Funky Studios, based in Mansfield, stands at the forefront of professional performing arts training in the East Midlands.

I established Funky Studios in 2012, returning to my hometown of Mansfield to have a family. Having worked extensively as a professional actor and performer, I wanted to share my experiences and be able to bring to my students a deep understanding of the necessary skills required to succeed in the performing world today.

Since its early foundations, I am so proud to see how much it has grown and now provides vocational training and performance opportunities with industry specialists in all three disciplines; acting, singing and dance. All sessions take place in specialist studios, providing a creative hub for our students to learn.

Funky’s success speaks for itself. With almost 60 Funky Studios students having secured places at some of the UK’s top drama schools, and with many of these now working successfully within the industry, it is so rewarding for me to know that Funky Studios has helped so many young people to fulfil their dreams.

My mission for the school is to guide and help students to realise their potential, by offering quality tuition to each individual; building on knowledge and skills through small class sizes and professionally led training. Funky Studios is here to build confidence in young performers, to further fuel a passion for the arts and to allow friendships to be created with like-minded peers.

With three clear strands to Funky Studios, my door is open to all young people who share a love of performing and an aspiration and determination to succeed in the industry. The Aspiring Performer programme sets out to equip students with the core skills needed as a performer and to nurture and hone a passion for performance. Evening classes in all three disciplines are offered and these are tiered to allow young people to develop at the right level for them. The Auditioning Performer provides intensive, bespoke and focussed training to those students looking to move on to drama school to train professionally. Training shouldn’t stop as soon as work starts and The Professional Performer programme offers top-up training for performers and creatives already working within the industry. Our Yoga Me Up sessions complement the performance training by ensuring a healthy mind and a healthy body for all. One thing unites them all – the ethos is about working hard, pushing the boundaries and continually striving to be the best that you can be. That’s all that I ask.

As Anatole France once said…

“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.”

If this rings true, then Funky Studios is the place for you.

Hayley Tamaddon

Training: Laine Theatre Arts

Hayley Tammadon is most well-known for her role as Delilah Dingle in Emmerdale but her career has seen her work extensively both on screen and on stage.

Funky Studios are thrilled to have Hayley as our patron and it has been great to have her come and work with our students over the years.

You can follow her career on her Instagram page @hayleysoraya

“I love being patron for Funky Studios. It’s a wonderful school teaching singing, dancing and acting and more to our young stars of the future! I’ve taught there myself and never seen so much talent. Katie is so passionate about her students and it really shows. So much passion and dedication under one roof!”

NARROW ROAD

Narrow Road is a leading theatrical agency established in 1986 by Richard Ireson.

The company represent actors but also creatives across all areas of television, film, theatre & radio and have two offices across the UK in London & Manchester.

The Narrow Road Company are very excited to be associated with Funky Studios. We are very hopeful that this will provide some great opportunities for inspired young actors, kick starting their career with Katie and Funky Studios.