Welcome to Willpower Theatre and Dance Academy where every child is valued.
Meet the team
Kate - Principal
As a child and teenager, Kate attended The Buckley Theatre School and Tina’s Dance Studio in Wigan. She also spent many years at Willpower Youth Theatre and Wigan Pier Youth Theatre. She later trained at Bretton Hall Arts College, gaining a BA (Hons) in Dance.
As an actor, she performed a variety of roles in television, including appearances in Coronation Street, Hollyoaks, and the short film Danny’s Story. Her theatre credits include Jane Bennet in Pride and Prejudice and Gwendolen Fairfax in The Importance of Being Earnest.
As a dancer, she performed with contemporary dance company Motionhouse, touring venues across the North West in the world premiere of the opera Amadis de Gaulle. She also performed as a dancer and singer in the pantomimes Dick Whittington and Aladdin at the Palace Theatre, Manchester.
Kate later moved to Hong Kong for 18 months to teach at Kids’ Gallery Creative Arts, a prestigious full-time arts school. There, she taught Performing Arts, Musical Theatre, Ballet, Speech and Drama, Communication Skills, and Creative Movement. During her time there, she was promoted to Head of Speech and Drama and Curriculum Leader.
As a teacher, Kate holds a PGCE and has worked for Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, Stagecoach, Footlights, Education Group, Trap Media, and was a part-time Performing Arts Lecturer at Leigh Sixth Form for two years. She has been a teacher at Willpower for 20 years, teaching Drama and LAMDA, and choreographing for the annual shows.
Kate now also works as a Young Performers Representative for Intercity Casting, our affiliated acting agency, through which many of our young performers have had the opportunity to audition for film, television, and commercial roles.
Maddie - Teacher
Maddie trained in a variety of dance styles at Joan Woods Theatre School and joined Willpower Youth Theatre at the age of 7, where she performed lead roles in multiple shows. She also trained with Kate in classes such as Jazz, Contemporary, and Street Dance.
At 18, she went on to train full-time at Elliott Clarke Theatre School in Liverpool, and after graduating, she performed professionally in Greece.
Having spent the past two years teaching for the Sophie McDonald Dance Company in Doha, Qatar, Maddie has now returned to Wigan and rejoined Willpower as our newest teacher.
Maddie was a dedicated and much-valued student, and we are delighted to welcome her back as a teacher and a valued member of the Willpower family once again!
Robyn - Teacher
Robyn is a celebrated choreographer and dance educator, known for her dynamic teaching style and expertise across Commercial, Hip-Hop, and Heels Dance.
Robyn was the first and only UK performer who successfully auditioned and consequently tured with the world famous Street Crew: The Royal Family (based in New Zealand).
As the first British member of the Royal Family Dance Crew, Robyn brings her international experience to inspire and empower young performers.