable as himself, yet everything felt believable and congruent. I was mesmerised beginning to end.Â
I was also very lucky and got to see The Cursed Child. As the junior groups will know, I am a huge Harry Potter nerd, and I was not disappointed. Â
What is your most memorable moment at Flying High?
My most memorable Flying High moment is actually repeated with a number of students: it is seeing our LAMDA students finally smile because their confidence has grown, they are proud of all they have achieved and how far they have come on their journey. It makes me love doing what I do.Â
Laura Halliwell
Workshop Leader
How long have you worked for Flying High?
I have been working at Flying High for half a year now.
What is involved in your role at Flying High?
In my role as tutor, I help encourage understanding about preparation for good singing. We experiment with lots of warm up singing games and work at listening and carrying tunes independently, whether that be in harmony or in the round. We enjoy learning, creating and developing both familiar and unfamiliar songs from choral and musical traditions.
How did you gain experience for your role?
I have been a drama and English teacher at a secondary school for many years and have been fortunate enough to have sung in school and adult choirs from the age of 7. I believe group singing has such a positive effect on happiness and well- being and is such fun.
What is your first memory of performing?
My first memory of performing was playing a Pirate in Junior school, singing bonkers homemade lyrics over familiar tunes.
What is your favourite show/play/performance?
I am a classic at heart and love well-established playwrights like Shakespeare and Arthur Miller but I am endlessly curious about contemporary performances and love attending the annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival to admire more talent.
I was also very lucky and got to see The Cursed Child. As the junior groups will know, I am a huge Harry Potter nerd, and I was not disappointed. Â
Kiera Sanderson
Workshop Leader
How long have you worked for Flying High?
I am a classic at heart and love well-established playwrights like Shakespeare and Arthur Miller but I am endlessly curious about contemporary performances and love attending the annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival to admire more talent.
What is involved in your role at Flying High?
Since September I have been working as a dance lead every Saturday with their youth company, covering a range of contemporary techniques, physical theatre and developing performance quality. During classes we explore a range of creative and choreographic tasks, building confidence in performance and encouraging play and improvisation.Â
How did you gain experience for your role?
Since graduating from Falmouth University in 2021, I have worked as a professional dancer and performer in the UK and internationally, notably with Neon Dance, Tom Dale Company and Yskynna Vertical Dance. I spent 4 months in Bangkok Thailand leading contemporary classes with a focus on floor work and improvisation and performed with French dance company Duck-billed Company in Lyon in 2023. I am now based in the East Midlands and deliver contemporary classes across Leicester and Nottingham, as well as developing solo contemporary dance work.Â
What is your first memory of performing?
My first memory of performing was when I was about 4 years old, it was Boxing Day and my family and I were at a restaurant called Blots (I don’t know if it’s still there!) During the evening, I was called on stage to sing Little Donkey - which I did! Looking back I was mortified, but at the time I thrived!Â
What is your favourite show/play/performance?
My favourite performance would be Enter Achilles by DV8 Theatre. I watched the film version in my first year training at Falmouth, and immediately struck me - the strength, discipline and soul of the performers and creativity in story telling through dance opened up a world to me. Although the work deals with dark themes, it is touching and done with sensitivity and bravery.Â
Charlie Parker
Guest Workshop Leader
How long have you worked for Flying High?
I originally started Flying High on placement in the final year of my degree in October/November 2021. I then got offered a job a started working in April 2022.Â
What is involved in your role at Flying High?
I am a workshop leader/assistant and absolutely love it! I currently lead the Junior Drama 1 on Monday evenings and assist Sophie on Saturday mornings with the Senior Youth Theatre. My role involves leading warmups, leading short improvisations, directing and co-directing but mainly being there to help and support the members.Â
How did you gain experience for your role?
I trained in musical theatre for 4 years at the Eastern School of Performing Arts, before gaining my BA (hons) Degree in Performing Arts through Nottingham College. Now, I am studying a PGCE to become a secondary school Drama Teacher. I have previously worked in a nursery so also have experience with very young children!Â
What is your first memory of performing?
My very first memory of performing was being a Brussel sprout in a primary school Christmas production, dressed in green, my face painted green with a green hat that was stuffed with a plastic bag to make it appear puffy, all whilst singing my very first solo all about people not liking Brussel sprouts!Â
What is your favourite show/play/performance?
My favourite show that I have seen to date has to be the current production of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club in the West End. I was in awe! It was an incredible production and really immersive.Â
Sophie Hatton
Workshop Leader (Acting)
Sophie is a freelance Actor, Workshop Facilitator and Producer based in Nottingham. Having gained a First-Class degree in Physical Theatre from East 15 Acting School, Sophie went on to establish Ditto, an award-winning family theatre company that combines storytelling, puppetry and movement to inspire and engage 8-11 year olds. Sophie is Co-Artistic Director and Producer of Ditto Theatre Company and has co-devised, written and performed in five shows, touring to a range of venues, schools, festivals and community settings, both nationally and internationally. Sophie has performed with companies such as Tangled Feet, Next Door Dance and Blowfish Theatre. She has also facilitated Drama and Dance workshops both in person and online for a range of schools, colleges, libraries and venues, most notably Derby Theatre, Greenwich Theatre and The National Theatre of Scotland. Sophie is also part of the core Freelance Participation team at Nottingham Playhouse. Sophie is proud to be a Workshop Leader for Flying High, after being involved in the company as a young person for over 10 years!
Sophie Thorpe
Workshop Leader (Dance)
Sophie is a freelance dance artist, performer, maker and teacher based in Nottingham. After completing her training at London Contemporary Dance School, she went onto join Verve, the post-graduate performance company of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance gaining Distinction. She is the co-founder of female-led dance collective Feet off the Ground, who make physical and surprising shows for indoor and outdoor spaces, rooted in contact/partner work and collaboration. Sophie has toured nationally and internationally with renowned choreographers such as Ben Duke, Lea Anderson, Tom Dale and Sarah Dowling. She also works extensively in opera, working at institutions such as the Royal Opera House and Glyndebourne. She believes in the power of dance to heal, transform and inspire and is passionate about the role that movement, expression and creativity plays in people's lives. As a teacher, Sophie has taught at some of the world’s leading conservatoires for dance such as London Contemporary Dance School, Trinity Laban, Northern School of Contemporary Dance and Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance as well as on the National Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) programmes for young people.
Rachel Bird
Guest Workshop Leader (Acting / Dance / Singing)
Rachel left college and secured a job as a show performer at Alton Towers and spent two summers in Camp America before training as an actor at the Oxford School of Drama and Court Theatre Training Company, graduating with a First Class Degree in Acting. In 2016, Rachel completed her MA in Musical Theatre with a Distinction at the Guildford School of Acting. Theatre credits include: Macbeth (musical – YMT:uk); The Other School (NYMT); Cinderella (West Wing Arts Centre); The Seagull, playing Nina (Resort Studios, Margate); Once Upon a Nightmare (Edinburgh Festival); The Bounce (Oily Cart UK Tour); Jack and the Beanstalk (London Tour); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Edinburgh Festival); Carousel (GSA); First Date (GSA); Aladdin, playing The Empress (Courtyard Theatre, Hereford). Rachel has also worked as a TA in several Specialist schools for young people with learning disabilities throughout London. Since 2019, Rachel has been working onboard AIDA Cruise Ships as a Lead Soloist in the production shows. She is now extremely happy and lucky to be back onboard as part of the first ensemble reappearing in the ships.
Tash Bird
Guest Workshop Leader (Singing)
Tash is a singer/songwriter from Nottingham who graduated from The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance, London in 2014 with a BMus (Hons) in Popular Music Performance. Since graduating Tash has played numerous gigs and festivals across the UK, most notably at YNot Festival, Splendour and Edinburgh Fringe, as well as touring internationally in the US and New Zealand. Tash released her first EP ‘Normal is Boring’ in 2016 to critical acclaim, with follow up singles ‘Reminded’, ‘Someone (The Stir Fry Song)’ and most recently ‘Only When I’m Drunk’ with over 35k streams. Tash has led projects in singing and song writing for Inspire Youth Arts and is a Creative Facilitator and Songwriter for Unanima Theatre Company, whose specialism is creating theatre with intellectual and developmental disability adults. In addition to music, Tash has worked as a TA part time at Foxwood Academy, a specialist school for young people with learning disabilities.
Jack Quarton
Guest Workshop Leader (Acting / Singing)
Jack trained as an actor at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), and works as an actor-musician, MD, composer/arranger and lyricist. Jack’s most recent work includes ’Amelie’ (West End), ’Assassins’ (Watermill Theatre), and ‘Wonderland’ (Nottingham Playhouse). He has worked with venues/companies including Northern Broadsides, Derby Theatre, Bolton Octagon, and Pants on Fire. For Flying High, Jack has written music and lyrics for several productions for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and continues to work for the company as a freelance drama and singing tutor, composer/lyricist, MD and sound designer.
Georgina Saunders
Guest Workshop Leader (Dance)
Georgie is a freelance dance artist born in Nottingham and has danced since the age of 4. After gaining a BA (Hons) in dance at Manchester Metropolitan University she returned to pursue a career in dance. In addition to working as a Workshop Leader for Flying High, Georgie has worked on large scale performance projects with Nottingham City schools, County Youth Arts, Dance 4 and Gedling Borough Council, delivering dance to children from aged 2 in the early stages of movement, to A level aged students working towards exams. She also teaches for Louisa Holmes School of Performing Arts. Georgie is a Co-Founder of Next Door Dance and has delivered a number of successful youth dance projects with the company, as well as touring nationally. Georgie is also a regular performer for Spiltmilk Dance, having toured with the company in both 2020 and 2021 in their hit show, ‘Desert Island Flicks’. Georgie delivers for the Royal Ballet School in their Primary Steps department, providing opportunities for young people in ballet where it may not be as readily accessible. Georgie is currently studying for an MA in Education (Dance Teaching) with the Royal Academy of Dance.
Amy Legge
Guest Workshop Leader (Acting)
Amy trained as an actor at Bretton Hall College, before completing a PGCE in Post Compulsory Education at The Institute of Education (University of London) and a Masters in Applied Theatre from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Amy worked extensively as an Agent and was part of the Casting Team for the long running TV series ‘The Bill’ and ‘Murder Investigation Team’. Amy worked as a Teacher of Acting in Musical Theatre at the BRIT school in Croydon before joining Nottingham College as Course Leader for Level 3 Acting. Amy now runs the BA Performing Arts Programme at Nottingham College which incorporates the BA at Expressions Performing Arts. Amy has directed over 40 productions, ranging from absurdist and post-dramatic drama, to comedy and full length musicals. Her focus is on the development of the actor as a part of an ensemble and her ethos is to encourage creativity and the development of the thinking actor. Amy is passionate about working with young people and encouraging them to have a voice; to develop their creative skills and performance technique in order to help them build careers in the industry. As well as running the BA, Amy works as an Associate Artist with the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and is a member of the Participation team at Nottingham Playhouse. She also hosts regular guest lectures, specialising in audition technique.
Jennifer Manderson
Guest Workshop Leader (Dance)
After graduating from Coventry University with a first class honours degree in Dance, Theatre and Professional Practice in 2010, Jennifer settled in Nottingham. Her career has seen her work extensively as a performer, facilitator, choreographer and producer. Jennifer is passionate about delivering and devising joyful dance experiences for all to enjoy, especially those that might think dance is not for them. Jennifer is passionate about creating work which is relevant and accessible, using the creative process to engage directly with communities. Jennifer’s creative work is very much driven by the people she meets, often gathering stories and anecdotes which inspire the content and narrative of her shows. As a performer, Jennifer has toured extensively with Spiltmilk Dance. Predominantly engaging with the rural touring network, she has performed in hundreds of village halls up and down the country; from the Scottish Highlands to Cornwall and from Norfolk to Wales. Jennifer performed in Spiltmilk Say Dance, Blast from the Past, The Little Love Cabaret and Desert Island Flicks. In 2014, Jennifer was a founding member of Next Door Dance Company, serving as Artistic Director until 2020. She was committed to building unique and inspiring partnerships, bridging the gap between the arts and other sectors, particularly within Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands. This included forging relationships with local councils, football charities, housing associations, youth clubs and community organisations to deliver projects with real impact. Her show, The Beautiful Game, has been performed in theatres across the UK, including Nottingham Playhouse, Barnsley Civic, Wolverhampton Arena, but also community venues, prisons, football pitches and clubhouses. In 2019, The Beautiful Game was performed at Edinburgh Fringe Festival, with a sell out run. Her work has privileged her to teach and collaborate with hundreds of children and young people. Developing her practice within primary and early years settings, Jennifer has produced and delivered youth dance projects in collaboration with Inspire Youth Arts, Tom Dale Company, Halle Orchestra, Royal British Legion, New Art Club and Dance4’s Centre for Advanced Training. Her work with youth companies has been selected to be performed at the National Youth Dance Festival multiple times. In 2020 Jennifer took a step away from her dance career to retrain as a nurse. She is interested in the role that the arts can play in delivering more holistic and person-centred care and is excited to find ways to merge her passion for dance, with modern healthcare.
Toni Sherwood-Pearce
Workshop Leader (Acting)
Toni has been involved in theatre for 20 years, first performing with Theatre Train as a teenager. Toni chose to specialise in acting and in 2008 she gained a HNC in Acting. Later she achieved a BA Hons degree in Professional Stage Practice: Acting, from the Arden School of Theatre in Manchester, where she was lead role in a number of productions including Bernard Alba and a Children's Hour, directed by David O'Shea. In 2012 Toni formed Boundless Productions with other local performance artists, creating and performing new work. She performed as a part of Contact Theatre's, (Manchester) Contacting the World, Festival. Toni has acted in numerous short films and written and directed her own. Toni is a facilitator of drama at both Flying High and Mansfield Palace Theatre, working with young people from the age of 4. Toni has also worked as a playwright, adapting books for the stage and writing original content for performance by young people, as well as creating and leading workshops in education settings.
Our 'Board of Directors'
Jack Quarton
Company Director
Actor-Musician,
Composer and Musical Director
Composer and Musical Director
Martha Toogood
Company Director
Cultural Education Producer
Andy Dawson
Company Director
Retired Manager of Inspire Youth Arts
Sarah Cook
Company Director
Arts and Culture Development Officer for Gedling Borough
Lee Towers
Company Director
Retired Finance Director of Nottingham University
Important Information
All our team are fully DBS checked and have completed or are in the process of completing online safeguarding courses.
Get In Touch
If you have any questions or would like any general information, please don’t hesitate to contact us as we will be more than pleased to help in any way we can.
