MIA BIRD
WEST END PERFORMER | ACTOR | MUSICIAN | PRODUCER| DIRECTOR | EDUCATOR
Mia Bird's journey into the world of creativity and entrepreneurship began at a young age. At 16, she took her first step towards success by establishing a business where she sold customized second-hand retro clothing and vinyl records. This venture not only allowed her to express her passion for fashion and music but also provided the financial means to pursue her education at the renowned Arts Educational School in London.
While training in musical theatre at the school for three years, and having achieved Grade 8 in classical piano, she discovered her love for writing music and songs. This led her to become part of a multi-label songwriting network, and soon she caught the attention of Universal.. Mia began pre-producing and writing songs and top lines for various artists, while also touring the UK with different bands and performing in major clubs both in the UK and abroad.
Graduating from stage school, Mia made her West End debut in 1995 in "Sunset Boulevard" and went on to play lead roles in numerous shows, plays, TV productions, and original workshops for the next decade. Known for her exceptional work ethic, she often juggled multiple professional commitments in a single day, always giving her all and maintaining a reputation as a team player who thrived in high-pressure situations. Mia's dedication, professionalism, and commitment to her craft are qualities she passionately imparts to her students.
Parallel to her performing career, Mia delved into business ventures and developed a strong interest in training and education. She co-founded a chain of music academies and stage schools in London in the early 2000s, along with her sister Laura Bird, who is also a specialist in the music industry and performing arts. Their dedication and expertise caught the attention of Disney, who selected their school as the flagship institution for the first UK rights of "High School Musical," allowing their students to collaborate with the original film cast. Mia and Laura have since produced numerous shows in London and the North of England.
Over the past 23 years, Mia and Laura have trained thousands of students, preparing them for professional careers or higher education. Witnessing the challenges faced by drama school graduates in entering the industry, Mia dedicated the last decade to extensive research, ensuring her training programs incorporate the necessary skills, such as motion capture and acting for video gaming, to equip graduates with a diverse toolbox. She remains connected with industry leaders, constantly updating and aligning her programs with real industry opportunities.
Excited about the future, Mia will launch the GradCan initiative next year with her sister and longtime friend Julian Stoneman. This endeavor aims to connect unemployed professionals with exciting work opportunities and further specialized industry training. Mia's life experiences have led her to this moment, where she is returning to the former Bird Studios and utilizing her expertise to transform the arts center into a hub of excellence for training and nurturing both aspiring professionals and industry veterans. This endeavor holds the promise of creating something truly extraordinary.
"Many successful past students trained in their teens"
GLORIA OBYIANYO
GLORIA OBYIANYO
GLORIA OBYIANYO
Gloria's theatre credits include Jesus Christ Superstar at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, The Grinning Man at the Bristol Old Vic, The Wild Party at The Other Palace, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui at the Donmar Warehouse and doubled as Olivia and Sir Toby Belch in Kelly Hunter’s production of Twelfth Night at the Almagro Festival in Spain. Fanny and Alexander at the Old Vic, Antony and Cleopatra at the National Theatre alongside Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo and starred in The Girl From The North Country in the West End and Toronto. Most recently she performed in The Living Newspaper at the Royal Court Theatre, and she starred in the critically acclaimedParadise by Kate Tempest at the National Theatre. Her sensational performance in that role earned her first prize in the Ian Charleson Awards. She led in The Clinic at the Almeida in September, which opened to strong acclaim.
Film and television includes Good Omens for BBC/Amazon, the feature film High Life, appearing alongside Robert Pattinson and Juliette Binoche, and most recently the feature film Dune. She has just completed filming Outlander for Starz.
WINNER – First prize, Ian Charleson Awards 2022
SOPHIE SIMNETT
GLORIA OBYIANYO
GLORIA OBYIANYO
Sophie Simnett is known for her role as Samaira Dean on the Netflix drama series Daybreak.
She was born in London and her first performance was in Jim Cartwright's 'Mobile Phone Show' at the Lyric, Hammersmith - it was at this theatre she also later directed the production 'Rollercoaster.'
Simnett made her professional TV acting debut in BBC's Dickensian. She then appeared in the 2016 film Mum's List (now titled 'Acres & Acres'), as the younger version of Kate. On her eighteenth birthday, she was cast in the role of Skye Hart on the Disney Channel musical drama series The Lodge after thirteen auditions. She starred in The Lodge from 2015 to 2018, and was featured on two accompanying soundtracks for the series. Simnett also acted as a story consultant for the series.
In 2019, Simnett began starring in the Netflix drama series Daybreak, as Samaira Dean. She then played the updated role of 'Nancy/Red' in the Oliver Twist re-make 'Twist' alongside Michael Caine and Lena Headey.
Most recently she is filming the lead in Renny Harlin's thriller 'The Refuge'
YASMIN MWANZA
SUKI WATERHOUSE
SUKI WATERHOUSE
Yasmin Mwanza has recently voiced roles in both DYING LIGHT 2: STAY HUMAN and EXPEDITIONS: ROME.
Yasmin will be appearing as Fidda in Enlightened Kingdom's THE LADY OF HEAVEN, a historical drama film directed by Eli King. She has also recently appeared as Georgina Lawrence in ITV's STEPHEN.
Yasmin is currently in “Our Lady of Kibeho” directed by the artistic director James Dacre at the Royal and Derngate in Northampton. Yasmin can be seen in Episode 2 of “Hanna”, a new TV series written by David Farr for Amazon Prime and NBC Universal. And in July Yasmin can be seen in “Spider-Man Far From Home” by Marvel Studios, Sony & Columbia Pictures!
SUKI WATERHOUSE
SUKI WATERHOUSE
SUKI WATERHOUSE
Born in Hammersmith, London, and raised in nearby Chiswick, Alice Suki Waterhouse began modeling at the age of 16 when she was discovered in London by a clothing retailer. She had added several major apparel brands and cover shoots for the international editions of fashion magazines like Vogue and Elle to her résumé by the time she turned 20. Around that time, she landed her first minor film role in 2012's Pusher, gradually moving up the billing by 2016's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, where she played one of the Bennet sisters. That year, she also had a cameo in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, and her pining acoustic ballad "Brutally" appeared on her own This Rough Magic label.
In 2017, Waterhouse could be seen in the historical miniseries The White Princess and in the title role of the indie film The Girl Who Invented Kissing. She was among the main ensemble cast of the next year's action-comedy Assassination Nation, and acted increasingly frequently into the next decade, including parts in Woody Allen's A Rainy Day in New York (2019) and Séance (2021), directed by Blair Witch franchise writer Simon Barrett. All the while, Waterhouse issued periodic self-released singles, such as 2017's "Good Looking" and 2019's "Coolest Place in the World," which collectively garnered tens of millions of streams.
While continuing to work as an actress, Waterhouse signed with Sub Pop Records in 2021, having recorded her debut LP with Grammy nominee Brad Cook (Bon Iver, Snail Mail). The album, I Can't Let Go, followed in April 2022, shortly before Waterhouse co-starred in the Amazon miniseries Daisy Jones & the Six, about a fictional '70s rock band. A stand-alone single co-written and produced by John Mark Nelson (Taylor Swift, Amy Allen), "Nostalgia," appeared that September, and in November, Waterhouse issued the EP Milk Teeth, consisting of five early career tracks and new song "Neon Signs."