Meet the Academy Team

Tutor: Ballet, Acro, Tap and Street Dance

Jazz began dancing at the age of six and went on to train at the Northern school of Contemporary Dance. She holds a BA Honours Degree in Performance Arts. She has danced for Alison Limerick, Lisa Roxanne and worked with West Life, Boyzone and Cher, and had the honour of performing for the Queen on two occasions. She is Head of Dance for Theatre Peckham Academy and Lead Tutor for Ballet, Tap, and  Acro.  

Jazz was Choreographer for Theatre Peckham’s festive show Rapunzel, which was nominated for an Offie for  Choreography and Movement.  

Assistant: Ballet & Acro

Jolie began learning Ballet at three years old and graduated from The BRIT School. She has trained in RAD Ballet and has been at Theatre Peckham for almost 6 years. And she’s excited to help teach children in Ballet and Acro! 

Assistant: Musical Theatre

Zihan completed her BA in Drama (2021) and MA in Live Art (2022) at Queen Mary University of London and is now pursuing her PhD in Visual Cultures at Goldsmiths, University of London. Alongside her academic journey, Zihan is also pursuing her passion for performing arts, undertaking part-time musical theatre training at Mountview and ongoing vocal training with SuRie, the UK’s 2018 Eurovision representative. Zihan is deeply committed to young people’s performing arts education, as she strongly believes that it plays a transformative role in helping young people spark creativity, build confidence, and develop important life skills. Zihan aspires to do her best to assist the next generation in exploring and reaching their full artistic potential. 

Tutor: Acting, Junior Acting Company, Ballet, Y&T Theatre Creators (Acting), Assistant Director (A Ladd in Peckham)

Joe Bernstein is a creative producer, actor and theatre-maker based in South London. He is the creative director and founder of the Young Creative Collection, a community arts theatre company dedicated to supporting young creative people. His credits include producing two sold out events at Theatre Peckham, Fire With Fire and Cold At Bay. He has also partnered with Southwark Wellbeing Hub to run The Grown Up Workshops: a series of theatre workshops working with community members passing on directing, writing and acting skills. In 2025, he also produced a play as part of Peckham Fringe and one part of Dulwich Festival. Joe’s work stretches across a diverse range of genres and forms but often incorporates poetic voice and movement. 

Tutor: Street Dance, Acro, Y&T Theatre Creators (Dance)  

Alisha Nadine is a London based professional dancer, choreographer, teacher and former dancer of Olivier award winning company Boy Blue Entertainment one of the UK’s leading Hip-hop Dance Companies. Alisha trained at The Northern School of Contemporary Dance and then went on to attend at The London Studio Centre where she received a BA Hons in Musical Theatre from one of the UK’s leading conservatoires of dance.    

Tutor: Junior Acting Company, Y&T Theatre Creators (Singing)   

Charlie teaches singing and song-writing at Theatre Peckham with the Young & Talented team. Charlie is a Northern Irish artist who trained at East 15, with a focus on creating new pieces, and has performed on and off the West End as an actor and a musician. 

Assistant: Hip-Hop Theatre, Y&T Theatre Creators (Singing)

Ella is an actress and singer with a passion for supporting young people through the performing arts. A Theatre Peckham alumna herself, she has a strong personal connection to the Academy and is passionate about creating an encouraging and inclusive environment in which young people can develop their creativity, confidence and self-expression. 

She studied Psychology at the University of the West of England, where she continued to build her creative practice, working on multiple student films in roles ranging from costume designer to actress and producer. She has a particular interest in exploring how the performing arts can support emotional wellbeing, personal development and confidence — a focus that now shapes her approach to mentoring young performers. 

Ella’s performance credits span stage and screen, including appearances at the Royal Festival Hall and the O2. Now back from university, she continues to build on her acting and singing career and is excited to support and inspire the next generation of young performers. 

Tutor: Musical Theatre

Bella (she/her) is a Korean-American theatre practitioner and facilitator whose practice is centred around facilitating care and encouraging people to express themselves freely through the arts. She trained at the Royal School of Speech and Drama where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Drama, Applied Theatre and Education. She is a professionally trained actress and vocalist from Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Co-Lead: Song Writing & Music Production

Marissa, known artistically as Myana, is a dynamic musician whose love for Dancehall and Soca has inspired her to create a unique genre that seamlessly blends these vibrant styles with commercial pop and dance. Known for her electrifying live performances, Myana’s energetic Guyanese spirit has been known to “MASH UP THE PLACE!” and raise the roof at every venue she graces. 

Myana’s musical journey began at the age of 14 in Camden, where she immersed herself in songwriting and collaborated with fellow musicians to develop her distinctive Afro-pop sound. She first gained recognition as the lead singer of the Reggae band RawFire, performing at prestigious venues and festivals including the Royal Festival Hall, Oxjam Festivals, Big Noise Festival, and Brixton Splash Carnival in 2014. 

After her time with RawFire, Myana took her talents to Soho, where she sang alongside the house band at the iconic venue Jazz After Dark. In 2018, she reached the Grand Finals of Open Mic UK, performing on a national stage at the Birmingham NEC Arena. 

Following this significant achievement, Myana shifted her focus from her own music to mentoring young people in the industry, sharing her passion and expertise to inspire the next generation of artists. 

Growing up, Myana was influenced by a rich musical background. Her mother introduced her to Reggae, while her father’s side nurtured her appreciation for classical and jazz. She draws inspiration from legendary artists such as Sam Cooke and has a particular admiration for Rihanna, who shares her Guyanese heritage and masterfully blends Caribbean influences with pop music. 

In 2021, Myana released her debut single, “Move Your Body Girl,” a celebration of body positivity that resonated deeply with fans. She followed this with “Do It @ Work” in 2022, a powerful anthem highlighting female empowerment and encouraging women to take control. With her unique sound and captivating performances, Myana continues to push the boundaries of music and leave an indelible mark on the industry. 

Assistant: Acting for Screen

Melissa is an actor, writer, and voice-over artist from London. Credits include I Hate You (Channel4), Ghosts (BBC),  Doctors (BBC) and PYNEAPPLE (Bunker Theatre), her writing debut. She trained at Jackie Palmer’s Stage School and Identity School of Acting.

Tutor: Acting for Screen

Niyi Akin is a London-based actor, filmmaker and graduate of both The BRIT School and LAMDA. Niyi can currently be seen in SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY and is known for his series regular role in BOARDERS for the BBC, as well as WHAT IT FEELS LIKE FOR A GIRL. His other screen credits include WAKE UP, GET EVEN for BBC and Netflix, THE DIPLOMAT for Alibi, and AFTER EVERYTHING with Josephine Langford and Hero Fiennes Tiffin. 
 
His theatre credits include THE FALL with National Youth Theatre at South Playhouse and OLU at the Pleasance Theatre. Alongside his creative work, Niyi is a filmmaker and co-founder of production company Ignorance Prevails, with his directorial debut selected for the North East International Film Festival. He also works as a screen acting tutor and peripatetic LAMDA tutor. 

Co-Lead: Song Writing & Music Production

Txrner’s entry into music began unconventionally. He first learned to play the piano while in school detention. Over time, his passion for music grew into a rigorous creative drive. The stylized “X” in his stage name (replacing the “U” in Turner) represents his “no U-turn” approach to life—a strict mantra focused entirely on moving forward and building his music career without looking back! 

His music is heavily grounded in lived experiences, often recorded in non-traditional spaces such as youth centers and friends’ houses to maintain a raw and honest edge. 

Txrner blends contemporary Afrobeats with classic R&B influences. He gained substantial traction in the underground music scene through sheer volume and consistency; in 2023 alone, he released over 20 singles, drawing over 100,000 streams across SoundCloud and YouTube. 

Tutor: Hip-Hop Theatre

Shakeil Edwards is a performer, movement director, producer and creative entrepreneur. His career includes West End performances in Disney’s The Lion King and Thriller Live, as well as stages across the UK and USA.

He is CEO of SKD, an award-winning East London dance crew, and Co-Founder of Legacy in Motion, an events and production company.

From performing to producing and directing movement, Shakeil’s work is driven by creativity, entertainment and creating opportunities for the next generation.

Tutor: Acting

Dr. Suzann McLean MBE is an award-winning actor, director, and arts leader with 30 years’ experience. A skilled acting tutor, mentor, coach, and facilitator, she champions underrepresented talent. Founder of Young and Talented and director of the NEON Award-winning Originate programme, she is also CEO of Theatre Peckham, driving innovation and access in the arts. 

Assistant: Y&T Theatre Creators

Zarmeeneh Khan is an actor and facilitator with a passion for creating playful, supportive spaces for people to explore their creativity and build confidence. 

As a performer, Zarmeeneh is training with the Bush Theatre in their 2 year young company and has performed for with the National Youth Theatre. Most recently, she performed at the Bush Theatre in “Before We Forget”. 

She is excited to join Theatre Peckham as a Tutor Assistant and to support young people in developing their confidence, imagination and individual creative voices. 

Assistant: Y&T Theatre Creators (Dance)

Zion is a 21-year-old creative from South London with a passion for the arts and working with young people. She began training in Ballet and Tap at RAD from the age of 4 and later explored her love for performance through drama. As a fully trained support worker, Zion has experience supporting young people with a range of needs and creating positive spaces for them to express themselves. 

Zion has a strong background in music, having played drums and percussion in an orchestra for five years and performed at venues including The O2 and Royal Festival Hall. She has been part of Theatre Peckham for the past 3 years and is excited to continue developing her passion for the creative arts while supporting and inspiring the next generation. 

Head of Academy

Academy Coordinator

Saturday Duty Manager

Saturday Academy Coordinator