About the people who run Middlewich Youth Theatre
Helen Clayton BA(Hons) – Artistic Director
Helen has been involved with Theatre and acting since she was in her first ever production at 7 years old. From that time she has been a regular member of Lancaster Youth Theatre, studied performing arts at college, attained a BA (Hons) in Acting Studies from the Arden School of Theatre and performed in numerous productions, including many TIE (Theatre in Education) projects. As a result of this Helen has seen first hand the positive impact that theatre can have on young people, both educationally and socially. As a Middlewich resident and mother of two young children herself, she is eager to improve the quality of life for young people in our community and can think of no better way than to start a project such as this in Middlewich.
Catherine Singleton BMus (Hons) – Musical Director
Catherine graduated in 1998 from Huddersfield University with an honours degree in music. The main focus of her degree was performance with training in composition and conducting. After leaving University she took on her first role as Musical Director for a production with Knutsford Amateur Operatic Society. She went on to be MD for several more of their productions as well as for Mid-Cheshire Operatic Society. She was the music specialist at a local pre-school for 4 years and she has also taught Violin and Piano to both children and adults.
Over the past 16 years Catherine has had plenty of experience performing. She has been a member of the ‘Pit’ orchestra for many shows in Cheshire and the concert orchestra at Gawsworth Hall summer performances as part of the Phoenix Opera Chorus. She is also a member of a String Quartet that regularly performs at social functions.
Catherine loves working with young people, helping to create original music with members and sourcing and creating music for our performances. Being creative is an essential part of the youth theatre and Catherine loves guiding the members through the creative process and nurturing their skills and development. Currently, Catherine balances teaching music in Cheshire with helping to run the youth theatre.
Irene Inman BA(hons), MA – Director or Visual Arts
Irene has over 23 years experience of working as a professional designer for Ceramic Tableware, Giftware, Graphic Design and Illustration. Within this time she has worked for such companies as Royal Worcester, Spode, Cloverleaf, Portmeirion, Staffordshire Tableware and La Fenice Studio in Como Italy.
Irene also has a long history of working as a theatre set designer and working with young people. She attended the annual Residential Art Trip to Wales from 1993 to 2010 with the staff and 6th formers of the Kings School in Macclesfield, presenting her portfolio to the students & accompanying them on excursions to create paintings, sketches & sculptural pieces reflecting the environment.
She also has extensive theatre experience. She worked for the Academy Theatre School and assisted with the creation of costumes for productions of ‘Alice Through the Looking Glass’, ‘Royal Hunt of the Sun’, ‘Ramayana’ for Kings School Macclesfield. She has guest lectured at Newcastle-Under-Lyme College Foundation Degree in Graphic Design course and her work with the Worcester Operatic & Dramatic Society making props/sets has been invaluable experience for MYT.
Irene’s love of art and theatre makes her an invaluable part of Middlewich Youth Theatre and each performance relies on her inspiration and creative touch.
Helen has been involved with Theatre and acting since she was in her first ever production at 7 years old. From that time she has been a regular member of Lancaster Youth Theatre, studied performing arts at college, attained a BA (Hons) in Acting Studies from the Arden School of Theatre and performed in numerous productions, including many TIE (Theatre in Education) projects. As a result of this Helen has seen first hand the positive impact that theatre can have on young people, both educationally and socially. As a Middlewich resident and mother of two young children herself, she is eager to improve the quality of life for young people in our community and can think of no better way than to start a project such as this in Middlewich.
Catherine Singleton BMus (Hons) – Musical Director
Catherine graduated in 1998 from Huddersfield University with an honours degree in music. The main focus of her degree was performance with training in composition and conducting. After leaving University she took on her first role as Musical Director for a production with Knutsford Amateur Operatic Society. She went on to be MD for several more of their productions as well as for Mid-Cheshire Operatic Society. She was the music specialist at a local pre-school for 4 years and she has also taught Violin and Piano to both children and adults.
Over the past 16 years Catherine has had plenty of experience performing. She has been a member of the ‘Pit’ orchestra for many shows in Cheshire and the concert orchestra at Gawsworth Hall summer performances as part of the Phoenix Opera Chorus. She is also a member of a String Quartet that regularly performs at social functions.
Catherine loves working with young people, helping to create original music with members and sourcing and creating music for our performances. Being creative is an essential part of the youth theatre and Catherine loves guiding the members through the creative process and nurturing their skills and development. Currently, Catherine balances teaching music in Cheshire with helping to run the youth theatre.
Irene Inman BA(hons), MA – Director or Visual Arts
Irene has over 23 years experience of working as a professional designer for Ceramic Tableware, Giftware, Graphic Design and Illustration. Within this time she has worked for such companies as Royal Worcester, Spode, Cloverleaf, Portmeirion, Staffordshire Tableware and La Fenice Studio in Como Italy.
Irene also has a long history of working as a theatre set designer and working with young people. She attended the annual Residential Art Trip to Wales from 1993 to 2010 with the staff and 6th formers of the Kings School in Macclesfield, presenting her portfolio to the students & accompanying them on excursions to create paintings, sketches & sculptural pieces reflecting the environment.
She also has extensive theatre experience. She worked for the Academy Theatre School and assisted with the creation of costumes for productions of ‘Alice Through the Looking Glass’, ‘Royal Hunt of the Sun’, ‘Ramayana’ for Kings School Macclesfield. She has guest lectured at Newcastle-Under-Lyme College Foundation Degree in Graphic Design course and her work with the Worcester Operatic & Dramatic Society making props/sets has been invaluable experience for MYT.
Irene’s love of art and theatre makes her an invaluable part of Middlewich Youth Theatre and each performance relies on her inspiration and creative touch.
