PRINCIPAL 

Michael Tomkins (Stage Name- Mike Newman Jnr)

Training at the “Guildford School of Acting” and performing many of the theatres classical works, Michael then moved into light entertainment and “Stand up Comedy” and has now spent the last 14 years on the comedy circuit.

During that time he has toured for “Warner Bros Cinemas” Topped the bill in Jersey in a show that went on to run for six months, was the star of “Carnival nights” – a four month tour of theatres throughout the country, Eleven months cruising for Thompson Holidays in the Caribbean, Flew to Canada for a five month run of a comedy musical, Four national TV appearances and three TV commercials. Three successive seasons represented by the largest entertainment company in the country and was lead comic in there summer tours on the South Coast for three years.

In the summer of 2004 Michael was signed for a twenty week season to support top acts such as Joe Pasquale and Bobby Davro at the two thousand seated venue “The Tropicana” on the east coast.

For 2005 Michael became the new official host of the “Sooty show” following on from the great Mathew Corbett, followed by his tenth season in panto with box office successes now over 1 million pounds.

As well as all this, in April 2000 Michael started teaching Drama for The BYT and then in September 2004 took over as the principal and owner. Now with his home and roots firmly in Bournemouth he intends to carry on this work and hopes to pass on his energy, enthusiasm and experience in entertainment industry, to those in the BYT.

For more information and to see where Michael is performing next, please visit his official web-Site

Website: www.mikenewmanjnr.com

DANCE COACH        

Nicky Ashford BA (Hons). ALAM. MBTDA.

After more than a decade in the entertainment industry Nicky is no stranger to the business performing shows like, ‘The Sound of Music’, ‘Grease’, ‘Rent’, ‘Sunset Boulevard’ and ‘Into the Woods’ to name but a few.

More recently she could be seen on board some of Royal Caribbean International’s cruise ships as Lead Production Vocalist, Vocal Captain and Company Manager.

Nicky trained at the renowned Laine Theatre Arts graduating with their Professional Dance and Musical Theatre Diploma, her A.L.A.M and Degree awarded by Trinity College.

Since 2005 she has worked with Dance and Stage schools as a Freelance Jazz Teacher, Performance/ Vocal Coach and Show Choreographer and more recently Stage manager.

Nicky hopes to continue to pass her performance skills and passion for the business to all that join the school.

Website: www.nickyashford.co.uk

DRAMA COACH       

Lauren Casoria

Lauren Casoria joined BYT in April 2006 to teach drama. After running a successful drama group in Luton she studied Drama, Theatre and Television at Winchester University and graduated with a first class honors degree.

Lauren then went on to do teacher training and is now works full time at Lytchett Minster School in Poole as a teacher of Drama and Media.

Vice Prinicipal (Mike's Mum)

Brenda Tomkins

Brenda trained in London at the “Arts Educational Trust” studying dance drama & singing. After which she performed her first pantomime as principal girl at Lewisham with Donald Peerce, and then went to Glasgow to appear in the famous five past eight shows appearing alongside Bruce Forsyth and Max Bygraves.

The following year Brenda performed in the Dora Byan Show after which she joined the Bachelors Show, for a major UK tour that lasted two years! It was during this time she met her husband to be (Comedian, Mike Newman) who was also appearing in the show. They continued to tour together in the same shows after they were married, until the birth of her first child, Michael.