The Department
From L to R: M.Herring, D.Kenworthy, J.Gay, J.Selwyn, R.Jackson
Rikki Jackson - Director of Drama
Rikki studied Theatre at Warwick University graduating in 1992 and upon realising that his future was not going to be spent playing for the England Cricket team he opted for teaching. Previously the Director of Performing Arts at Wanganui Collegiate School in NZ he joined Dauntsey's as Director of Drama in 2001. Since then he has enjoyed seeing the department develop, grow and fully establish itself as a major part of school life. He still enjoys playing cricket reasonably, golf erratically and skiing with little grace. An avid movie fan and lover of music of most types, he is married with two children and dotes on Poppy, his ever so slightly neurotic Labrador.
David Kenworthy - Drama Teacher
David Kenworthy joined Dauntsey's in 2006 after being director-in-residence at Eton College. As a free-lance theatre director David has worked for several companies including the National Theatre Studio, The Manchester Library Theatre, The Oval House, BAC and The Royal Court. He is part of the European theatre collective Neutral Space which seek to promote multi-lingual theatre in Britain and main-land Europe. David trained at Rose Bruford and Birkbeck completing an MFA in theatre directing and performance linguistics. He was also the recipient of the Channel Four Peter Cheeseman award for innovative practice in 2004.
Julia Gay - Drama Teacher
Julia joined Dauntsey's as an 'Actress in Residence' in 2005 after training for five years at two prestigious drama schools. She has had extensive training in singing, dancing and acting for approximately 15 years and has toured with various choirs to Paris and Italy, including a concert at St. Peters, Rome. She has also performed in concerts as a soloist in St. John's Smith Square and the London Palladium. Her first professional job after graduating from GSA was the lead role in 'Our House' at the Cambridge Theatre, Covent Garden. This lead to numerous television appearances including the Royal Variety Performance and the show went on to win the Olivier award for best musical.
Matthew Herring - Technician
Matthew first started work at the Swindon Arts Centre while on work experience (his first paid job was doing sound for the world-famous Italian performance artist 'Ennio Marchetto'). Since then he first became technical manager of the Arts Centre and then technical manager for the whole of Swindon Borough Council's Arts Services department. Between 2001 and 2006 he Production Managed the Borough's annual street festival and Mela festivals. As a freelancer Matthew's work has included stage managing shows at the Edinburgh Festival, at the Arc Theatre (Trowbridge) and at the (then) Green Room Club (London); done make-up for two Summer Youth Productions and has worked on the Longborough Festival Opera in the Cotswolds. He has also designed lighting for dance, plays, cabaret shows and conferences. Matthew is also very proud to be a serving member of the Association of British Theatre Technicians' H&S Committee.
Jordan Selwyn - Drama Gap Student
Jordan Selwyn, a new arrival to the department from New Zealand will work as a gap tutor for the 2008 calendar year. A passionate thespian and aspiring actor Jordan is looking forward to learning, experiencing and making theatre on the other side of the world here at Dauntsey's. In Jordan's final years of school he studied Theatre Arts, Drama and Dance, which allowed him to take a wide range of performing arts roles. Although his passion lies in theatre acting Jordan had lead roles in musicals West Side Story, Fame and Les Miserables, he performed and choreographed in Dance in the Dove and was also host of the Kristin School fashion show, which raised over £10,000 for child cancer. Jordan's most recent professional work, New Zealand feature film "The Map Reader" in which he takes the lead role, is set for its festival release in 2008.
