Chevalier Dr. Jeffrey du Cann Grenfell-Hill.
KCSJ, Phd, MA, BA(Hons)

Trained at The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and in his final year was chosen to be Student Director working with Julian Slade. After drama school he went to work at The Civic Theatre Chester, but gave this up when invited to go on tour in the USA visiting schools, colleges and universities in order to give seminars, workshops and poetry recitals. In 1970 Jeffrey was asked to adjudicate The Wyoming State Youth Drama Festival. After several American lecture tours and workshops he was invited in 1973 to join the board of examiners at The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. A published poet and playwright, Jeffrey has also been the author of a number of LAMDA in-house publications, and has given a series of summer workshops on Period Movement and Mime for the Academy. In 2008 he gave up his post as Director of Sixth Form Studies at St George’s School in Harpenden to become a full time LAMDA examiner and now examines extensively in the UK and abroad, recently having examined in S.Africa, China and India.

Paul Bench
LGSM ALAM, M.Ed, ACP (Lings), IBFP (Reg), PGCE, Cert Lang Ed, MASC(Ph) (Hons), Advanced LJBA (Hons), FRSA

Paul Bench studied at London and Birmingham Universities and has worked for the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art as an examiner for many years. He has been head of Drama and Theatre in several large departments as well as Director of Studies.

Paul has written many articles and book reviews for various journals and newspapers such as The Times Educational Supplement and The Stage. He is presently poetry reviews editor for the journal of the Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama.

As an adjudicator member of The International and British Federation of Festivals, he has adjudicated many festivals over the years. He has worked for the Hong Kong Schools Speech Festival on many occasions. He has recently judged the finals of the eight week festival in Sri Lanka.

he has taught voice and presentation skills at several UK University departments for MA and MSC programme where he has been a visiting lecturer and he is a member of the Society of Education Consultants.

In his capacity as an examiner with LAMDA he has worked with students throughout the United Kingdom and Europe and has travelled internationally to Kenya, Uganda and South Africa, Australia, Japan, Sri Lanka, India, Singapore, The United States and the Middle East and China.

he has a private and corporate client base covering a wide spectrum from Law, Education, Business and the Performing Arts. He is a member of the British Voice Association and a tutor for Voicecare Network, working with teachers and lecturers to help in their vocal care and delivery in the classroom.

Paul is an International Bach Flower practitioner, advanced medical aromatherapist and Reiki Therapist specialising in relaxation techniques. He regularly provides day courses in Voice Therapy, The Creative Self, Bach Flower Therapy and Performance Psychology.

www.paulbench.co.uk

Edwina Lloyd
LLAM, LGSM

Edwina, who lives in Bristol, teaches Speech and Drama, frequently adjudicates for the British Federation of Festivals and examines for Vanguard Examination.

She loves directing Shakespeare, particularly with young people, and has experience in the Royal Shakespeare Co. and Childrens’ Theatre.

Edwina is a professional actress, and regularly accepts TV work. She loves giving recitals. She enjoys working in a pro-amateur company each summer.

She knows how it feels to be a teacher entering a wide range of Group, Duo and Solo Classes in the local Bristol Festival and has a full understanding of the festival excitement and anxiety, necessary, she thinks, if one is to adjudicate with sensitivity.

She thoroughly enjoys the privilege of adjudication, learning from other Teachers and encouraging the progress of performers.

Phillip Thrupp
LGSM, LLAM(Hons), NDD, Cert GSMD, FRSA, Hon FIEMS, FRSA, FSTSD

Phillip trained at Exeter College of Art and the Hartly Hodder Studio. He has taught Speech and Drama to pupils of all ages, Public Speaking to adults and has been Tutor of Voice and Speech at Wesley College, Bristol. In 1995 he was appointed International Examination Co-ordinator for the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and worked extensively on the development of their overseas centres and was invited to become the patron of IEMS, the largest speech and drama institute in Asia. His work has taken him to Sri Lanka, Los Angeles, Zimbabwe, Spain, Kenya, Singapore, Cape Town, New York, Netherlands and Australia where he has examined and presented workshops. He also adjudicates regularly at festivals in the UK, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong.

Anita Downey
PhD, MA, LGSM, LLAM, PGVS, ADVS, PGCA

Having trained as a teacher I then went to work in both Primary and Secondary schools. Combining my academic teaching with my love of the arts I pioneered the integration scheme for Surrey. Going on then to work with profoundly deaf youngsters, I set up the Special Creative Arts Programme for them. This ran for 7 years until the school was integrated into main stream. Continuing my training at the Guildhall School of Speech and Drama and Central School, taking the Advanced Diploma in Voice Studies, I went on to run a Drama Group for fifteen years. Winning the International Professor Van Lawrence Award for my research into voice sounds led me to research further into the cultural rhythms of the world through literature. Due to my strong belief in a sound education, I continue to teach Maths and English at home alongside Speech and Drama. I examine and adjudicate all over the world, and am a busy lecturer and enjoy the challenges of a varied life

Maryrose Swarbrick

Maryrose Swarbrick is currently Head of Drama at St Mary’s Hall, Stoneyhurst College. Maryrose has worked extensively in theatre from a very young age, in everything from Pantomime to Shakespeare. Musical Theatre though remains her first love. With the help of her daughters she runs a long established school of performing arts and a professional theatre company. While director and choreographer she loves nothing more than encouraging the young (and not so young) in all aspects of dance and drama.