Katie Funk

Principal
Holistic Performance Coach
Head Tutor (Acting, Voice and Musical Theatre)
Artistic Director (Funky Company)
Instructor (Yoga Me Up)

Training: Katie trained at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), where she graduated with a 1st class degree in 2004.

Theatre credits include: Witch/Step-mother in Hansel and Gretel (Image Musical Theatre), Jill in Raving Beauties (number one national tour), Colin Goose (Principal Boy) in Mother Goose at the Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield, Stella Drury in House Guest, all three female roles in the two hander comedy One Man Protest, Olwen Peel in J.B Priestley’s thriller Dangerous Corner, Swing on the UK tour of Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show, Celia/Sylvie/Irene in Ayckbourns comedy Affairs In A Tent , Phantom in the second tour of The Rocky Horror Show and most recently Stella in Strictly Murder.

Film credits included: Girl (female lead) in Ink Control (Moving Image Productions), and Francie Daniels in Second Victim (Philip J Allen Productions).

Television appearances include: Blue Peter, Big Breakfast and Gloria Hunniford Show Live and Featured Character in The Boots Christmas ‘Here Come the girls’ Commercial.

Recordings: Soloist on Warner Classic Album Cantamus Aurora, Beyond The Clouds and Love Story the musical by Howard Goodall.

Other work includes Artistic Director on FAME The Musical, MD/Director Little Shop Of Horrors and MD on Alice by Heart a rock musical by the creators of Spring Awakening (Sheffield Theatre/National Theatre, London). Musicals produced and directed at Funky Studios include Jason Robert Brown's 13 The Musical, Little Shop of Horrors, Bring It On, Spring Awakening, Fame and Dogfight.

Pre Pandemic Katie was in full swing of rehearsals for the first ever Funky Rep company which was producing Alice by Laura Wade and Songs For A New World by Jason Robert Brown.

During the pandemic Katie worked alongside Amy Ireson at Narrow Road and created and directed the original show ‘The Show With No Name’ in which all rehearsals and performances were online! All funds were donated to breast cancer charities and this is one of the most rewarding projects Katie has worked on in her career.

Most recently Katie has just produced and directed the next Funky show, a contemporary musical adaptation of Alice In Wonderland “There’s Something About Ali!.”

In between her commitment to Funky Studios where Katie is both the founding Principal and head tutor Katie has worked and continues to be a Freelance Artist/Teacher for various companies in the UK coaching in both acting, singing and musical theatre. Katie also continues to deliver many guest workshops and has been out to Qatar vocal coaching.

As well as teaching singing and acting Katie is a fully qualified yoga teacher offering classes specifically for professional performers.

‘Yoga me up’ and the ‘Healthy Performer Pro’ workshops designed by Katie are for professional performers to help keep their training fresh and develop further skills and techniques.

Katie sees the importance of continuing to develop and grow as an ongoing journey. We NEVER stop growing and must continue to evolve. As a teacher Katie sees herself as no exception!

After a year of in depth training Katie has recently completed and now is a registered Accredited Singing Teacher for Vocal Process. Katie has loved every second of her accreditation working with a cohort of specialist singing teachers from all over the world!

Although it might seem like there isn’t much time left after all this Katie sees the huge importance of ‘life / work balance’ and the all important spending time with her beautiful family!

Sunday dinners, trips to the theatre, walks in the fresh air and regular runs are all part of the all important ‘life balance’ which Katie aims to keep as she moves into the next chapter of her life.

Life is a gift…..we only get one chance to live it so live it to the fullest! No regret!

Jon Orton

Singing, Piano, Guitar Tutor (Evening Classes and 1:1s)
Musical Director – Funky Company Productions

Jon has worked as a musical director both in the UK and internationally. Theatre work includes Sleeping Beauty (UK Productions), Spring Awakening and Bare (Total Theatre), Jack and the Beanstalk (Little Wolf Limited), Barnum, Working and Tapestry (Stagedoor Manor, New York) and Fame (Funky Studios). Regional musical director work includes A Chorus Line, The Full Monty, The Producers, Rent, Tommy, The Witches of Eastwick, Spamalot and Jesus Christ Superstar to name a few. Jon is Musical Director and founder member of Nottingham based, Debut Theatre, most recently producing The Last Five Years. For Funky Studios Jon has been Musical Director for Fame, Dogfight, Alice and Songs for a New World. In summer 2022 Jon will be returning to Stagedoor Manor, New York as Musical Director and will be back as Musical Director for this year’s pantomime at Mansfield Palace Theatre for UK Productions. He is also Musical Director for Nottingham Musical Theatre Associates.

Jon has been a member of the Funky teaching faculty since 2014, teaching singing ensemble, choir and repertoire classes. Jon also offers private tuition in piano, keyboards, guitar, music theory and musical theatre vocal coaching.

Performance work includes playing piano, keyboard and guitar regularly in theatre pit bands around the country. He is keyboard player with piano/vocal acoustic duo Unrelated, runs his own band The Retrobates as well working as a freelance pianist/guitarist with many other local and national function bands.

As a repetiteur, Jon has worked extensively; most notably as accompanist for vocal masterclasses with Zoe Tyler, Jeff Blumenkrantz, Peter Polycarpou and Jon Robyns.

Jon is a producer of bespoke vocal, ensemble and instrumental arrangements and orchestrations for musical theatre and popular music genres. He also creates high spec, bespoke backing tracks in all musical styles.

Cat Orton

Acting and Musical Theatre Tutor (Evening Classes)
Co-Director – Funky Company Productions

Training: Cat graduated with a BA(Hons) in Music and Drama in 2002. She gained a PGCE in Further and Higher Education in 2005.

Directing is Cat’s passion and over the past 20 years Cat has directed a vast array of musical theatre works and plays. Cat is resident stage director for the Limelight Orchestra with upcoming productions including a celebration of James Bond at the Nottingham Arena, a staged concert production of Sweeney Todd and many other exciting projects in the pipeline – watch this space! In addition, Cat has directed countless plays, productions and showcases within her teaching.

As a vocalist, Cat has performed extensively over the last 20 years. Most notably, Cat was solo vocalist for a concert to mark Stephen Sondheim’s 70th Birthday, in association with the Sondheim Society. She is vocalist and founder member of Nottingham-based Debut Theatre. In 2007, Cat was incredibly fortunate to be invited to sing as part of a concert recital of John Bucchino’s Grateful, which was arranged by special permission of the composer himself.

With almost 20 years of experience as an acting and singing tutor, Cat has taught on a variety of programmes both in further and higher education and continues to teach at private performing arts training schools across the East Midlands, working with students who aspire to a career in the performing arts. Cat is also an examiner and moderator for performing arts qualifications.

Cat has been with Funky Studios since 2017 and loves being a part of the Funky Family. The Funky students are very special and it’s a real pleasure to see so many alumni students now flourishing in their training and careers.

Associate Tutors