Intensive Workshop in Acting

Instructors

Katerina Drakopoulou is a performer, physical theatre and movement trainer, and performance maker. She holds an MA in Ensemble Physical Theatre: Training and Performance (University of Huddersfield), an MA in Performance (Goldsmiths College), and a BA in Drama and Theatre Studies with a specialization in devising (University of Kent). Following the completion of her studies, she worked as a Lecturer at the University of Leeds and at Manchester Metropolitan University. She currently teaches movement, physical theatre, and contemporary performance at the American College of Greece. Her practice draws from her extensive training in Butoh dance, and she has collaborated as a dancer with renowned Butoh artists, such as Tetsuro Fukuhara, Valentin Tszin, Katsura Kan, and the Torifune Butoh-Sha company. She has performed internationally, including Greece, England, Japan, and the U.S. Her research interests include Psychophysical actor training and performance, particularly in the intersection between “theatre” and “dance”,Butoh dance and the processes of butoh notation (Butoh-fu),Improvisation and intuitive sensory movement processes, Site-specific performance, Performance-making and contemporary devising practice. Since 2016, her main artistic research has focused on the interaction of the Butoh body with natural/urban landscapes through the site-specific, walk-based performance project 22 stops. Initially presented and awarded at the In-Progress Feedback Festival (Kinitiras, Athens, 2016), it has since been presented in various versions across different festivals.Rcent works include:

• AORISTOS | Past Perfect, directed by Anastasia Koumidou, Poe Festival 2024 (Rabbithole, Dec. 2024).
• Ecotone, a solo Butoh performance at Cheapart (Athens, Dec. 2024) and at the Bionic Festival (Madrid, Nov. 2024), conceived and performed by herself.
• First Contact, by the Inside Spaceman performance group, Stockholm Fringe Festival 2024 (Best multi-media performance, Aug. 2024), Kypseli Municipal Market (Sep. 2024), and The Art Foundation (Athens, Feb. 2024).
• Pandora 2022 (+2) – The Return, a long-durational, performance/installation at the Performance Rooms 2024 (Kappatos Gallery, Athens, Feb. 2024), conceived and performed by herself.
• Antigone – A Hubris directed by Vicky Mastroyianni, Omada 7, presented at the Buffer Fringe Performing Arts Festival (Nicosia, 2023), the 10th International Balkan Countries Festival (Bursa, 2023), and Psilikatzidiko (Athens, 2022)
• In Anticipation (Flux Laboratory, Athens, 2023), a long-durational Butoh performance, conceived and performed by herself.

Eva Simatou is an accomplished Athens-based actress with a distinguished career in theatre, television, and academia. A first-class graduate of the Advanced Drama School of Theatro Technis Karolos Koun (Athens Art Theatre), she also holds a BSc in Sociology and Media Studies and an MA in Arts Management & Criticism from City St. George’s University of London.  She has played lead roles in major productions across renowned institutions, including the National Theatre of Greece, the National Theatre of Northern Greece, the Southbank Centre (London). Odou Kefallinias Theatre, The Benaki Museum, Megaron Mousiki’s Thessaloniki, The National Theatre of Ankara, Şinasi Sahnesi, Michael Cacoyannis Foundation.  In addition to her acting, she is an experienced professor. She is currently collaborating with the Theatre Arts Department at The American College of Greece, Deree, and has also served as an acting instructor for the University of Washington’s study abroad program. Her artistic research focuses on contemporary performance in non-theatre spaces and bioenergetic training, which informs her practice-based teaching approach. Recent works include:

• Mother Courage. Bertolt Brecht.Director: Stathis Livathinos. National Theatre of Greece (Yvette Pottier)
• King Lear. William ShakespeareDirector: Stathis Livathinos. Odou Keffalinias Theatre. Praxis. (Reagan)
• On Alexander.Alexander the Great in epic Persian poetry. Excerpts from Nizami’s Iskandar-nameh (12th century) Director: Stratis Panourios. National theatre of Greece & The Benaki Museum. (Roxanne)
• Exintavelonis. Konstantinos Oikonomos.A Greek translation of Moliere’s “The Miser”.Director: Lilly Meleme. National theatre of Greece. (Marianne)
• The Empire (I have your data). Yiorgos Veltsos. Director: Michael Marmarinos. National Theatre of Northern Greece & Megaron Mousikis Thessaloniki. (Babylon)
• Titus Andronicus. William Shakespeare. Director: Alexandros Sotiriou. Athens Art Theatre (Theatro Technis Karolos Koun).(Tamora)

Dr Nicholas Holden joined LAMDA as Head of Academic Affairs and Research in January 2024, having previously been Deputy Head of the School of Stage and Screen at the University of Greenwich. Prior to this Nick had held positions at the University of Lincoln, UK, and the University of Nottingham, UK, and, in 2022, was the Thomas P. Johnson Distinguished Fellow in English and Drama at Rollins College, USA. Following a career as an actor and dancer in theatre and film, Nick has worked in Higher Education for over 10 years but remains active in the industry as a script reader and producer, and as an associate at the Royal Court Theatre, where he works on the Living Archive Project, which supports the development of the theatre’s newly created digital archive. Nick has research specialisms in playwriting studies, musical theatre, masculinity, and the history of the Royal Court Theatre, specifically its work with young people. He is co-founder and co-convenor of the Contemporary Playwriting Network and co-editor of the book series Playwriting and the Contemporary: Critical Collaborations (Liverpool University Press). His publications include Masculinities in Musical Theatre (Forthcoming, Bloomsbury, 2025), Beautiful Doom: The Work of Dennis Kelly on Stage and Screen (co-edited with Jacqueline Bolton, Manchester University Press, 2024), a special issue of Comparative Drama on London’s Theatre (co-edited with Harry Derbyshire and Mark O’ Thomas, 2022), and articles and book chapters on new play development, musical theatre on screen, and arts and cultural policy from the 1990s to the present day.

Gregory Haney is an actor, choreographer, and movement director with an extensive career spanning Broadway, the West End, film, television, and music videos. As the Head of Dance at LAMDA, he brings a wealth of industry experience and a passion for developing the next generation of performers.

On Broadway, Gregory has appeared in productions such as Hamilton, Bring It On, Wicked, Memphis, and Tarzan. His West End credits include Hamilton and Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. He also earned acclaim for his portrayal of Noxeema Jackson in the world premiere of To Wong Foo the Musical, further showcasing his versatility and depth as a performer.  With a dynamic and multifaceted background, Gregory is dedicated to inspiring and shaping artists through movement, storytelling, and performance excellence.

Daniel Trainor (he/him) is an American actor who recently completed the inaugural MFA Musical Theatre course at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. While at LAMDA, his favorite credits include Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods (LAMDA and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Jamie in The Last Five Years, Danny in Grease, and Gwendolyn in The Importance of Being Earnest, and his professional credits include Swing/cover Kit Kat Boy in Cabaret (Studio Tenn Theatre Company). In addition to his LAMDA training, he produced several student cabaret performances both at LAMDA and in the West End. Prior to training at LAMDA, he served for 8 years as a U.S. Army officer and combat helicopter pilot. He holds a B.S. in Arts, Philosophy, and Literature from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Daniel is also a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, with experience training both in the U.K. and the U.S.

Matthew McFarland is originally from southern California and was most recently living in New York City. He received his MFA in Musical Theatre at the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art and his BFA in Acting from the University of Southern California.  Credits include The Baker in Into the Woods at LAMDA and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, LAMDA’s Miscast at Seven Dials Playhouse, Ragtime at Musical Theatre West and 13 at Center Theatre Group. @matthewjmcfarland

Dana Gough is a recent LAMDA graduate originally hailing from upstate New York. She has also spent a great deal of time in Orlando, Florida, performing at all the major theme parks in the area. On stage, her favorite roles have included Molly Aster (Peter and the Starcatcher), Ivy (Bare: a pop opera), and Roxie Hart (Chicago), as well as performing alongside Ginger Minj in the Orlando Fringe production of Arden. Off stage, she loves cats (hers is named Hope), reading (proud owner of a booktok account), board games (she’s rather competitive) and has a great deal of knowledge about the Titanic (both the film and real ship).

Chéri McKenzie is from Los Angeles, California where she first discovered her love for dance at three years old and musical theatre shortly after. She attended Los Angeles County High School for the Arts before receiving her BA in theatre and a minor in dance from the University of Southern California.  Currently Chéri is at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts working on her MFA in musical theatre.  She recently played Little Red in Into The Woods at the Edinburgh Fringe this past August with LAMDA. She is looking forward to the many upcoming projects she is a part of this year such as Ride the Cyclone, a Tennessee Williams project, and a Sondheim vs. Webber cabaret, to name a few.