Theatre Studio

MEET THE THEATRE STUDIO TEAM-

Joanna Harte – Principle of Theatre Studio

Director, choreographer, drama and musical theatre tutor

Joanna Harte has a wealth of experience working in professional theatre. Initial training was in dance at Bush Davies Theatre Arts where she graduated with RAD Ballet and ISTD Ballet and Modern and a LAMDA Dip, she then proceeded to work as a dancer in theatre and television. Assisting choreographers such as Dougie Squires, Joanna began to move from performing to directing and choreography. Taking a break to retrain she attended The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, and graduated with a BA in acting. Joanna spent a year with the Original Shakespeare Company working and performing in their unique way, along with appearing in television dramas such as Casualty.

Combining her skills of dance and drama Joanna taught voice and musical theatre at Bird College, developing their diploma and degree course of which many students graduate into west end shows, dance and theatre companies. She also taught at the renowned BRIT School and has directed many of Stage Coach’s annual shows with students from around the world.

Joanna was the artistic director of Falkirk Children’s Theatre (FCT) and developed the children’s theatre into a youth theatre for 7- 25 year olds, moving from one production a year to an annual programme of varied productions and workshops.

Alongside all of this she has successfully written two plays and two full length musicals “The Snow Queen” and “Cracker” of which the FCT has performed, and two short musicals, one “When Will” was performed as part of the Short Sweet and Song Festival 2007 in Sydney, the other “Free” a finalist in 2008.

Miriam Walker BMus (Hons) MMus PDOT RCM GSMD

Musical Director and Vocal Coach for Theatre Studio

Raised on the Isle of Wight, Miriam had early ventures into the world of musical theatre through attendance at Sylvia Young Theatre School, however, decided to pursue a career in music and went on to gain a Hampshire Specialist Music Award to Study at Peter Symonds’ College, Winchester.

Subsequently, after being awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music, Miriam also studied as a Worrall and Fuller Exhibition Scholar at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she completed undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Music.

After graduating, Miriam played with some of the World’s leading orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden under conductors such as Haitink, Ashkenazy and Sir Colin Davis.

She is also heavily involved in music education within the arts, with a particular interest in working with children with autistic spectrum disorders.

Miriam now lives in Glasgow and freelances with various orchestras, whilst teaching, and working as an associate musician for Drake Music Scotland.

Suzanne Wyllie -

Morning School Leader and Visual Arts Tutor for Theatre Studio

Suzanne Wyllie was born in Australia and is 27 years old.  Suzanne matriculated in 2000 with results that placed her in the top eight percent in the nation.  She won the Visual Arts Award and the Performing Arts Award as the top student in both these fields in her state.  The ceramics she prepared for her examinations were subsequently exhibited at the Australian National Gallery.  Suzanne was granted a place at the prestigious Melbourne Institute of Technology to study printmaking but withdrew after one term to pursue her musical interests.  For the next eight years she performed her own music in Melbourne, both as a soloist and as part of her own band.  During this time she also held one major exhibition of paintings and drawings, several smaller exhibitions, and undertook a commission for a large mural.  She has nine years experience in delivering childcare programs in Australia and Scotland.  In these roles she has been able to draw on her musical and artistic skills to educate, inspire and entertain children in a range of situations. Suzanne is currently preparing a collection of handcrafted fashion and household accessories, continues her visual arts practice, and performs regularly at venues here in Glasgow.