Alumni

We are very proud of ALL of our students and their successes. Here are just some of the professional achievements of our former and current students

Harrison Dowzell

Harrison began dancing at the Rollo Academy at eight years old and continued his vocational training at Performers College in Essex.
At 12 he played the role of Billy Elliot at the Palace Theatre in the West End.
Since leaving college, Harrison has joined Matthew Bournes New Adventures playing the roles of Romeo and Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet and Julian and Anton in the Red Shoes.
In 2020 Harrison was aware Dance of the Month in the Dancing Times Magazine and also appeared in Matthew Bournes Spitfire as part of the BBC’s Dance Nation and the British Ballet Charity Gala at the Royal Albert Hall.
Other credits include The Royal Variety Show and Sunday Night at the Palladium along with various Pantomimes for QDOS Entertainment around the UK.
Harrison is currently performing in Stings musical Message in a Bottle at the Peacock Theatre and over the Christmas period will be playing the Nutcracker for Matthew Bournes New Adventures

Rosie Porter

Rosie started dancing at the Rollo Academy from the age of 14 before successfully gaining a DaDA (Dance and Drama Award) for Bird College of Dance and Theatre Performance. Whilst in training Rosie also successfully completed her ISTD teaching qualifications in Imperial Ballet, Modern and Tap Dance.
Since graduating Rosie has performed all over the world in various productions and has also extensive teaching and choreography experience.
Rosie is currently in Stuttgart, Germany as Dance Captain in ‘Tanz Der Vampire’
Performance Credits:
Cross-Swing ‘Tanz Der Vampire’ Metronom Theater, Oberhausen, ‘Spirit of the Dance’ Falls View Casino, Niagara, Closing Cast for Pacific Jewel/P&O Australia (Grayboy Entertainment), Pacific Explorer/P&O Australia’s flagship (Grayboy Entertainment), Spirit Lead in ‘Spirit of the Dance’ Theatre Royal Newcastle and International Tour, Ensemble in ‘Grease’ for Philipp Plein at Milan Fashion Week 2017, Dancer in ‘The Emerald Storm’ Promotional Video and Original Performances, Dancer/Understudy Scheherazade (Slave of the Ring) in ‘Aladdin’ for Qdos Pantomimes Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Harmony Smurf (Original UK Cast) in ‘The Smurfs Live on Stage’ World Tour, Danielle (Lead Actress) in ‘Festivus’ The Old Red Lion, London and Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Swing in ‘Milkshake! The Party, Party Live Tour’ UK Tour, Ensemble in ‘Rock Around The Clock’ UK and China Tour, Dancer on ‘The X-Factor’ (Israel), Lead Actress in EofE’s Music Video ‘Piece of You’, Texas in ‘Cabaret’ The Gardyne Theatre, Dundee.

Lillie-Pearl Wildman

Lillie started her training at The Rollo Academy at the age of 3 and continued at the school until at 18 she began her professional training at the Guildford School of Acting. Since graduating in 2021, she begun her career at the Kit Kat Club (Playhouse Theatre London) in the role of Texas in the new revival of Kander and Ebb’s Cabaret. Lillie is currently performing in Disney’s Musical Newsies at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre London.

Tom Hopcroft

Tom graduated from Arts Educational School London in 2018 with a BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre.
Credits since graduating:- The Comedy About a Bank Robbery (UK Tour & West End), A Little Princess (West End), The Olivier Awards (Royal Albert Hall), Comic Relief (BBC), BLONDE (RADA) & Cinderella (Nottingham Playhouse). Tom is currently playing the Role of Joey in Sister Act currently on a UK tour.

Frank Simms

Training: Rollo Academy and Arts Educational
Filming includes:Gordon (Lead) -Amelia’s letter (Stella Vision Films), Simon French (Lead) -The K Initiative (Dimension2), Boy (Lead)- Smitten (The Grand Pois), Morty (Lead)- Morty (Haberdasher Films) Henry Bromley-Joanna Vassa (Clapham South Productions), Daniel Truman-Elder Jackson (Box Productions (Lausanne).

Theatre roles include: Bassanio-The Merchant of Venice (Ashrow Theatre), Jack-Importance of Being Earnest (Ashrow Theatre), Telegin- Uncle Vanya (Ashrow Theatre), Ensemble-She Loves Me (All Star Productions), Ray-Elegies (Language Laid Bare), Biondello/Curtis-Taming of the Shrew (Ashrow Theatre), PC Ping Pong-Aladdin (Blue Genie), Ballet Barker-Carousel (Thom Southerland/Sarah Bodelbhai/Ewan Jones), Company member-The Red Ribbon Revue (Milo Miles Entertainment), Company member- Cloud Dance Festival (Milo Miles Dance Company), Ensemble/Policeman- Singin’ In The Rain (Thom Southerland/Joe Atkins/Martin McCarthy), Chief Elf-The Night Before Christmas (Jamie Wilson Productions), Mischief (Newly created)- Into The Woods (Landor) (Robert McWhir/Iain Vince Gatt/Robbie O’Reilly), Ensemble- Pirates of Penzance (Union)(Sasha Regan/Chris Mundy/Lizzi Gee)

As well as performing, Frank is creative director and co-producer of Ashrow Talent Management LTD based in Nottingham

Alex Thomas

Vocational training at Laine Theatre Arts. Theatre credits include West End iProduction of In The Heights, West End Production of Memphis, Tyrone in the 25th Anniversary UK tour of Fame; Dance Captain, ensemble in Peter Pan (Lyceum); ensemble in The Lion King (Original UK tour), Thad, ensemble in Hairspray (Malaysian tour) and featured performer in the prestigious Mystic Rhythms show (Tokyo Disney).

Other work includes The Nutcracker (Save the Children charity event) at the Guildhall, London; Christmas Commercial for Marks and Spencer; Trinity DaDA 10th Anniversary Awards, London; company dancer in Storm (Youth Dance England); featured dancer in the M’Goo Projects’s music video Let’s Fly to the Moon and modelling work at London Fashion Week. And also workshops for BAFTA Award winning ITV Central Television and the Rollo Academy.

LONDON HIPPODROME – 50th anniversary performance – show boy and Jackson 5. ALADDIN – feature length film – DANCER 2017. DANCER. Mamma Mia! 2 – Here we go again – FEATURE FILM – ‘mamma Mia Scene featured dancer. KT TUNSTALL – The River music video – solo dancer (style: contemporary). MOVE IT FOR MICKEY campaign – Paul Roberts choreo- dancer / actors. ALFIE BOE – as time goes by music video. Rocketman Movie 2019-2020 (Adam Murray/ Dexter Fletcher) – dancer. FILM: ‘Captain America’ – dancer role, ensemble – Marvel / Disney studios.

Ashleigh Morris

Ashleigh began her training at the Rollo academy at the age of 4, studying all genres of dance and musical theatre until she was 16. She then went on to train for three years at Performers College, where she graduated in 2020 with a Level 6 Diploma in Musical Theatre. During her time at Performers, Ashleigh was chosen to represent the college in many different performances and events and was also fortunate enough to get to learn from and work with some of the industry’s best performers and creatives. Since leaving college, Ashleigh has gone on to perform as part of the ensemble in Singin’ In The Rain at the Sadlers Wells Theatre in London and will be seen continuing with the show for the International and UK tour in 2022.

Chloe Barker

Chloe started her training with the Rollo Academy Of Performing Arts and then went onto train full time at Masters Performing Arts College. Chloe worked on such shows as The One Show, Britains Got Talent, A night with Katherine Jenkins and performed at the world renowned Redken Hair Show. Chloe then began to work for Princess Cruises Lines and has been contracted with them for the last 4 years doing 5 contracts around the world and still continues to work for them.

Jessica Vaux

Jessica Vaux started her training at The Rollo Academy at the age of 3 and gained her vocational dance exams, singing exams and reached the Bursary in local dance festivals. She also studied acting and performed in several plays with The Television Workshop. Having obtained a DADA, Jessica attended The Arts Educational School in London in 2022 where she graduated with a BA in Musical Theatre. She is now making her professional debut in Strictly Ballroom the Musical UK and Ireland Tour as the character Charm and ensemble, which runs until July 2023!

Jenny Simm

Jennifer has been dancing since she was 8 years old and in her early years has performed in pantos at Newark Palace Theatre and was also part of the choir in Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at Derby Assembly Rooms.

Since leaving Rollo Academy Jennifer studied Musical Theatre at Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom for three years, where she performed in various productions at Epsom Playhouse, and after graduating from there has worked for
Costa Cruises and P & O Cruises on a world cruise and various Mediterranean cruises. In between cruise contracts she has worked for White Diamond Productions and various other production companies as a dancer. In February this year she was lucky enough spend a day on a film production with Nicole Kidman as an extra.

Jenny is extremely grateful for all the support she has had from family and friends and to all her dance and drama teachers both at Rollo and Laine.

Katy Hautz

Katy started dancing at the age of 3, studying at the Rollo Academy from the age of 12, then moving on to Millennium Performing Arts where she graduated with a Trinity National Diploma in Musical Theatre and the Best Actress award.

Whilst training she performed in numerous shows and the pre-production workshop for Stephen Mears Hello, Dolly! Since leaving college Katy has worked as a dancer in Paphos Cyprus, and as a backing dancer for a music video and a Britney Spears tribute act. She has also appeared in the films Streetdance 3D, Swinging with the Finkels and The Scared of Death Society. Katy has worked for MSC cruises for several contracts and is currently employed by Princess Cruises.

Ellie Hudswell

Ellie continued her training at Rollo aged at the age of 13 and continued until aged 18. She began training at Performers college where she received a first class BA(Hons) in Musical Theatre (Dance). Since graduating Ellie has continued to audition whilst working for an award winning children’s princess entertainment company performing at various large scale events

Sophie Linder-Lee

Training: Performers College.

Theatre includes: ‘MC’ in Channing Tatum’s Magic Mike Live (Hippodrome), ‘Mary Pickford’ in Biograph Girl (Finborough Theatre), ‘Mermaid’ in Big Fish (Other Palace), ‘Janet’ in Rocky Horror Show (UK Tour), ‘Columbia’ in Rocky Horror Show (Playhouse/Live in Cinemas), Standby ‘Glinda’ in Wicked (Apollo Victoria) and previously swing and understudy ‘Glinda’ in Wicked (Apollo Victoria); understudy ‘Lisa’ and ensemble in Mamma Mia! (Prince of Wales); Silence! The Musical (Barons Court Theatre); lead vocalist on P&O Cruises (Stadium Theatre Company); singer/dancer in Broadway’s Spirit of Christmas (US tour); Dance Captain on Jack and the Beanstalk and Cinderella (Towngate Theatre) and Dance Captain on Cinderella for QDOS. Rocky Horror Live Show September 2015.
Television includes: dancer on The X Factor; The Slammer (CBBC); Top of the Pops and Halifax commercial.
Film includes: Mamma Mia! The Movie (pre-production workshop).
Recordings include: Don’t Stop Believin’ (UK tour).

Kieran Donovan

Kieran has worked on global stadium & arena tours with top artists to tv screens on prime time shows across the world. Some of Kieran’s creative & choreographic credits include: MTV EMA Awards, Samsung, the X Factor UK, Strictly Come Dancing, The Masked Dancer UK, the Mobo Awards, Maluma, Imagine Dragons, AJ Tracey, Mabel, PA Salieu, The Muse, J.I.D, DJ Spinall, Ayanna, Alexandra Burke, Gayle, Nasty C, Girl in Red, Britains Got Talent, the Body Shop UK, 100 Wardour St. London, Tallink Silja Cruise Lines & more.

Having performed with Rita Ora, Neyo, Charlie Puth, Little Mix, Take That, Shania Twain, Joss Stone, Ceelo Green, Aloe Blacc, the Masked Singer, Good Morning America, The Voice, ‘The Bodyguard’ the Musical, Strictly Come Dancing, and much more.

Kieran’s passion also spread to work on blockbuster films such as Mamma Mia! 2, Death on the Nile, Snow White (2024), and with international fashion brands including Puma, Dolce & Gabbana, Ted Baker, and more.

Simon Harvey

Simon began his training at the Rollo Academy of Dancing in Nottingham, and then went on to complete a three-year course at the Bird College of Performing Arts. Whilst at college Simon toured extensively throughout Europe with the Bird Theatre Company.

Theatre credits include: Motown The Musical (West End), Mr Braithwaite in Billy Elliot The musical (west end), Memphis (West End), South Pacific playing the role of Stewpot (Kilworth House), Dr Kool and Sammy in Flashdance The Musical (UK tour), Cinderella (Old Vic Theatre), Benny in Daddy Cool The Musical (German tour), understudy Sonny in Daddy Cool (West end), Fame The Musical where he understudied and performed the roles of Tyrone Jackson, Joe Vegas and Mr Myers( west end ) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (West end), Chicago (West end), Bugsy Malone (NYMT Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith), Cinderella (Nottingham Playhouse) the original cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies (West end ) Commercial work: Sonny J music video – Ministry of Sound, Toyota Gala Night – Excel Arena Docklands, Saturday Night Divas – Jamelia (ITV), Denise Van Outen (Parkinson Show BBC1), Emma Bunton (Popworld Concert, BBC1), Jamelia (Mobo Awards 2005, Royal Albert Hall), Mary Griffin (Ri-ise TV, Channel 4), Gina–G (Song for Europe, BBC1), ‘Baby I Don’t Care’ music video Jennifer Ellison.

Shayna McPherson

From the age of 6, Shayna began her training at the Rollo Academy of Performing Arts in Nottingham where she gained all her fundamental technique. She then continued her training at The Urdang Academy, where she did a foundation year and then successfully completed a 3 year course in which she gained a First Class Honours Degree in Professional Musical Theatre.
Shayna’s first professional debut was in the The Wiz in Manchester at the Hope Mill Theatre and she is currently performing in the musical Aladdin in Stuttgart, Germany

Natasha Boyce

Natasha began her training at the Rollo Academy of dancing in 2005. After training for 5 years as an associate at the Central School of Ballet, Natasha successfully auditioned for Northern Ballet School in 2011 and began a 3 year course. Graduating early Natasha gained a Trinity National Diploma in professional dance. She is now working for Costa Cruise Lines on board the Costa Fortuna. Natasha is extremely grateful for all the help and support she has received from everyone at Rollo.

Perri-Kae Burton

Training- The Rollo Academy of Performing Arts (Nottingham), then continued her training at The Urdang Academy (London) were she graduated in 2017 with a Level 6 Diploma in Musical Theatre and Dance.
Theatre-
Dancer and understudy in Sleeping Beauty at De Montford Hall Leicester, Dancer for Acorn Projects at the Newark Palace Theatre, Dancer for Princess Cruises on the Majestic Princess, Dancer for Jasmine Sandlas BBC Asian Network Live, Dancer for Little Mix ITV Brit Awards, Dancer for P&O Cruises on The Aurora, Workshop dancer for Aida Cruises Hamburg, Cesar TV Commercial with Blink Productions, Dance Captain/Ensemble/Understudy in Aladdin, Jack and the Beanstalk and Beauty and the Beast for Imagine Theatre at the Newark Palace Theatre.

Perri is currently performing on the Majestic Princess sailing out of Sydney, Australia

Olivia Neville

Olivia continued her training at The Rollo Academy at the age of 15 and continued at the school until she was 18. She began her professional training at Performers College. Whilst in training Olivia also successfully completed her ISTD teaching qualifications in Imperial Ballet and Modern dance. Since graduating in 2022, she has begun her career at the Novello Theatre as a swing in the hit musical MAMMA MIA!! She will be performing until October 2023.

Chloe Hopcroft

After leaving Rollo, Chloe trained at the Urdang Academy where she gained a first class honours degree in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre. Her first job after college was playing Tantomile in CATS on RCCL Oasis of the Seas, where she also covered the roles of Demeter, Rumpleteaser, Victoria and Syllabub. Since then, she has performed in the ensemble of Blonde the Musical. Chloe is currently performing in Sister Act on the UK tour with her brother Tom

Chloe would like to thank Rollo for the incredible training she received and the wonderful friendships she made with both students and teachers.

Ellie Gilfillan

At the age of four, Ellie started dancing at the Rollo Academy, training and completing exams in both ISTD and RAD. With a great passion for dance she decided to continue her training at Masters Performing Arts college where she completed a 3 year musical theatre course, gaining a diploma, her ISTD and RAD ballet majors, achieved her ISTD teaching associates in modern, tap and ballet and was also given the role of head girl in her 2nd and third year.

During her time at Masters she also spent her free time teaching the younger students of the school. After her three years at Masters she went on to work for Princess Cruises in the role of Dance Captain and is currently living in Canada

Leo Hollingsworth

Leo was born with his eyes wide open, as a toddler he had a passion for acting, copying tv characters and performing at home.
He started New Youth Theatre at the age of four and performed on stage in three shows a year. This raised the curtain to the world of musicals, singing and dancing.
Leo instigated starting at Rollo in 2018 and initially wanted to do modern and tap dance. He learnt that ballet led the foundation to dance and began all of these.
In 2021 Leo worked through the audition process to gain a place in the main group at the Nottingham Television Workshop.
At the age of 11 Leo made his professional stage debut at The Curve Theatre in Leicester in the role of ‘Billy’ in ‘Billy Elliot.’
The story of ‘Billy’ is inspirational and relatable in promoting that boys can dance too and he had the most amazing experience achieving this lead role.

Kelly Edwards

Theatre includes: Oompa Loompa in Charlie and the chocolate factory. Princess Rosalind in Sleeping Beauty (Nottingham Playhouse), Annie in Jack and the Beanstalk (Nottingham Playhouse), ensemble in Dick Whittington (Hackney Empire), ensemble in Disco Inferno(UK tour), Dance Captain in Mamma Mia!(international tour), swing/cover and feature vocalist in Dirty Dancing (Stage Entertainment), singer/dancer in Tanz Der Vampire (Stage Entertainment), dancer at Legoland (Legoland), lead vocalist in Gaiety Whirl (Gaiety Theatre), dancer in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Derngate) and lead vocalist on Carousel Cruise Ship (Cruise).

Television and radio include: Dirty Dancing(Uitmarkt) and Musical Awards (ARD Stukios Koln).

Harrison Dowzell

Rosie Porter

Lillie-Pearl Wildman

Tom Hopcroft

Frank Simms

Alex Thomas

Ashleigh Morris

Chloe Barker

Jessica Vaux

Jenny Simm

Katy Hautz

Sophie Linder-Lee

raining: Performers College.

Theatre includes: ‘MC’ in Channing Tatum’s Magic Mike Live (Hippodrome), ‘Mary Pickford’ in Biograph Girl (Finborough Theatre), ‘Mermaid’ in Big Fish (Other Palace), ‘Janet’ in Rocky Horror Show (UK Tour), ‘Columbia’ in Rocky Horror Show (Playhouse/Live in Cinemas), Standby ‘Glinda’ in Wicked (Apollo Victoria) and previously swing and understudy ‘Glinda’ in Wicked (Apollo Victoria); understudy ‘Lisa’ and ensemble in Mamma Mia! (Prince of Wales); Silence! The Musical (Barons Court Theatre); lead vocalist on P&O Cruises (Stadium Theatre Company); singer/dancer in Broadway’s Spirit of Christmas (US tour); Dance Captain on Jack and the Beanstalk and Cinderella (Towngate Theatre) and Dance Captain on Cinderella for QDOS. Rocky Horror Live Show September 2015.
Television includes: dancer on The X Factor; The Slammer (CBBC); Top of the Pops and Halifax commercial.
Film includes: Mamma Mia! The Movie (pre-production workshop).
Recordings include: Don’t Stop Believin’ (UK tour).

Kieran Donovan

Simon Harvey

Shayna McPherson

Natasha Boyce

Perri-Kae Burton

Perri is currently performing on the Majestic Princess sailing out of Sydney, Australia

Olivia Neville

Chloe Hopcroft

Chloe would like to thank Rollo for the incredible training she received and the wonderful friendships she made with both students and teachers.