The Claire Goodwin Theatre Arts School
Dancing, singing, acting and performance for students aged 3 and up
Teachers
Laura Verrall
Laura was at the school from the age of two until she left to study musical theatre at The Arts Educational School in London. After graduating she spent ten years working in all aspects of dance, drama and musical theatre; ranging from opera through to urban street jazz.
In 2004 she founded, and ran, her own theatre production company where she produced, co-directed and choreographed a musical revue which toured throughout the country. During this time she was lucky enough to work alongside several stars of the West End. She also travelled to New Zealand where she was asked to teach dance and musical theatre to future graduates, at the Wellington School of Performing Arts. On her return to this country she decided to come back to her roots and is now coaching future stars of stage and screen, helping them achieve their dream!
Her extensive knowledge of theatre, both on stage and behind the scenes, has given Laura a broad range of expertise to pass on to her students. In addition to this she claims she has the best job in the world and wouldn't trade with anybody!!
She also once shook hands with George Lucas and sat behind Samuel L. Jackson at the world premier of Star Wars (she forgets which episode), has sold a programme to Alan Rickman although, allegedly, he didn't actually pay for it. And, most bizarrely, in an unusual turn of events was rushed on as Ruth Madoc's understudy, as a rather unlikely wicked queen - without the slightest trace of a Welsh accent!
In 2004 she founded, and ran, her own theatre production company where she produced, co-directed and choreographed a musical revue which toured throughout the country. During this time she was lucky enough to work alongside several stars of the West End. She also travelled to New Zealand where she was asked to teach dance and musical theatre to future graduates, at the Wellington School of Performing Arts. On her return to this country she decided to come back to her roots and is now coaching future stars of stage and screen, helping them achieve their dream!
Her extensive knowledge of theatre, both on stage and behind the scenes, has given Laura a broad range of expertise to pass on to her students. In addition to this she claims she has the best job in the world and wouldn't trade with anybody!!
She also once shook hands with George Lucas and sat behind Samuel L. Jackson at the world premier of Star Wars (she forgets which episode), has sold a programme to Alan Rickman although, allegedly, he didn't actually pay for it. And, most bizarrely, in an unusual turn of events was rushed on as Ruth Madoc's understudy, as a rather unlikely wicked queen - without the slightest trace of a Welsh accent!
Jenny Goode
Jenny joined the school at the age of 3 and first performed a few months later in the 1991 production of Peter Pan dressed as a lime green jelly baby! Over the years she has studied modern, tap, ballet and street jazz as well as singing, and tells us she couldn’t wait for Christmastime- not for the presents and chocolate, but because that’s when the school would perform its annual show.
Her first principal role was the age of six when she played ‘Chip’ in Beauty and the Beast. Jenny remembers dancing on stage with the ‘bigger’ girls (including Laura) and wanting to be just like them! In 2004 she played ‘Belle’ in the production of Beauty and the Beast, and a few years later the ‘Scarecrow’ in The Wizard of Oz
She has now achieved her life long ambition to teach and is particularly happy to be teaching here at the school where it all began for her, and where she is excited and eager to pass on all her years of experience to her students. She hopes they enjoy it as much as she always has – but perhaps not as a lime green jelly baby!
Her first principal role was the age of six when she played ‘Chip’ in Beauty and the Beast. Jenny remembers dancing on stage with the ‘bigger’ girls (including Laura) and wanting to be just like them! In 2004 she played ‘Belle’ in the production of Beauty and the Beast, and a few years later the ‘Scarecrow’ in The Wizard of Oz
She has now achieved her life long ambition to teach and is particularly happy to be teaching here at the school where it all began for her, and where she is excited and eager to pass on all her years of experience to her students. She hopes they enjoy it as much as she always has – but perhaps not as a lime green jelly baby!
Camilla Smith
Camilla has been performing professionally for the last eight years following her education at The Arts Educational School Tring, Lord Wandsworth College and The Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford.
Whilst studying for her degree at The Academy of Contemporary Music she performed as part of Nic Rowley's acappella vocal group and Mark Delisser’s ACM Gospel Choir. She also performed regularly with other solo artists and their bands writing parts to accompany the lead vocals and arranging their songs.
While attending the Arts Educational School Tring and Lord Wandsworth College, Camilla performed in a number of productions ranging from musicals to performing with the college big band.
She began her own six piece function band, The Rhythm Smiths in 2003 which performs soul and motown at events and functions. Choral singing is one of her passions and for the past five years she has made a large contribution to The Singology Gospel Choir of London. This has involved solo performances fronting the choir at large theatre venues around the country and most recently being asked to start her own choirs in Andover and Basingstoke under the Singology umbrella.
She has considerable experience teaching singing at both youth and adult workshops throughout the country, and has a passion for passing on her experience in Musical Theatre and vocal technique.