Jo Cassidy and Mykey Young have been friends since high school. You could say being in the spotlight came naturally to the pair who were both passionate about Performing Arts on all levels, taking part in classes, workshops and putting on a show wherever possible. (even when it wasn’t really necessary!)
A lot has happened since then. Both Jo and Mykey moved on to train professionally as performers and teachers in their own right both holding Post Graduate Certificates in Education (PGCE) and have since enjoyed (and continue to enjoy!) long and healthy careers working across theatre, film, TV, outdoor arts, cabaret, variety, cruise, resorts and education in the UK and overseas.
As performers, creatives, producers and directors who are still active in the industry, they both count themselves incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to teach young performers from early years through to degree level in, between and around their various contracts.
Their shared experiences when working with young and graduate performers brought about a realisation that they felt they could bring something more to Performing Arts training and education. They have since joined forces to create brand new training and professional development models that focus on two key areas. The first, high quality, multi-disciplinary and industry-relevant Performing Arts training at all levels and ages. The second, concepts that also build and develop the transferable life and real-world skills that are essential to shape, sustain and maintain successful careers, not only in the Performing Arts but in other sectors and areas of employment.
Jo Cassidy
Jo is an Actress, Singer, Musician and Director who prides herself on her continued professional career, keeping her knowledge and skills relevant to today’s fast paced and ever changing industry.
She has appeared in numerous television programs including Pete vs Life – Channel 4, Off the Hook – BBC 3 , Endeavour – ITV, Law & Order – ITV, Call the Midwife – BBC 1.
As an educator Jo is a specialist practitioner who combines her performance experience with high level educational training both in mainstream curriculum and SEND.
For the last 6 years Jo has worked with young people and adults with both complex and additional needs and is adept at embedding her practice into the learning process, training skill at the highest level whilst supporting students and performers with continual positive reinforcement and a safe and happy learning environment.
Jo is currently devising and directing a new theatre production that focuses on teenage resilience for The Grand Theatre, Blackpool.
Mykey Young
Mykey is a passionate performer in his own right, he now prides himself on also being a driven and ambitious Creative Director, Producer and Educator with a wide range of cross-disciplinary experience in the arts and cultural sector as well as the corporate and commercial entertainment industry.
Having spent 10 years performing both in the UK and overseas, Mykey grew a passion for working in production where he has spent the last 6 years.
Mykey spends his time producing and directing productions from small pieces of street theatre to large-scale theatrical touring productions both nationally and overseas and throughout the course of the last 3 years alone has worked with over 350 performers and 20 individual casts. In recent years he has created concepts and productions for national and international clients in the travel and leisure entertainment sector as well as producing multiple arts festivals. In 2016 he created the award winning, inaugural LightPool Festival which continues to run and now enters its fifth spectacular year.
As an educator, Mykey trains young performers at all ages with a focus on performance coaching both on and off the stage. He has taught across all age groups and ability levels and has extensive experience lecturing on First and National Diploma as well as Degree Level courses. Through his work in creating and mounting productions, Mykey has developed a passion for designing curriculum that suits the needs and demands of today’s rapidly adapting industry. He focuses on training and coaching the creative workforce of the future to be highly skilled, resilient, and best equipped to take on a career in the arts by bringing wherever possible, real world experiences and opportunities for engaging with the industry to the young performers he works with.
Mykey is currently Associate Programme Producer for Lancashire 2025, a culture-led regeneration programme that will deliver the UK’s First Distributed City of Culture, as a Location-Based Cultural Experience, brought to life in an Interactive Digital World.
Associate Practitioners
All of our teaching staff, workshop leaders and specialists, wether resident or guest, hold a minimum of Degree or Specialist Diploma in their relevant disciplines. They also continue to work regularly, ensuring that all teaching and training is relevant and in line with today’s demanding industry. Wether local residents or based nationally, our Associate Practitioners are passionate about working with young people in the Blackpool and Fylde area and take enormous pride in the development of their social, emotional and creative education.