Meet The Team
Tessa Churchard – Owner & Professional Actress
Tessa has played leading roles in West End Theatres including, The 39 Steps and Noises Off and on Television in East Enders, Call the Midwife, Casualty, Doctors and The Coroner. In 1998 Tessa qualified as Primary Teacher with a PGCE from The Institute of Education. She has taught in a variety of settings including main stream and hospital schools. Tessa started Drama Hub almost a decade ago with 2 classes, she now teaches 9 drama classes each week. Ages ranging from Reception to A level. Many of her students have been with her since the beginning.
“I started Drama Hub Bucks to combine my two loves – acting and teaching! I discovered acting at school and as a shy child, drama gave me confidence and a creative outlet.“
At Drama Hub Bucks in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, we create a fun, warm, nurturing environment to help our students grow in confidence and develop their communication and collaboration skills. We treat each child as an individual, drawing on their interests and often writing scripts especially for them. Classes include physical and vocal warm ups, drama games, improvisations and work with scripts which lead to shows for parents and family. In our shows there is no star – every student gets the chance to shine. In our recent production of the BFG we had 7 Sophies and 7 BFGs and every child had a good-sized role! Older students take part in film making workshops and last year our oldest group had a session taught by Jonathan Hourigan, head of Screenwriting at the London Film School. We also have a great stock of costumes and props which students use to create some wonderful characters!
Suzy Mannering – Associate Teacher & Vocal Coach
Suzy was born in Blackpool where she began her performing journey at Whittakers Dance and Drama Centre. She continued her love of theatre at Birmingham Conservatoire where she gained a BMus(Hons). During this time, Suzy began teaching at three Stagecoach schools across the Midlands and soon after became the Singing Coach in Aylesbury for 9 years, where she was the MD for a wide range of shows including We Will Rock You, Fame, Honk and Beauty and the Beast to name but a few.
Whilst enjoying her own performing career in shows such as ‘The Thursford Christmas Spectacular’, Suzy was always drawn back to teaching and qualified with her QTS in 2008 where she began her teaching career. Suzy’s highlights have included taking groups to sing at The Royal Albert Hall, The NEC Birmingham, Her Majesty’s Theatre London and The Waterside Theatre Aylesbury. Suzy has also delighted in watching her pupils tread the boards at the West End in shows such as Oliver and The Lion King.
Rob Warner – Associate Teacher & Curriculum Consultant
A highly qualified drama teacher, with over 30 years industry experience, he loves sharing his passion for drama with all ages of children and young people. Rob is Director of Drama at the Aylesbury Grammar School and in addition to working with Drama Hub. He has also worked extensively with infant and junior children, including 15 years as teacher and principal at Aylesbury Stage Coach.
At Aylesbury Grammar School Rob built up the drama department from scratch and wrote all the schemes of work and lesson plans. His role has included Drama Productions Producer and director of numerous joint productions with the High School including: Guys & Dolls and Grease at the Civic Centre, and We Will Rock You, Little Shop of Horrors and Loserville at the Grammar School.
Rob has worked at Aylesbury Grammar School since 1997 and has written versions and abridgements of the Cherry Orchard Midsummer Nights Dream, Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing all performed to great success at the Grammar School.