SPYS LEADERS
All of our leaders are DBS checked and are active members of the adult group with years of performing experience.
MARIA KELLENGRAY
Hello! My name is Maria, and I am thrilled to be one of the SPYS leaders. I have a degree in Musical Theatre and have qualified as a secondary school teacher in Music and Drama. Being a member of the adult group, my own credits include: Cinderella in "Cinderella the Pantomime", Elvira in "Blithe Spirit" and Katrina in "Sleepy Hollow". I look forward to taking on direction, producing and vocal direction with the SPYs and creating unique pieces of theatre in such a positive, healthy environment. The whole team offer a variety of skills and talents to ensure a theatre education that is diverse and interesting for our SPYS. I cannot wait to show you what we have planned!
LIAM PALMER
Hello my name is Liam, I joined SPYS back in 2016, where I was a member for 6 years, until I graduated and joined the adult group in 2022. My favourite roles I have played in my time at SPYS are “Carlos The Spanish Dance Teacher” in “The Dreams We Never Lost Tonight”, and most notably “Caractacus Potts” in “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” which helped me win the “Best Youth Actor” award at the “Rose Bowl” awards. One of my aims as a SPYS leader is to help to train the current SPYS to access their full potential on stage (and maybe win some awards too!). Some of my adult group credits include: “Buttons” in Cinderella and “Jonathan Harker” in Dracula.I will be mainly focusing on the musical direction of the group, having ran music last year with Maria - I look forward to running some workshops, and I am also looking to start a media team to allow SPYS to access a different side of theatre. I’m very excited to be back at SPYS, and for the year ahead!
JAKE JANAWAY
Hello I’m Jake! I am a recent graduate of Bristol school of acting on the theatre making degree course in association with the Wardrobe Ensemble. Outside of my studies I am part of town Bristol based theatre companies, the Blank Slate Ensemble and KISMET as a performer/writer. I was a member of SPYS from 2021-2023 where I performed in a number of award winning shows. My favourite role was the hot headed detective “Gethin Hotter” in the one-act ‘In the noir garden” where I won the award for Best young performer. I loved my time as a SPY and I'm so excited to be able to return to work with such a talented young company!
