InterACT Trainees 2010

Here are the six lucky students who have made it through to the InterACT scheme for 2010/11 they will be working with a variety of different companies over the next 6 months before returning to Alnwick for masterclasses and to work on their final showcase production in the Spring.

Rachel Oliver

Director

Rachel Oliver started her training in 2007 at Newcastle Performance Academy completing a Foundation Degree in Contemporary Acting. This led into her development as a Director in 2009, completing a BA Honours in Contemporary Directing.
Her experience as a Director started with producing an adaptation of sheliegh Stevenson’s ‘Five Kinds of Silence’, performed at the Studio Theatre, Theatre Royal in May 2009. Following this she was able to work alongside Director Mark Calvert on the production ‘The Imaginary Life of Gavrilo Princip’, which was performed at Northern Stage. In addition to this Rachel continued her development in May 2010 by establishing her own physical theatre production ‘The day in the life of Joe Bloggs’.
Rachel has been encouraged by the styles of such companies as Frantic Assembly and dance company CandoCo, when she experienced working with them in 2007.
Rachel’s passion within theatre lies within contemporary pieces of work that allow an experimental nature.

Umar Ahmed

Actor

Umar has recently performed in Proteus Theatre Company’s very successful Christmas show “The Little Mermaid” in which he played the Prince and Bob the octopus. Before that he featured in Stewarts Howson adaptation of “The Old Curiosity Shop” by Charles Dickens with Northumberland Theatre Company (NTC). He’s really excited to be part of 4play and would like to thank NTC’s InterACT scheme for giving him this wonderful opportunity.

Sarah Jane Gargett

Actor

Sarah Jane graduated with a BA Hons in Acting from the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in 2007. Since graduating, she has worked in theatre, film and television.
Theatre credits include: The Tamer Tamed (Sam Wanamaker Festival, Shakespeare’s Globe), A Christmas Carol, Shelter, Blitz (The Nuffield Theatre), Traces&Graces (November Club, Northern Stage) The Establishment (Etcetera Theatre)..
Sarah Jane is delighted to be touring new writing in the North East as a member of InterAct.

Sarah is very excited to be working with the Live Theatre Newcastle this summer, before embarking on her placement for Northumberland Theatre Company's InterAct training scheme with Nuffield Theatre Company Southampton.

Rachel Gay

Actor

Rachel is so pleased to be a member of the InterACT ensemble this year, and excited to be performing in ‘4Play’. After studying a degree in Chinese and Cultural Studies at Newcastle University, Rachel pursued her passion for acting. Theatre credits include: All Creatures Great and Small (Durham Gala Theatre), The Little Boy Who Lost The Morning (Northern Stage) and Ring Round The Moon (Sheffield Crucible Theatre). Recently, Rachel has enjoyed clowning, mask, and ensemble playing. In her spare time Rachel enjoys Aerial Rope movement and Chinese food.

Charlotte Higgins

Actor

Charlotte Higgins studied at Royal Holloway University of London and graduated with a BA Hons in Drama and Theatre Studies. As part of InterACT she has been on placement with New Perspectives Theatre Company puppetteering Dolly in Dolly. She spent the Christmas period at the Stephen Joseph Theatre playing the parts of Princess, Saami Woman, Sunflower, River and Ice Horse in The Snow Queen. Charlotte has thoroughly enjoyed the last year spent with InterACT. .

Amy Wardley

Stage Manager

Amy Wardley is twenty four, has lived in Newcastle for the past six years and has recently graduated from Newcastle College where she achieved a foundation degree in 'Live Music and Theatre Production'. During her time with Newcastle College Amy has worked on a variety of shows within different backstage capacity's including Lighting Design, Sound Design, Stage Management and Production Management, Amy also has some experience of events management within Newcastle which includes the organisation of a local 'open mic' night which was very successful. Having found that her natural skills lie in Stage management, Amy applied to the Interact scheme as she wanted something that would give 'on the job'
experience as well as allowing her to build on her current abilities.

Amy is very excited to be joining the scheme and can't wait to see what opportunities InterACT will provide.

NTC Staff:

Artistic Director
Gillian Hambleton.

Tours Manager
Hilary Burns.

Finance Coordinator
Karen Hirst.

Designer
Michelle Huitson.

Production Manager
Ben Steppenbeck.

InterACT Students 2011/12
InterACT.

Board of Directors.