Rebecca Gascoigne - Principal
Drama teacher
Rebecca trained at Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh graduating in July 2000 with a BA (Hons) Acting with Distinction. Her professional roles include: Perdita in The Winter’s Tale; Jenny in Changing Kevin’s Story; Kit-Kat Girl in Cabaret; Gretel in Hansel & Gretel (Dundee Rep Theatre); Katherine in A View from a Bridge (Edinburgh Royal Lyceum); Nicola in Girl’s Night Out (No.1 National Tour).
Rebecca spent 3 years working at the BBC as the voice of Nelly Nut in their live and interactive CBBC show Nelly Nut Live! She continues to work as a voice-over artist, recording audio books for Word of Mouth productions.
Rebecca has always had a passion for Children’s Theatre. She worked for several years at Hampstead Theatre’s Educational Department, presenting scriptwriting workshops to children in schools. The scripts were then performed by herself and other professional actors at Hampstead Theatre. She also toured with Hens Theatre Company, delivering interactive educational plays within schools around London and Essex. In 2008, Rebecca graduated from London’s Central School of Speech & Drama with a PGCE (Drama) and gained a job at Orley Farm Prep School as Head of Drama, teaching children aged 4 – 13 and directing major school productions.
Rebecca is very excited to be launching G&T School of Performing Arts with her very good friend and colleague of 10 years, Heather Toyn.
Heather Toyn - Principal
Singing teacher
Heather studied piano and singing at the Royal Academy of Music, gaining a GRSM Honours degree and LRAM Diploma. Whilst she was there she was awarded numerous prizes for piano accompaniment and, after graduating she worked as one of their official accompanists, performing around the country for singers and instrumentalists. Heather also taught the piano for several years whilst teaching in the Junior Department of the RAM.
Heather has also performed live for BBC television (The Terry Wogan Show) and recorded for ITV and BBC Radio 2 (Friday Night is Music Night).
Alongside her teaching career, Heather has been the accompanist for the Harrow Philharmonic Choir for 28 years, performing in a variety of concerts from classical to popular music.
Heather has always had a passion for teaching singing to young children. For the past 33 years Heather has taught at Orley Farm School, firstly as a piano and singing teacher and then taking on the role as Assistant Director of Music for 18 years. She directed three choirs, including an elite chamber choir and directed up to 100 children’s musicals. When Rebecca Gascoigne joined the school in 2008, ‘Gas-Toyn’ productions was born as the Drama and Music departments joined forces. In 2015 Heather became Director of Music leading the impressive Music Department to new heights!
Heather is delighted to be launching the G&T School of Performing Arts with Rebecca.
Philippa Messenger
Dance teacher
Philippa began dancing at the age of four. At sixteen she was awarded a discretionary grant from Harrow Arts Council to continue her training at the Arts Educational London Schools in Chiswick, where she completed a three-year Musical Theatre course.
She has performed at many high profile venues including Sadler’s Wells, The Royal Albert Hall, The Birmingham National Indoor Arena, Wembley Stadium, Earl's Court Arena and The Magic Circle Theatre. Her dancing has taken her all around the world doing shows, tours and cruises, and she has appeared on national television in the UK, America, India and Italy.
Philippa was a lecturer on a Performing Arts BTEC National Diploma, where 92% of her students went on to further their education in dance, either at a professional college, (including The Royal Academy of Dance and The London Studio Centre), or to study a degree in dance at university.
She also worked as a dance coach on a scheme across North London high schools, to reach youngsters in deprived areas and get them involved in dance, to help them focus and gain confidence, whilst encouraging a healthy lifestyle.
Philippa is very excited to be teaching again, this time reaching out to a younger audience and hopefully inspiring them to share her love of dance!
Olly Chamberlain
SINGING TEACHER
Olly was trained by world renowned vocal coach Maureen Scott. He spent two years as a music teacher and vocal coach at The London School of Music and, during his time there, Olly ran musical workshops for Spotify staff at their headquarters in central London.
While reading Philosophy at the University of Reading, Olly began uploading song covers onto YouTube, which have since amassed one million plays.
Olly is a BBC Introducing Artist and will be performing at this year’s Henley Festival on the BBC stage. Olly has previously performed at Reading and Leeds Festivals. He is a passionate songwriter and is currently working closely with legendary songwriter, Wayne Hector, on his own material.
Olly is passionate about teaching and is extremely excited to be joining the G&T team!