- lightsup.perform@gmail.com
- The Drama Studio @ Fulham Boys School
Broadway and West End stars Kristen Gaetz and Yvette Robinson will be sharing their skills with children, teens, and adults in these brand-new evening classes and after-school clubs.
Classes will focus on Improvisation, scene study, and acting through song and performance. We want to inspire you to find the light within ourselves, and above all, we want you to have fun while we perform, act and sing.
Our dedicated team of exceptional teachers is complemented by West End professionals who bring their industry expertise to our performing arts classes, whether through masterclass sessions or full-term courses. This rare opportunity for students, ranging from young learners to corporate participants, to be taught by the best in the industry is a testament to our commitment to excellence.
CO-FOUNDER
Yvette Robinson is co-founder of Lights Up Perform. She trained at “The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts” and graduated with a Bachelor Of Arts in Theatre. Yvette has spent the last 17 years performing in many West End shows and has been a professional “Monkey Music” teacher for toddlers for over ten years. In addition, she has worked extensively in Primary Schools in Drama and Song. She is excited to grow ‘Lights Up” with Kristen, as they both saw a need to share their creativity, fun, and joy in what they do professionally with children and teenagers, especially watching their young children grow up together from the age of 3.
Theatre credits:
– Belle Livingstone in the Greatest Night Of The Jazz Age
– Marion Halcombe in “The Women In White” by Trevor Nunns and Andrew Lloyd Webber, at The Palace Theatre
– Eva Peron in “Evita” by Michael Grandage at The Adelphi Theatre,
– Marion in “Priscilla Queen Of The Desert” At The Palace Theatre.
– Sally in “Forget Me Not” at the High Tide Festival for the Bush Theatre
– Maddy in “A Midsummers Song” at The New Wolsey Theatre
– Claire in “Bare” at The Union Theatre
– Marguerite in “Marguerite” at The Tabard Theatre
– Catherine in “Tomorrow Morning” at The Landor Theatre
– Agnes in “I Do! I Do!” at Vienna’s English Theatre
– Donna in “Mamma Mia!” International Tour
– The Woman in “Blues in the Night” at the New Wolsey Theatre
– Pearl, Dinah, Buffy, and Ashley in “Starlight Express” at Bochum, Germany.
– Julie Rooney in “Factory Girl” (Australia)
– Fantine and ensemble in the 10th Anniversary of “Les Misérables” (Australia)
– Belle in “Beauty and The Beast” (Australia)
– Ellen in the original cast of “Miss Saigon” (Australia)
– Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady” (Australia)
– Mistress and alternate Evita in ‘Evita” (Australia)
– The Baker’s Wife in “Into The Woods” (Australia)
TV, film, and animated voice credits:
– Anna In series 2 “Here We Go” BBC UK
– Polly Posh in “Cushion Kids” (Nine Network, Australia)
– “The Kosmos Kids” (Wave Entertainment),
– Nurse Heedy in “South Pacific” (Touchstone) starring Glenn Close and Harry Connick Junior
– Anna, in the short film “Inescapable”
Yvette can be heard on the original cast recording of The Woman in White and has worked on several workshop productions, including the role of Melissa in Gary Barlow and Tim Firth’s new musical “Dreamland”,Paulina in “Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown,” directed by Bartlett Sher,; Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies, and Lady Capulet in a musical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.
CO-FOUNDER
Kristen Gaetz is co-founder of Lights Up Perform. She has been dancing professionally for over 20 years, doing musicals throughout the United States. Kristen started in Los Angeles performing in productions of “Crazy for You,” “Evita,” and Will Roger’s “Follies” before landing the role of Phyllis Dale in the 1st National Tour of “42nd Street”. She was then brought into the Broadway company of “42nd Street” where she continued in the role of Phyllis. After that, Kristen played the roles of Rhoda and Rita in the Broadway Touring Company of Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” for four wonderful years. She also performed in “Hello Dolly!” and “Kiss Me, Kate” at the Sacramento Musical Circus, “Mame” at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, and sang for the 75th Anniversary of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
Since moving to London, Kristen was cast as Cheryl in “I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road” at Jermyn Street Theatre. She was a part of the original “42nd Street” cast here on the West End, where she covered Dorothy Brock and Phyllis Dale and was a swing for the dancing ensemble. Most recently, Kristen returned to the West End where she joined the cast of Dear Evan Hansen at the Noel Coward Theatre. She was the standby for both Cynthia Murphy and Heidi Hansen.
For the last two years, Kristen has been working with the Earls Courtiers as Musical Director, Choreographer, and Assistant Director to put on the summer musicals with the kids from the community, which has been an incredible experience. She’s currently working alongside Yvette to grow Lights Up Perform and is looking forward to bringing the same fun, energy, and music to the students all year long.
Teacher
CJ Johnson is a leading West End actress and top vocal and acting coach in London working with an elite stable of professional artistes to absolute beginners. Highly experienced with pop bands and professional performers with upcoming tours and shows, CJ has been featured as a vocal coach on The X Factor and MTV and is a singing teacher, acting coach and musical director in many of London’s leading theatre schools and conservatoires, currently the BA Hons Musical Theatre course at Trinity Laban Conservatoire. She is a Royal Academy of Music post-graduate with 22 years’ teaching experience and has furthered her training in studying Estill Voice Training-Parts 1&2. She also has built an extensive career in theatre, film and TV with credits such as ‘42nd Street’ (West End), ‘Small Island’ (National Theatre), ‘The Light Princess’ (National Theatre), ‘Little Shop Of Horrors’ (Royal Exchange), ’Oliver’ (UK tour), ‘Piaf’ (West End), ’Rent’ (West End) and is currently appearing as Natalie Jacobs in ‘The Mystery Of Marilyn Monroe’ (Netflix).
Teacher
Emma Clifford trained at The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Upon graduating, she understudied and played the role of Karen in “Speed-the-Plow” at the London Old Vic with Kevin Spacey and Jeff Goldblum.
Theatre credits:
– Roxie Hart in “Chicago” at the Cambridge Theatre, London
– Anita in “West Side Story”
– Young Sally in “Follies,” Festival Hall
– Tanya in “Mamma Mia”
– Elsa Schraeder in “The Sound of Music”
– Joseph, Evita, Mademoiselle X in “The Stronger” by August Strindberg at the Arcola Theatre
– Olivia in “Twelfth Night”
– Catwoman in the World Arena Tour of “Batman Live” for Warner Bros
– Lady Macbeth in “Macbeth,” London
Film credits:
– Vampire killers – Momentum Pictures
– Pelican Blood – Ecosse Films
– Wrong Turn 3 – 20th Century fox
– John Carter of Mars – Disney/Pixar’s first dramatised film
Television credits:
– Krod Mandoon (Comedy central)
– Upstairs Downstairs playing Wallis Simpson (BBC)
– New Blood (BBC), A Confession (ITV)
Teacher
Livio Salvi was born in Bergamo (Italy) and has worked internationally as a dancer and performer in the show business since 16. He’s also been teaching dance/performing arts internationally for 20 years, focusing on contemporary jazz, lyrical jazz, and musical theatre jazz, and as a choreographer and artistic director. He performed in musical theatre shows such as “West Side Story,” “Cats,” and “The Sound of Music”; in television shows such as “CD UK,” “Top of The Pops,” “MTV,” and “Disney Show “; and in commercials such as “Wella” and “Trussardi” to name a few.
One of his most notable achievements would be the creation of the pop group A.T.C. – “A Touch of Class” – (B.M.G. Berlin GmbH) by the late ’90s and early 2000s, attaining 9 Gold records and 3 Platinum. As well as being a member of the group, he was also the creative director and choreographer.
Once in London, he created the all-male contemporary jazz company, “G-Nome,” which ended up semi-finalist in the British dance competition “Got To Dance” in 2013.
For the big screen, he has worked for the musical feature film “Holiday” with Leona Lewis and Greg Wise; for the movie “Man Up” with Simon Pegg and Lake Bell, and performed in “Florence Foster Jenkins” with Merryl Streep and Hugh Grant!
He recently choreographed various musicals, commercial events, and theatre shows such as “La Fattoria Degli Aanimali” (theatre Sistina, Italy), “Wella Fashion Show” Perugia (Italy), “Every Man For Himself” (Courtyard Theatre, London), “Divinely Bette” (Camden Fringe Festival London) and for commercials and live events such as: “Cuervo Bar,” “P.B.L. Jewellers,” and “Hyde Park Summer Festival.”
In the last few years, Livio has also performed with his jazz, swing-pop band “Demodè,” a high-class, stylish trio of award-winning artists worldwide.
Teacher
Iain is a director and practitioner. Following a First Class honours drama degree from Bretton Hall, Leeds University, he initially worked as an actor; including plays at The Royal Court, Young Vic, The Royal Exchange Manchester, Liverpool Playhouse, the Unicorn Theatre and Hull Truck. He was nominated for Best Actor in the Manchester Theatre Awards. Iain’s film and TV work includes A Rather English Marriage, Christmas Carol the Movie, Always and Everyone, Coronation Street, Grease Monkeys, Doctors and The Bill.
His directing work includes shows at Greenwich Theatre, the Churchill Theatre Bromley and the National Theatre Connections Festival. He has also directed at several drama schools.
Iain was previously the Classical Acting lecturer at the University of West London. He has also taught on the M.A. Acting Course at Drama Centre and is an Associate Artist at Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation.
Teacher
Griffin is an American musical director, producer, and actor-musician based in London. Some highlights include Kinky Boots (Norwegian Cruise Line), Five Guys Named Moe (Above the Gatehouse – London Pub Theatre Award winner), and touring with Tim Bray Theatre – New Zealand’s leading theatre for Children. He now specialises in producing and MDing new writing and will be touring the play Ripper to Camden and Edinburgh Fringes. Griffin also teaches at several leading drama schools including Emil Dale, Goldsmiths, and Urdang, among others. He maintains a private music teaching practice in west London.
Teacher
Felicity has covered a wide breadth of work in theatre, tv, film and radio.
Since leaving Webber Douglas Academy, her theatre credits include the International tour of Mamma Mia playing Rosie, It’s Her Turn Now at the Mill at Sonning, Fiddler on the Roof at the London Palladium with the late great Chaim Topol, and she has worked in repertory theatres all over the country from Salisbury to Liverpool as well as numerous national tours including Lend Me A Tenor, Charley’s Aunt, Fiddler on the Roof, Round The Horne Revisited (playing Betty Marsden) and Liza Liza Liza (playing Liza Minnelli).
She has appeared in many BBC Radio plays: The Far Side of the Moore, Boris and Michael: The Two Brexiteers, Heading For Paradise, The Iraq Dossier and The Adventures of Sexton Blake. She has also appeared as the reader on BBC Radio 4’s popular series The Write Stuff.
Most recently, Felicity can be heard on Audible.co.uk as Titania in Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman, directed by Dirk Maggs, and other plays include Sheltered, Sherlock Holmes, Weeds and an adaptation of Agatha Christie’s first successful novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles.
Felicity has also played many character roles in video games including the BAFTA award-winning Baldurs Gate 3, and has dubbed many animations such as Florrie’s Dragons and Laura’s Star. She also appeared in Tickety-Tock, another glorious animation series, as Madame Au Lait the ping-pong playing, cake-baking cow, shown on Channel 4 and looks upon this as one of her finest performances!
Currently, on screen, Felicity can be seen as Gladys Baker in the Amazon Prime series “The Peripheral”.
“This class is so much more than ‘performance and drama’. Yvette and Kristen have a gift for connecting with the kids and helping them find their voice, and perform like no one is watching”
" I love Lights Up! " Monday used to be my most boring day, but now I have something to look forward to. It is the best class ever. The teachers are always so supportive and have made me feel so much more confident. My favourite part is that we perform shows in front of parents and friends and in public. The bonus part is at the end of term; we have a Light up! Party! "
“My daughter absolutely loves attending lights up perform drama classes. Performing in front of people was a challenge for my daughter, but after few sessions she told me that she loves it and looks forward to going every week. Margaux has grown in her confidence, in creative expression, in social interaction, she is learning so much every week. She is so happy. Learning a script, improvisational techniques, singing, dancing…are challenging for the children and they really love it!
Thank you for your hard work…all your techniques to improve public confidence are very professional!”
Our daughter joined Lights Up from the very beginning, and it was an immediate hit. It is the highlight of her week. Her confidence and ability have grown hand over hand under the expert stewardship of Yvette and Kristen. They have managed to create a warm, safe and inclusive platform that stimulates and challenges children to perform, whatever their ability or experience. Whilst there is clear focus and discipline there is also ample space for fun and laughter. Parents are kept up-to-date on what’s happening and are regularly invited to come and see their children perform.
I just want to thank you so much for all the incredible work you do. I deeply believe there is no greater way for the children to learn how to express themselves, become more confident while having fun and creating memories that will stay with them forever. Is pure joy for me to see them acting, singing and dancing. Seeing them how children should be ! Happy and thoughtless. What you two do is simply amazing and I admire you for all the passion and love you put into it.
Elevate your strengths up
Elevate your excitement up
Elevate your creativity up
Elevate your energy up
Elevate your LIGHTS UP
THE DRAMA STUDIO
Fulham Boys School - 532 Fulham Road
London, SW6 5BD
lightsup.perform@gmail.com
www.lightsup-perform.com
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