Richard and Debbie bring a wealth of professional experience to Footlights Worcester as both performers and educators.

Richard was a professional actor with extensive experience across stage and screen, with credits including ‘Equus’ at the Oldham Theatre, ‘Cabaret’ at the Palace Theatre, and television appearances in ‘Hollyoaks’, ‘The Bill’, ‘Casualty’, and ‘Holby City.’ He now works as a director and theatre educator, and as Artistic Director, and is co-owner of Footlights Worcester. Richard draws on his wealth of directing experience and theatre techniques to inspire and develop performers.

Debbie’s love for theatre started when she joined a local stage school at the age of 13. From there she appeared in numerous amateur productions, moving onto professional, theatre, musical and film productions and becoming a professional actor. During her teenage years she was a frequent actor on the TV series ‘Byker Grove.’ She went on to study drama at Liverpool University before moving to London, where she performed in the West End.

Richard and Debbie first met while acting for a touring Theatre Company and have remained active in the arts ever since, both as performers and teachers. Together, they are passionate about creating a supportive, inclusive, and inspiring environment at Footlights, and they believe strongly that the skills developed through performing arts help young people thrive not just on stage, but in all areas of life.

Jess holds a BA (Hons) in Drama and Performance and has over 18 years of stage experience, spanning both musical theatre and drama. Alongside performing in numerous productions each year, Jess has led a youth theatre and worked extensively in community theatre and theatre in education.

Her ongoing involvement as a performer ensures she remains current with a wide range of techniques, which she brings directly into her teaching. In addition to acting, Jess has been trained in backstage disciplines including lighting, set, and costume design. This enables her to introduce students to the many creative roles within theatre, showing that there are opportunities for everyone beyond performing on stage.

Passionate about nurturing young talent, Jess is dedicated to helping children grow in confidence and develop a lasting love of theatre.

Lou has been acting in and directing plays for over 20 years. With 17 years’ experience as a primary school teacher and early years specialist, she has staged many large-scale productions for three to five year-olds, often with casts of ‘thousands’ from nursery and reception.

She holds a degree in English and Drama, has trained and performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, and has taken to the stage at Cornwall’s iconic cliffside Minack Theatre. Passionate about theatre and its power to build communication skills, Lou is dedicated to helping young people develop confidence and a love of performance.

Now working with the Footlights Tinys, Lou is thrilled to combine her two greatest passions – children and theatre – creating inspiring experiences for the next generation of performers.

Eden graduated from Wilkes Academy in 2024 with a degree in Musical Theatre, specialising in dance. Her diverse training began on the CADT Programme for Contemporary Dance and continued through Birmingham Ormiston Academy, Wilkes Academy, and Company Jinks. Alongside her studies, Eden gained experience teaching all three disciplines at stage schools and choreographed for an integrated group as part of the Birmingham International Dance Festival.

She recently completed her first professional contract with Celebrity Cruises as a Specialty Production Dancer. Eden now brings all these qualities to Footlights, where she is excited to share her love of dance and the arts. She is dedicated to inspiring young performers, helping each student grow in skill, confidence, and stage presence.

Asha has been passionate about performing from an early age, beginning their training at in a stage school. Since then, they have co-directed the critically acclaimed play ‘Top Girls’ with their college, choreographed a full-scale musical for an Off Grid event, and toured a Shakespeare production across Hereford, bringing the magic of theatre to young audiences.

At Footlights, Asha channels their love of singing, dancing, and acting into every session. They create a supportive and inspiring environment where children feel encouraged to express themselves and excited to explore the world of performance. With a breadth of stage experience, Asha is dedicated to helping each student grow in confidence, develop their skills, and discover their unique potential – whether that means mastering a new technique or stepping into the spotlight for the first time.