THE TEAM
At TheatreStarz, we have an amazing team of passionate and creative people who LOVE working with kids and making the stage feel like a second home. We’re actors, singers, dancers, and storytellers — but most importantly, we’re your biggest supporters! Whether it’s your first time on stage or your tenth show, we’re here to help you grow, shine, and have loads of fun along the way.
MELODIE LOCKWOOD COLE PRINCIPAL
CREATIVE DIRECTOR CHOREOGRAPHER
Melodie has been dancing since she could walk and qualified to teach Dance with the International Dance Teachers Association (I.D.T.A). She is also a member of Equity. Melodie also enjoys performing and has appeared many times in various Sheffield theatres; The Lyceum, The Crucible, The Montgomery and The City Hall. She currently has an active career in television and film, appearing in many well known programmes and films including Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Death Comes to Pemberley, The Stranger, and many, many more to be shown in the coming months.   Melodie is also enhanced DBS checked and is a Professional Licensed Chaperone, working both in TV and Theatre. She loves working with youngsters and seeing their confidence and personalities develop.
JO HUTCHESSON ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SINGING COACH LICENSED CHAPERONE
Jo has been involved in amateur theatre from the age of nine. She played her first principal role at the age of 14 and has gone on to sing nearly all of the Subrette Roles in the Gilbert and Sullivan Operas in various societies in the Country. She has also performed in Pantomime, Music Hall and Musical Theatre. Jo is now the Artistic Director for a Sheffield G & S Society and enjoys the fact that, by directing and teaching at TheatreStarz, she can pass on her extensive knowledge and skills to other people and the next generation.
DAVID COLE
STAGE CREW MANAGER TICKET SECRETARY LICENSED CHAPERONE
Not one to be seen front of stage, (occasionally on stage in the dark), but heavily involved in TheatreStarz from its conception around 23 years ago. Always to be found processing ticket sales, making props/scenery, backstage and organising the stage crew. David is a Technical Engineer and is an incredibly useful team member for TheatreStarz. TheatreStarz can also build life skills as well as all the fun stuff and they interact with all members of our team. He is Enhanced DBS checked, a Licenced Chaperone and is a S.T.E.M Ambassador, teaching School aged youngsters and above.
DAVID HUTCHESSON ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
DRAMA TEACHER
My first experience of drama was at school, being involved in many plays such as An Inspector Calls and Gilbert and Sullivan Productions: Pirates of Penzance, HMS Pinafore and the Works of Shakespeare. For a good number of years, I have been an active part of various groups at both amateur and professional levels, from panto to serious drama and musicals. As a Red Coat at Butlins I became involved in pantomime by accident, playing an Ugly Sister in a production of Cinderella starring Shane Richie. From that point, I played the role permanently. Other pantomimes which I loved included Dick Whittington and Snow White. I also trained as Stage Manager, adding this to my experiences as well as performing Sound and Lighting Technician. From the productions of The Merry Widow, Fidler on the Roof and Half a Sixpence on a professional theatre stage, to being part an amateur production in a church hall, I put the same dedication and enthusiasm into everything that I do. It’s a great honour to be involved with TheatreStarz and have the opportunity to pass on my experience and knowledge to the next generation of young performers.
CALLUM HAIGH
DRAMA COACH
ASSISTANT SINGING COACH
Callum has been working with Theatrestarz since September 2023 and is incredibly proud of how well the students have done in every performance he has been involved with. He currently performs in a variety of shows in his spare time, such as Charity Events and is a member of both the Grenoside Pantomime group and Bolsterstone Male Voice Choir. Callum is also a keen writer and has had three books published enabling him to encourage TheatreStarz students to write and perform productions of their own. Callum is a very talented ‘Character Actor/Singer’ and imparts his talent and experience to our members exceptionally well.
EVIE JONES TEACHING ASSISANT
DANCE CAPTAIN
Evie joined TheatreStarz as a pupil and performed in several pantomimes and plays. She has now returned as a DBS checked Teaching Assistant, helping the younger students with their song and dance routines. Evie was a prominent member of TheatreStarz, playing many lead roles. She is now an invaluable and popular member of our team and has extensive knowledge of how TheatreStarz works.