Phil established his first theatre school in 2001 at the Harlow Playhouse. He has worked professionally in theatre for over 25 years and during that time has trained and mentored countless students who have gone on to study at the most prestigious theatre schools in the UK and have performed in the west end and beyond.

Phil has been Artistic Director of both Harlow Playhouse & South Mill Arts (formerly Rhodes Arts Complex) in Bishops Stortford and is perhaps best known for the over 20 pantomimes he has produced. He has also produced and directed numerous other shows both locally and nationally including Shakespeare, Comedy and Musicals. Phil is a qualified Mental Health First Aider for young people and designed and runs the groundbreaking Year 6 Transition Project for global charity Jamma Wellbeing.

George was a Phoenix student from the age of 4 through until he was 18. During that time he has taken part in countless showcases, musicals, pantomimes and plays, on stage and behind the scenes, including principal roles in Cinderella (2016), Snow White (2017) and Beauty and the Beast (2018) all at South Mill Arts in Bishops Stortford. He was also Musical Director of Bugsy Malone (2018)

George went on to train at the Oxford School of Drama from 2019-2024, working alongside an array of diverse directors and being Musical Director for various projects there. His work is founded on the practice of Uta Hagen, Jacques Lecoq, Kristin Linklater, and various other accredited practitioners and he always aims to create a positive rehearsal space to play and to express.

Shannon is a former Phoenix student who went on to train professionally for 3 years in Musical Theatre. She now has a wide range of experience across musical theatre, cruise ships, and holiday parks. Her credits include performing as a lead vocalist and dancer in cruise ship productions and entertaining families through high-energy shows and hosting roles at UK holiday parks.

Shannon brings a real-world industry insight into the classroom and is passionate about helping children and adults express themselves, build confidence, and most importantly—have fun! Especially for young performers, she believes drama should be a joyful, creative outlet where they feel free to be themselves. Her sessions are lively, supportive, and designed to help every student grow through play, imagination, and performance.