Our Team

HERE AT THE PERFORMANCE CENTRES WE ARE TRULY BLESSED WITH AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM OF EXPERIENCED AND PASSIONATE PROFESSIONALS FROM THE WORLD OF THEATRE AND DANCE.

Michelle christina richards

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & FOUNDER

Michelle spent her Professional Stage Career in Musical Theatre, as a triple threat Performer under London Agents Keddie Scott Associates.

After retiring from the Stage earlier than planned due to injury, Michelle turned Creative and now works as a Director, Movement Director, Producer and as a Performance Coach where she brings the toolbox of theatre to help individuals and corporations communicate better. She specialises in Posture Correction, Body Language, Voice work and Communication Development. She is also Founder and Producer of Dance Festival Wales - a national dance festival for ages 6-25yrs and Creative Director of The Cabaret Collective - a professional Cabaret Troupe.

Michelle is a qualified Drama and English Teacher and an Associate Teacher of LAMDA and has taught voice and drama privately for many years to children and adults. She has authored and examined in Drama and Performing Arts for the Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC) and Edexcel at GCSE and A Level. Michelle developed, co- wrote and consulted on their GCSE in Performing Arts and authored their Dance resources for the course. She is a member of the Association of Coaching, a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts and has certifications in NLP and Leadership Coaching.

The Performance Centres started off as The Stage Centre which was born out of Michelle’s want to bring her professional performance experience to a part time framework that would couple with her educational expertise. The Dance Centre ISTD Studio came next and then the umbrella of Performance was created for the Centres. Her two greatest loves combined result in a Theatre and Dance School that believes heavily in technical training through performance and higher study preparation - developing the all-round individual as well as the triple threat performer.

KIEFER Jones

SINGING & VOICE TUTOR

Kiefer Jones received classical training at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama under the tutelage and guidance of international operatic baritone, Donald Maxwell.

Since graduating with a first-class honours undergraduate degree in music; Kiefer works as a freelance singer/voice teacher and has taught for ten years at reputable departments including Italia Conti Theatre of Arts, Wales Academy of Voice & Dramatic Art and Bangor University.

Kiefer attended Glyndebourne’s prestigious academy in 2017 and then graduated from RWCMD in July 2019 with a distinction in post-graduate vocal studies.

In 2018 Kiefer performed his first professional role with Opra Cymru, (Dr. Malatesta in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale). Following this he was nominated for the Gus Christie Award from Glyndebourne. Other roles include the title role in Don Giovanni (Opra Cymru), Aeneas in Dido and Aeneas (Mid-Wales Opera), Uberto in La Serva Padrona (Pocket Opera), Father in Hansel & Gretel (Viva Opera UK), title role in Sweeney Todd (Ballyhoo Theatre Company) and Alexander Heimer in The Bridge (Ed Wright). In 2023 Kiefer appeared as Escamillio in Carmen for North Wales Opera and as Mephisopheles in Gounod’s Faust for Guildford Opera Company, receiving excellent reviews.

He is delighted to be providing technical voice tuition for The Stage Centre.

EMMA GREENE

ISTD DANCE TEACHER - Tap and Modern & CHOREOGRAPHER

Emma is trained in modern, tap, jazz, street/commercial, contemporary and cheerleading. Originally from Cardiff, after leaving school she went to the University of Wolverhampton to study Dance for three years and graduated with a BA Hons in Dance Practice and Performance. She is a fully qualified ISTD teacher which allows her to enter students for Exams in Tap and Modern.

Emma has been teaching for The Performance Centres since 2008. She teaches the dance sessions at Stage and choreographs the performances and she is Head of Tap and Modern for Dance Centre, teaching across the full age range of our classes including our Street and our adult dance fitness sessions.

She is extremely proud to be working with The Performance Centres as they create an exceptional, professional, educational and fun environment for children of all ages to learn and develop their skills, whatever their capabilities. It’s extremely rewarding to see how many children have grown as part of the Performance Centres experience.

LAURA SINGLETON

DRAMA TUTOR AND EARLY YEARS TEACHER

Laura started her training here at the Stage Centre from 2009-2013. Working closely with our Artistic Director she then gained a place on the BA Hons Acting Course at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Since successfully graduating Laura has worked as an Actress on Stage and TV and has also completed her PGCE in Secondary Drama.

She now works as a freelance drama facilitator and assistant producer and is a much valued member of the team.

NATALIE ROLLEY

Administration, Safeguarding & Pastoral Care

Natalie has been working in the entertainment industry for over 25 years.

She has worked with The Stage Centre as Head of Administration and Pastoral Care of the young performers for many years. She takes great pleasure in being able to work as part of such a vibrant and enthusiastic team and is delighted to work with such talented children watching them develop into such mature young people, many of whom are following career paths into the industry.

She has been involved in Theatre and performance as part of the Production teams for many different companies all over the UK working in Professional Theatres and Open air Venues. She has worked with children in entertainment for many years, responsible for arranging the licencing and chaperoning of young people under the age of 16, working closely with the Local Education Authorities throughout Wales, also acting as chaperone for UK touring companies ensuring the safety of children during their performances.

Natalie is also Principal Agent for Casting Cymru an agency for children in entertainment having secured work in TV and touring theatre for many of their clients. In her spare time Natalie works as a freelance photographer taking photographs all over Wales of diverse subjects but mainly theatrical and performance photography.