STAFF
The wgytc staff consists of industry professionals – many of whom were former Company members themselves. The Company is currently managed by an Artistic Directorate of seven highly experienced drama educationalists and theatre professionals:
Vivienne Buckley (Artistic Director) trained at CSSD and has an MA in Applied Theatre Directing, she is a qualified teacher and gained a first class degree in Theatre and Media Drama. For many years she was the coordinator of the BTEC Performing Arts Course at Gorseinon College as well as joining the senior management team as the Curriculum Area Tutor for Creative Arts and Humanities. As well as delivering on core drama courses (BTEC and A Level) she has been an external verifier for Edexcel and acts as a consultant for education establishments setting up Performing Arts courses. Since 2008 she has been the co Artistic Director of the Gradco, producing professional work in and around the South Wales area. For wgytc she has directed over 10 productions and has lead several winter and summer courses. Her main interest is contemporary drama and she specialises in preparing young actors for auditions to specialist colleges.
Matthew Bulgo (Artistic Directorate member) was a student of wgytc from 1993 until 1999, missing only one residential course in that time. In 1999, he commenced drama training at LAMDA, graduating in 2002 with a 3 Year Diploma in Acting. Upon graduation, he embarked on a career as a professional actor, and more recently has also worked as a freelance writer and director.
Professional theatre credits include: THE CITY, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, THE PUSH & THE PULL (Sherman Cymru), AMPHIBIANS (Offstage Theatre/National Theatre Studio), UNDER MILK WOOD (Royal & Derngate), THE PRINCE HAMLET (Toronto Dance Theatre), MY FATHER’S HANDS (Paines Plough) BLOODY SUNDAY (Tricycle Theatre), HAMLET (Natural Perspectives), BREAKFAST HEARTS, CHOIRPLAY, PATCHING HAVOC (Theatre 503), THE PLAY ABOUT THE BABY, FEEDING TIME (BAC), MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, DANGEROUS LIAISONS (Mappa Mundi), SWEENEY AGONISTES (Arcola), WORDS AND MUSIC (Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard), QUINTO QUARTO (Union Theatre), HOSTAGE:BLEACH:BURN (Etcetera Theatre), THE DUMB WAITER (GradCo), THE EXQUISITE CORPSE, BASH, RIDDANCE, MR. THEATRE COMES HOME DIFFERENT, WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LOVE (True/Fiction Theatre), THE SECRET OF BELONGING, STELLA TIME, CRAZY GARY’S MOBILE DISCO, GULL (Antic Corporation), SEVEN JEWISH CHILDREN (Notional Theatre), BANK, PLAYING HAMLET (Kings Head), COMPANY, CABARET (Broadway Studio). He also worked on development work at National Theatre Wales, Young Vic, Sgript Cymru, Soho Theatre, The Globe and National Theatre Education Department among many others.
Professional writing work has been for Paines Plough, Sherman Cymru, Velvet Ensemble, Writers Bloc, Kennedy Center Washington, True/Fiction Theatre & Ugly Sisters Productions. He is currently under commission with London based site-specific theatre company Squat Collective, Cardiff based new writing company Dirty Protest, and is developing a full-length play entitled Boy Delayed.
Directing credits for wgytc include Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Richard III and Sunday Morning at the Centre of the World.
Matthew is co-artistic director of True/Fiction Theatre, a core member of Dirty Protest Theatre and between acting and writing commitments, he also works as a part-time lecturer at Gower College Swansea.
Denise Cavalli (Artistic Directorate member) was a student of the original Glamorgan Youth Theatre, the foundations of what later became wgytc. She went on to study drama and English at St Mary’s University, now known as the University of London.After teaching in London for five years, Denise returned to South Wales to take up the position of Head of Drama in Cwmtawe Community School. In her 24 years at Cwmtawe, Denise went on to become a Senior Tutor and later the Assistant Head Teacher, a role in which she oversaw school organisation and staff development. Denise has been regularly involved with wgytc as a course leader, director and drama teacher for many years and has overseen much of the pastoral care of Company members whilst in residence at Dan Y Coed.
Adrian Hocking (Technical and Finance Manager) trained with the Association of British Theatre Technicians and has spent his career working as a freelance lighting designer across Wales, from 1993 to 2004 he worked at the Cardiff International Arena as the Technical Manager. Currently he is the Head of Production Arts at Gower College Swansea. Outside of College Adrian is responsible for the technical apprenticeships happening at every major venue in Wales including the Wales Millennium Centre and Welsh National Opera. The success of his students and the percentage of learners gaining a place at a Specialist Colleges is second to none. For many years Adrian has been the Technical Advisor and Lighting Designer for wgytc and cydc.
Matthew Rees (Neath Port Talbot Schools Liaison) was a wgytc student, playing several lead roles for the Company, in 2002 he gained a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he completed a Diploma in Acting. Since graduating from RADA, Matthew has performed across Britain playing a variety of roles.
Theatre: THE PASSION, National Theatre Wales, THE DUMB WAITER, Graduate Theatre Company (Gradco), LOOSE ENDS , Grass Roots Productions, MARATHON, Graduate Theatre Company (Gradco), RASHOMON, Minjae Kang OUT OF THE GOLDFISH BOWL, Graduate Theatre Company (Gradco), SHIFT DELETE ERASE, Graduate Theatre Company (Gradco), Vivienne Buckley RICHARD III, RADA Graduate, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, Cunard, GREAT EXPECTATIONS, Cunard, POMEGRANATE, Royal Exchange Theatre Studio, Manchester. Televsion: INDIAN DOCTOR, BBC, BEING HUMAN, BBC 3 Television, CAUGHT IN THE WEB, BBC.
Matthew has worked as a freelance acting coach and drama lecturer since 2006. He completed his PGCE is 2008, specialising in acting coaching at FE level. His directing credits include After Juliet (McDonald), The Rise to Power, a devised piece based on Macbeth, Bouncers and Shakers (Godber) Confusions (Ayckbourn), Toad of Toad Hall (A. A Milne). He is a regular tutor and director for wgytc and the co Artistic Director of GradCo.
Gemma Thomas (Outreach Officer) was a wgytc student both as a performer and as part of the production team. In 2007 she graduated from RADA with Distinction in Theatre Technical Arts (Stage Management). Since graduating Gemma has gone on to work as a stage, event and production manager on a range of performances and events.
Theatre includes: The Lord of the Rings (KWL, West End), Billy Elliot the Musical (Working Title, West End), Shelf Life, Is Love Dangerous?, The Passion (National Theatre Wales), Unity Festival (Hijinx Theatre), Cappuccino Girls the Musical (GrandSlam Theatre). Out of the Goldfish Bowl, Marathon, Marilyn’s Shadow, The Dumb Waiter, Clown Café, Waiting for Godot (GradCo).
Events include: Sparks in the Dark, Waterfront Winterland, Silence in the Square, Sea Swansea Festival, World Party Weekend, Race for Life, Swansea Bay 10k, SCFC Victory Parade (CCS), Escape into the Park (Angel Music/CCS), Proms in the Park (BBC), Enjoy! (Parc y Scarlets).
For wgytc Gemma acts as the Company Stage Manager for core productions and co-ordinates events undertaken as part of the Outreach Project. She also works as a part-time lecturer, Production Assistant and Employment Liaison Officer for Gower College Swansea.
Ruth Williams (Swansea Schools Liaison) holds an MA (Dist) in Drama and Education from the University of Wales, having attained a 2:1 B’Ed degree in Drama from Exeter University in 1987. She started her teaching career as a teacher of Drama and English at The Ivo School, St Ives, Cambridgeshire before returning to Wales in 1990 to take up the post of Head of Drama at Bishop Gore School. in 1995 she was internally promoted to the post of Curriculum Co-ordinator for Performing Arts. Ruth has worked extensively for Edexcel as an assessment associate for both GCSE and A Level since 1990 and was the Chairperson of the Senior Team for A Level Drama for ten years. Ruth delivers drama across the 11-18 age range, teaching GCSE and A Level as well BTEC Performing Arts courses at KS4 and KS5. She has been involved with wgytc since 1994 as a tutor and course leader.
Production staff are made up of the core team of the Artistic Directorate and complimented by a wide pool of industry professionals. These professionals trained at various highly prestigious drama schools such as RADA, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Guildford School of Acting, Laine Theatre Arts, LAMDA, and Arts Educational.
Recent staff members include:
- Neil Alexander (design)
- Marc Antolin (choreography)
- Godfrey Evans (acting and text)
- Alice Freeman (costume design and making)
- Helen Forde (costume design and making)
- Mair George (costume supervision)
- Julie Hobday (choreography)
- Lee McCallion (choreography)
- Michael Morwood (musical direction)
- Mary Pugh (costume supervision and making)
- John Quirk (musical direction)
- Hilary Statts (design and scenic art)
- Gemma Thomas (company and stage management)
- Jason-Marc Williams (movement and text)
