TRAINING DESIGNER

Chris brings over 25 years’ experience as an actor, trainer, writer, and teacher. A graduate of law from Cambridge University, he trained at the Guildford School of Acting, before embarking on a national and international theatrical career. He acquired a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults and taught for many years at various language schools before bringing his teaching skills to drama, returning as an Associate Tutor to Guildford School of Acting, training and assessing undergraduate students as part of the University of Surrey. Since then he has also taught at Italia Conti and Rose Bruford drama schools.

Chris has a passionate interest in critical thinking and reasoning processes, and has developed his own “Mind Games” course which he delivers annually as part of the Cambridge Scholars Programme. He tutors students embarking on various Thinking Skills Assessments and professional aptitude tests such as the MCAT, UCAT, BMAT, GMAT, LSAT university admissions examinations, all involving Verbal Reasoning and Problem Solving Skills. More information can be found on www.dickinstutoring.co.uk.

As a trainer, Chris enjoys facilitating the application of lessons drawn from performance and storytelling to the world of work, developing skills of persuasion, creative thinking, leadership, relationship building, empathy and communication.

Chris is also a composer and songwriter, and can currently be seen in the West End production of “Mamma Mia”, to which he is extremely grateful for the licence to do some Dad Dancing! He likes to bring a sense of fun to workshops and is particularly keen on drawing parallels across disciplines, bringing valuable teaching points to life in a playful, original way.

WORKSHOP DIRECTOR

Lucy has worked for over 20 years in the public sector as a creative arts psychotherapist, a drama teacher, and a youth worker. She has worked with diverse groups and individuals in education and training, social care, public health, and mental health settings.

Lucy attended the Central School of Speech and Drama to complete her masters level training as a dramatherapist (MA, Drama and Movement Therapy, distinction). She is a qualified Arts Therapist and is registered with the Health Care Professions Council (ref no: AS20015). She is a member of BADTH (Bristish Association of Dramatherapists).

She has also trained as a Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapist (Levels 1 and 2) and her work is DDP informed. Lucy combines elements of dramatherapy and DDP principles in her work to provide a nurturing, integrative offer to children and adults. Lucy offers spaces for group and individual therapeutic support. Lucy is the co-founder of Abstract Company (a creative arts organisation specialising in group work and expressive arts to support wellbeing and mental health).

www.abstractcompany.co.uk

Lucy also has a performance background (as a singer and as an actor) and has toured her one-woman show at festivals, theatres, and comedy clubs across Europe.

Bringing all these strands together - Lucy works as a freelance trainer and has designed and delivered skills based training for Primary Care mental health teams, Children’s Mental Health Services, Teams working in the Prevention of Child Sexual Exploitation, Early Years Teams, Youth Services, and with managers from both the Corporate and the Voluntary Sector.

Lucy is a calm and friendly person and brings these qualities to her practice. She prides herself on providing training and workshops that are simultaneously in-depth and safely held, as well as creative and playful.

CONSULTANT ADVISOR

Simon’s work is a synthesis of Organisational Psychology and International Medicine, keeping employees safe in a wide range of contexts around the globe. Having achieved degrees in both Immunology and Medicine, Simon continued his studies with the Royal College of Physicians and Birkbeck College in Organisational Psychology, concentrating on increasing Organisational Trust and Wellbeing in companies. He now advises companies, from governments to oil companies and financial institutions, on adapting company processes to enhance employee safety and wellbeing. During the COVID pandemic, he was pivotal to the instigation of COVID testing in novel settings, from global television and film companies to airports – increasing employee confidence and reducing fear. Simon is delighted to advise ArtSolve.