GAPA STAFF

PETER BIRCH – BA (Hons), MA, PGCE Drama – PRINCIPAL & TUTOR

• BA (Hons) Acting at Manchester Metropolitan University
• MA in Theatre Studies at the University of Manchester
• PGCE in Drama at Manchester Metropolitan University

Peter has been teaching at GAPA since its inception in 2003 and is also a full-time teacher of Drama and English at a school in Altrincham. Peter has run youth groups in the local area since the age of sixteen and after many years being involved with local amateur dramatic groups went to study a BA Hons in Acting at Manchester Metropolitan University. He has worked professionally as an actor, director and writer, on stage and in television, and furthered his education with an MA in Theatre Studies at the University of Manchester. Peter is also a qualified teacher, having completed a PGCE in Drama at Manchester Metropolitan University, and has worked as a visiting lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University and the RNCM (as fight choreographer and director).

DEAN SUMNER – BA (Hons) PGCE Drama – TUTOR

• BA (Hons) in Performance Arts at Middlesex Polytechnic
• PGCE in Drama at Manchester Metropolitan University

Dean has been teaching at GAPA since its inception in 2003 and is also a full-time teacher and Head of the Arts in a school in Stockport. Following his drama training in Performance Arts at Middlesex Polytechnic, Dean became the musical director of a youth theatre company, “The Famous Eccles”, writing the music for five shows, three of which were taken to the Edinburgh Festival. He then joined a series of touring Drama groups, before setting up his own Theatre in Education Company, performing in schools throughout the Midlands. He went on to join a band, touring the UK and recording a number of singles and an LP.  Following a series of ‘other’ jobs, including the head of a small national children’s charity, Dean became a teacher of Drama and Music having completed a PGCE in Drama at Manchester Metropolitan University, as well as acting as an Associate Lecturer, with vocal coaching. He is currently Head of the Arts in a school in Stockport. 

HELEN LAWRENCE – BA (Hons) – PRINCIPAL & TUTOR

• BA (Hons) Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Hull

Helen has been a tutor at GAPA since 2016, having originally joined the GAPA team in 2009 as an assistant tutor. In January 2013 Helen started up our newest class for 5-8 year olds. Helen was born in Leeds where she performed frequently from an early age at the Leeds Civic Theatre. In 2005 Helen was selected to perform at the National Student Drama Festival (NSDF) in the devised piece ‘You have 10 Minutes’ and later that year began studying Theatre and Performance Studies at Hull University. She then went on to manage and coordinate the National Student Drama Festival for the next four years. Helen moved to the area in 2008 and has delivered children’s drama workshops in the North West since.

GRACE GARSIDE – BA (Hons), MA, DipLCM – TUTOR

• Speech and Drama Teaching Diploma, London College of Music
• Musical Theatre Diploma, London College of Music
• Classical Studies BA (Hons), University of Manchester.
• MA in Arts Management, University of Manchester.

Grace joined the GAPA staff in 2015, having previously been a pupil of the academy until 2011. She graduated from Manchester University in 2016 with a First in Classical Studies BA (Hons), and in 2017 with an MA in Arts Management. Prior to university, Grace undertook specific theatre training with London College of Music (LCM), completing a Performance Diploma in Musical Theatre and a Speech and Drama Teaching Diploma. Alongside GAPA, Grace also teaches speech and drama classes at the theatre, with short courses designed to improve performance skills and extended courses working towards graded exams. 

LIV WALSH –  ASSISTANT TUTOR

LOTTIE WARBURTON – ASSISTANT TUTOR