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 EastEnders, Call the Midwife, Casualty, Doctors and The Coroner. For more information on Tessa’s extensive acting career click here. 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.
Tess x
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.
Sue Bevan LLAM – Drama Hub LAMDA Advisor
Sue works with our Lamda students, offering master classes and trial sessions to give them advice and confidence before they attend their Lamda Exams.
Sue trained full-time as a child at the Shelagh Elliot Clarke School of Dance and Drama in Liverpool and was then awarded a full scholarship to attend The Urdang Academy of Ballet and Performing Arts in London.
She went on to join the Vienna Festival Ballet, and toured the classics extensively in Europe, such as Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Giselle and Coppelia. She then joined The Broadway Musical Company and worked as the Dance Captain and ensemble on the European Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, and went on to play Velma in West Side Story. Sue then worked as a Choreographer, Director and Dancer for TV and Film in Munich, Germany.
On returning back to Buckinghamshire, she founded her highly successful Drama School – DramaWorks, and alongside this, Sue also worked as Head of Prep Drama at Pipers Corner School for over twenty Years.
Sue is currently an international LAMDA Examiner, a Speech and Drama Tutor, as well as directing her local Youth Theatre.
Sue is delighted to be associated with Drama Hub.
Sarah Nicholls – Head of Film
Sarah has just worked with our senior students on a film acting and making module. See some of the students’ films here
Sarah is an Australian-British writer and director. Her directorial debut at 21 years old with the short film “Crossfire” earned her recognition, including awards at the Los Angeles Independent Shorts Awards (Best Women Short and Best First Time Female Director) as well as making its international debut at the London Independent Film Festival. She currently works freelance in the film industry as an Assistant Director, PA and runner, whilst directing short films, music videos and theatre shows. Having grown up locally and always involved with drama, she enjoys the opportunity to inspire and make film accessible to the younger generation.
Matt Austin – Fight Director & Senior Acting Teacher
Matt was our fight director for our recent production of Macbeth. See photos of our Macbeth fight scenes here.
Matt is a professional actor, stunt performer, and fight director with over 15 years of experience in theatre and film. His work spans a variety of roles across acting and stunt performance for the BBC, Channel 4, History Channel, National Geographic, and other international productions—including stunt work on the hit series Vikings. He’s also appeared in popular YouTube short films like Sniper Pug and Baby with a Gun 2.
Alongside his professional career, Matt directs children’s theatre productions and specializes in fight direction tailored for young performers. With extensive experience creating fun, safe, and imaginative choreography, he is passionate about helping kids bring stories to life through movement—whether it’s swashbuckling sword fights, slapstick brawls, or learning to fall safely—always with a focus on confidence, creativity, and teamwork.
Chris Pavlo – Head of Radio
Chris also works with our students when we need to record them. For our production of Macbeth Chris created a recording of our witches voices.
Chris Pavlo has worked extensively as a voice actor and more recently a producer.
Chris was the Radio Acting tutor at Central Drama School and coach for BBC Radio Drama Bursary award.
He enjoyed 4 seasons with the BBC Radio Drama Company, with credits ranging from The Archers to The Way It Is (news-based comedy). He can also be heard voicing video games, animations, commercials, documentaries and podcasts. Chris co-founded and runs The Podcast Company – a production house for podcasts.