STAFF
Our teaching faculty
RIA DONGWORTH
Principal
Ria began teaching at the age of 16 before working in Cyprus and Turkey choreographing and performing in shows, including her own cabaret act which toured the hotel group.
Since graduating from drama school in 2009, Ria has worked as Movement Director for the award winning London Fringe group Lazarus Theatre Company as well as performing in shows at the New Wimbledon Theatre and Southwark Playhouse.
Ria teaches our musical theatre groups and show teams, as well as private singing and LAMDA drama exam classes.

CAROL COOPER
Senior Teacher
Carol attended Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and received a BA (Hons) in Performance.
Carol teaches musical theatre, preschool performing arts and singing at Diverse. Her pupils have won numerous awards including: ‘Pitch Perfect Team’ and ‘Overall Musical Theatre Winners’ at Pineapple’s Edmonton Glee competition 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Before moving into teaching full time Carol toured the UK and Ireland and performed in many musicals and pantomimes. Carol was also lucky enough to travel to the US as the lead singer in Feet of Fire.

KERRIE CALLADINE
Senior Teacher
Kerrie trained at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts where she graduated with a BA(Hons) in Performance.
Her professional credits include playing the role of Kate in the Number 1 UK Tour of 'Girl's Night', 'The Ceremony' at the Royal Festival Hall and the original cast recording of 'The Railway Children'.
Kerie teaches LAMDA musical theatre lessons.

PHOEBE HARDING
Performing Arts Teacher
Phoebe attended lessons at Diverse Performing Arts before completing a 4 year musical theatre course at Bodywork Company, Cambridge. Whilst in training Phoebe performed at the world's biggest dance event, MOVE IT, at the Excel London with the Bodywork Company.
Phoebe teaches dance, musical theatre and singing.

CARRIE CROOKALL
Guest Teacher
Carrie now runs our sister school in Liverpool and teaches at Diverse Hertfordshire as a guest teacher.
As an actor Carrie played Twinkle in the No.1 UK Tour of 'Dinnerladies', Secret Cinema's 'Back The The Future', the Olivier nominated 'Alice's Adventures Underground' and has appeared in 'Coronation Street'. Most recently Carrie has appeared in 'Bank of Dave' alongside Rory Kinnear and ITV's 'After The Flood'.

NELLIE COSS
Musical Director
Nellie trained as a classical musician, before attending Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance to study Actor-Musicianship. From here, she has been working as a musical director and vocal coach, specialising in vocal technique through the Estill pedagogy, and acting through song. As well as a portfolio career, Nellie teaches both LAMDA and music exams to her students, maintaining a 100% pass rate. Recently, Nellie worked as AMD and played woodwind/reeds on a piece of new writing that premiered at the Southwark Playhouse.
Musical direction credits include YCP Symposium (Royal Birmingham Conservatoire) and Catastrophe Bay (Southwark Playhouse).
