Colin CGN Ward (Artistic Director)

Colin has been with Next Generation since 1996 and has implemented many changes to the working practices of the Youth Theatre in that time. Colin oversees the artistic direction of Next Generation and also teaches the senior drama groups. He has also directed many of the Youth Theatres productions and is active in the main society.

Colin and Kathryn also run 2 Boards & A Passion, an educational theatre company specialising in school performances and holiday musical theatre workshops among many other things.

Kathryn Penton (Workshops Co-ordinator)

Kathryn joined the Next Generation staff in 2007, and has undertaken responsibility for teaching the junior drama groups, and one of the junior musical theatre groups. Kathryn has worked alongside Colin to implement new planning structures, put the registers onto a new computer system, and has organised trips, new rehearsal wear and one act plays. Kathryn has also assisted her husband Shaun in creating Next Generation's new website.

Kathryn and Colin also run 2 Boards & A Passion, an educational theatre company specialising in school performances and holiday musical theatre workshops among many other things.

Michael Ward (Head of Musical Theatre)

Trained at the Liverpool Theatre School from which he graduated in 2007 with distinctions. He is a professional actor/dancer and as well as choreographing most of our shows he has won many awards and plaudits for his choreography with local amatuer musical societies.

Helen Burke (Teacher)

Helen was a member of the Youth Theatre and now teaches dance to one of our Saturday Musical Theatre Workshops.

Nick Ward (Teacher)

Nick is a talented performer who has come through the ranks of the the Youth Theatre and now teaches drama to one of our Saturday Musical Theatre Workshops.

Linda France

Linda is responsible for registration at Next Generation, and is a Qualified First Aider. She has assisted with Next Generation productions with costume and virtaully every other job going! Linda is one of our major assets at the Youth Theatre!

Pauline Davenport

All four of Pauline's daughters have attended the Youth Theatre and throughout that time Pauline has assisted in many capacities from chaperone to helping with registration and many, many other jobs.