JULIE DICKSON | FOUNDER AND MENTOR
JULIE QUALIFIED AS A TEACHER IN 1980 AND THEN WENT ON TO MAJOR IN VISUAL ART AND DRAMATIC ARTS. BORN INTO A FAMILY WHO LOVED ALL THINGS THEATRICAL, SHE REMEMBERS FALLING ASLEEP IN THE AISLES OF THE GUILD THEATRE, EAST LONDON, AS HER MOM REHEARSED FOR THE MIKADO. SHE WAS SOON ENTICED ONTO THE STAGE AT 4 YEARS OLD AND SANG HER FIRST SOLO. WITH VETERANS PAM AND NEIL EMSLIE AS PARENTS, SHE AND HER SIBLINGS HAD A RICH UPBRINGING IN THEATRE AND PERFORMED IN A STRING OF “MOTH” SHOWS, GILBERT AND SULLIVAN OPERETTAS, PANTOMIMES, MUSICALS, EISTEDDFODS AND SCHOOL PRODUCTIONS.
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LIFE WAS A SERIES OF AUDITIONS, REHEARSALS, OPENING NIGHTS, AND VERY WEEPY FINAL PERFORMANCES. THERE WAS ALWAYS GLITTER ON THE CARPET AND ORCHIDS IN THE FRIDGE.
LATER, SHE SPECIALISED IN COMMUNITY THEATRE IN A GOSPEL CONTEXT, DIRECTING A SERIES OF CHURCH BASED WORKS WHICH WERE A HIGHLIGHT FOR HER.
AS A MUSICAL THEATRE PERFORMER, SHE HAS PLAYED LEADS IN:
OKLAHOMA
ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
SOUND OF MUSIC
CAROUSEL
THE KING AND I
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
THE BOYFRIEND
SOUTH PACIFIC
THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD
THE WIZARD OF OZ
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OTHER WORK INCLUDES CHILDREN’S THEATRE, JAZZ BAND AND RECORDING SESSIONS. JULIE IS PROUD TO HAVE BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY CAPE TIMES (CATA) NOMINATIONS (4) AND AWARDS (2).
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JULIE HAS BEEN TEACHING VISUAL AND DRAMATIC ARTS SINCE 1981 (38 YEARS). SHE WAS MOST RECENTLY HEAD OF DRAMATIC ARTS AT ELKANAH HOUSE HIGH SCHOOL WHERE SHE WORKED TO BUILD THE DRAMA DEPARTMENT AND INSPIRE TEENAGERS TO LOVE PERFORMING. IN 2016 AND 2017 SHE JOINED THE STAFF OF THE WATERFRONT THEATRE SCHOOL AS ACTING COACH AND LECTURER IN PRINCIPLES OF EDUCATION. ALONG WITH THE MENTORING OF THE DRAMA LAB STUDENTS, SHE CONTINUES TO FREELANCE DOING WORKSHOPS IN PERFORMING.
DIRECTING CREDITS INCLUDE;
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
HAIRSPRAY
THE DREAMER
DAVID
COME HOME
OUR TOWN
SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS
HONK! JNR (TDL 2017)
INTO THE WOODS JNR (TDL 2018)
THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE JNR(TDL 2019)
ARISTOCATS (TDL 2019)
HULLABALOO (TDL 2020)
BOHEMIA (TDL 2021)
JOSEPH (TDL 2022)
SINGIN' IN THE RAIN JNR (TDL 2023)
MATILDA JNR ( TDL 2024)
ALADDIN JNR (TDL 2025)
SHE HAS A PASSION FOR SET AND COSTUME DESIGN AND LOVES THE CREATIVE PROCESS.
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BECCA HARTLE | CO-MENTOR
BECCA GREW UP IN PORT ELIZABETH. IT WAS AS A CHILD THAT SHE DISCOVERED HER PASSION FOR PERFORMING. SHE TRAINED WITH ROBIN WILLIAMS (SISTER OF JULIE) WITH WHOM SHE COMPLETED HER TRINITY EXAMINATIONS AS WELL AS PERFORMING IN MANY PRODUCTIONS.
THESE INCLUDE;
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ROBIN HOOD AND THE BABES IN THE WOOD
MY FAIR LADY
YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL.
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IN HER MATRIC YEAR, SHE WAS ONE OF THE TOP 6 FINALISTS IN THE ACT/DALRO SCHOLARSHIP.
​AT THE PRESTIGIOUS WATERFRONT THEATRE COLLEGE, SHE OBTAINED HER LTCL (PERFORMING AND TEACHING) IN BOTH MUSICAL THEATRE AND DRAMA. SHE STUDIED ADVANCED 1 LEVELS IN TAP AND MODERN DANCE. WHILST AT COLLEGE SHE PERFORMED IN NUMEROUS PRODUCTIONS.
THESE INCLUDE;
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GIGS FOR KIDS
HAIRSPRAY
A CHORUS LINE
LEGALLY BLONDE
THE ODD COUPLE.
FUGUE’D
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IT WAS DURING THIS TIME AS A WATERFRONT THEATRE COLLEGE STUDENT IN THE TEACHER-TRAINING COURSE THAT SHE DEVELOPED A LOVE FOR TEACHING. SHE ALSO GAINED EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WHILST TEACHING CHILDREN OF ALL AGES AND WAS FURTHER EQUIPPED WHEN SHE TUTORED INDIVIDUALS FOR EXAMINATIONS.
UPON GRADUATING, BECCA WENT ON TO DO CHILDREN'S THEATRE, VOICE WORK AND SHE IS CURRENTLY FREELANCING IN VARIOUS PROJECTS. SHE IS DEVELOPING HER JAZZ VOCAL TECHNIQUE AND A ONE WOMAN SHOW IS IN THE PIPELINE.
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IN 2018 BECCA PLAYED CHRISTMAS EVE IN THE PRODUCTION OF AVENUE Q AT MONTE CASINO IN JOHANNESBURG. IN 2019, BECCA PERFORMED IN THE SOLD OUT LITTLE MERMAID AT CANAL WALK. IN ADDITION IN 2019, SHE AND KIM BUCKLE DIRECTED "ARISTOCATS" FOR THE DRAMA LAB. IN 2025 SHE PLAYED ENSEMBLE IN ADDAMS FAMILY AT THE HOMECOMING CENTRE IN CAPE TOWN.
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WE ARE ENRICHED TO HAVE PROFESSIONAL PERFORMER OF BECCA'S CALIBRE TEACHING AT THE DRAMA LAB.
"know your worth"
In a final dress rehearsal before the 2017 Trinity examinations, whilst Julie was making notes...Becca, responding to a student dropping character and stopping short of the end of a monologue mumbled to Julie..."she must know her worth...write that down as a note... she must know her worth!".... it stuck!
