About
BKD Performers was established in 2011 by Principal Catherine Francis who is affectionally known to students (and parents) as Miss Cathie!
'Miss Cathie' had a successful career in Musical Theatre as Catherine Carday and had experience teaching in other theatre schools when the desire to pass on the craft began with just 4 Jazz classes and BKD Performers was born!
The mission of the school is to create an affordable theatre school with high expectations and a strong sense of community whilst keeping class sizes small and focusing on individual abilities.
BKD's teachers are qualified teachers and highly trained industry professionals who hold enhanced CRB/DBS certificates, SCC chaperone licenses, First Aid training and Child and Vulnerable Adult Safe Guarding Certification as well as having many professional credits in the performing arts.
In our nurturing and friendly environment students are inspired by our subject knowledge and experience. We view each student as an individual and always expect them to work to the best of their abilities with a sense of professionalism. A life skill they can use in any walk of life.
Take a look around the website and if you would like more info please get in touch
Catherine Francis RAD RTS, PDTD - Principal
Teaches - RAD Ballet, Private Coaching, Ballet Company, PBT - Progressing Ballet Technique and Silver Swans
RAD Registered Teacher PDTD, Silver Swan Licensee, PBT Instructor
London Studio Centre - 3 Year Musical Theatre Diploma
Royal Academy of Dance - Professional Dancers Teaching Diploma
June in CHICAGO THE MUSICAL (Adelphi), Iris Kelly FAME THE MUSICAL (UK Tour and Aldwych), Singer RAT PACK LIVE IN LAS VEGAS (UK Tour), Dancer JUS' LIKE THAT (Garrick), Featured Artist in ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE (UK Tour and Queens)Featured Dancer FOSSE THE MUSICAL (Prince of Wales)
Dancer - DE LOVELY (film), Dancer - THE BRIAN CONLEY SHOW (ITV) Dancer - TONIGHT AT THE LONDON PALLADIUM (ITV) Dancer in ACDC Hail Cesar video
Cathie has also worked extensively in the fashion world and regularly goes to London to be a show caller and stage manager for LONDON FASHION WEEK and other corporate events.
Cathie has 3 children, two granddaughters, 3 dogs and once performed at Elton Johns house!
Jodie Axcell - Co - Principal
Teaches - Street Funk, BKD Boys, Jazz and Contemporary, Pre School & Acrobatic Arts, Street Crew, Acro Elite and Jazz & Co Company
Acrobatic Arts Certified Teacher, Exercise to Music Fitness Instructor Level 2 and Ante and Post Natal Fitness Instructor
London Contemporary Dance School, Conservatoire for Dance and Drama- Certificate of Higher Education
Laine Theatre Arts - Pre Vocational
Ariel Artist and Dance Captain for NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINES
Assistant Choreographer for the PET SHOP BOYS - Pandemonium Tour
Street Dance Coach for BILLY ELLIOT - West End
Jodie has an obsession with jelly snake sweets and has a dog called Ziggy and a son named Chester.
Hannah Edser
Teaches - Singing tuition and LAMDA, Musical Theatre Company and Workshop Leader
Training: Guildford School of Acting & The London School of Musical Theatre
Credits: ‘Made in Dagenham’ 10th Anniversary Concert (London Palladium) Haribo Tangfastics Commercial, 'Female Dog' (short film), Say You Love Me/Paris (music videos), 'Ghost' (additional vocals), Jill/Good Fairy - Jack & The Beanstalk (Lost for Words Touring Company)
Teaching Experience: Miss Hannah has been teaching for many years now, across a wide range of disciplines and ages. She hopes to continue teaching for a long time to come, whilst also pursuing her own performance career.
Hannah used to be taught by Miss Cathie and Miss Jodie! Oh, and she also has a very large fear of sloths!
Diana-Louise Towe
Teaches Jazz and Tap, Pre Primary Boogie and Acro and Primary Boogie and Acro, Saturday Street Funk
Training - PPA - Musical Theatre & Dance Diploma and Dance College London - Commercial Dance Diploma (covering 15 dance genres)
Diana started her dance training at the age of 2 closely followed by singing and musical theatre and has had a considerable amount of experience and opportunities in her short life, including the following; IDO Tap Dance World championships achieving 8 world titles over the course of 7 years, Professional pantomimes, Copelia for the English Youth Ballet, Emerald & Ivy Ball Charity event ran by Ronan Keating, Britain’s Got Talent, Tap United in Boston MA, Red Carpet Event for Spec Savers, various Tap Attack Promotional video’s and a dancer for the BBC are amongst her credits.
Diana is highly skilled in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Tap, Street, Heels, Contemporary & Commercial but also trained Circus Skills, Cheerleading and gymnastic and currently teaches for the Tap Attack, First Dance Studio’s, Dance Woking and other dance schools whilst pursuing her own performance career.
Diana is currently No 1 in the world for Tap! She won the Tap World Cup 2023!
Janna May
Training: Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and Guildford School of Acting with a BA (Hons) in Actor-Musician.
Janna May is a proud Filipina from Sydney, Australia. She is an actor-musician and songwriter. Her professional credits include: Scandalgate (workshop with New Frame Productions, The Other Palace); The Museum of Marvellous Things (UK Tour), Dick Whittington and his Cat (New Wolsey Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (UK Tour), The Hatpin Revival (workshop with Taylor Wright Productions) and Hare and Tortoise (Theatre in Education Tour, Suffolk).
Jessica Jayne
Training: Guildford School of Acting
Jessica is an actor-musician, singer, and director originally from Yorkshire. She plays Flute, Piccolo, Saxophone, Piano, and Ukulele. Having worked extensively with children, Jess has been a part of the children's entertainment industry for over 8 years- starting in holiday park entertainment and progressing to children's birthday parties and events where she is now Head of Social Media.
Recent credits include Original Flautist in new musical 'MOST NOTORIOUS' (The Bedford and on Spotify), Assistant Director on 'THE CHRISTMAS LOBSTER' (Farnham Maltings), Director on 'GRIEF, GRINS, AND GUITAR STRINGS' (Camden Fringe).
After discovering her love of Shakespeare and Fantasy/Adventure, she also became highly trained in both stage and film combat (ACTT and StageFight).
Alongside her love of performance, Jess also runs her own crochet business! So keep an eye out at craft fairs in the South East- you might see a familiar face!
Maddie Hansen
Training: Guildford School of Acting & the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Teaches: Private singing, piano tuition, Musical Theatre Company and Acting Through Song
Maddie is an actor, singer and actor-musician. Maddie’s recent credits include: Gloria in ‘Brassed Off’ (Gala Durham), Bessie/Swing in ‘Jack and The Beanstalk’ (Leeds City Varieties), Vocalist in ‘The Witches of Eastwick’ (Sondheim Theatre).
As a singer, Maddie has recently recorded vocals on an undisclosed video game soundtrack to be released in 2025 and has performed in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Cadogan Hall and The Barbican.
As well as performing, Maddie loves teaching and working with young people, helping them to develop skills and confidence both on the stage and off.
A fun fact about Maddie is that she has a Barbara Streisand prayer candle that she only lights on opening nights of the shows that she works on!
Joe Jenkinson
Training : Guildford School of Acting and MetFilm
Joe Jenkinson is an Actor-Musician based in Surrey.
He enjoys a flair for comedy, singing, songwriting, screen acting, and a frothy (decaf) coffee. He is a specialised guitarist, with a high skillset in Acoustic, Electric and Bass.
Joe has consistent function work as a gigging musician and fronts his very own indie-pop-rock band called Paradise Taxi! He also runs a regular open mic night at The Queens Head in Farnham.
Recent credits include: Tom in 'Tea & Biscuits' (Ryan Watt), Zach in 'Paranoia' (Luke Reid) and a feature in Wagamama's online Autumn campaign (Charles Copsey).
Rose Tapper
Rose is our wing woman virtual assistant , helping to keep the wheels turning in the background. She supports a variety of businesses which allows the owners to get on with following their passions. She loves working with the BKD team and is in constant awe of the talent of both the teachers and the students.
Rose loves to travel, you'll often find her working from her camper van, when she;s not at home with the family or tending their brood of chickens!