Head of Acting

Katy Maclaughlin

Katy is Faculty Head of Performing and Expressive Arts at Friesland School.  She joined the school after completing a BA (Hons) in Acting and graduating from Durham University after she finished her PGCE in Secondary Education.  She has spent many years building up Friesland’s reputation for being one of the top Secondary Schools in the area for Performing Arts, an accolade that put her department in the Good Schools Guide for their excellent results at A Level Drama.

As well as her teaching job at Friesland, Katy is the resident director for the Senior Youth Company and the Head of Acting on the company’s tailor made foundation course, the Accelerate Training Programme.

‘Kristian Thomas Company’ Credits Include;
Director (Do Not Disturb/Bassett at Nottm Playhouse, Accelerate Grad Season 2023), Director (RENT, Senior Youth Co), Director (Underground/Pool, No Water, Accelerate Grad Season 2022), Director (Spring Awakening, Senior Youth Co) Director (We Will Rock You, Senior Youth Co), Choreographer (Fame, Senior Youth Co), Director (Memphis, Youth Co), Director (Aladdin, Youth Co), Director (Madagascar JR, Youth Co), Director/Choreographer (Spectrum, Duchess Theatre)

Previous Credits include;
Director (A Monster Calls, Les Miserables, Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet, A Clockwork Orange, 1984, Dr Faustus, High School Musical, Hansel and Gretel, The Witches, Arabian Nights, Alice, The Canterbury Tales, The Trial of Goldilocks, Friesland Specialist Performing Arts School) Director (Macbeth, Shakespeare Schools Festival) Director/Choreographer (The American Dream, Break The Mould, Rock Challenge Physical Theatre Competition, Overall East Midlands Winners & National Acting Skills Winners) Choreographer (Chicago, Cabaret, Hairspray, Fame, We Will Rock You, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory,  Mary Poppins, Oliver, Bugsy Malone, Boogie Nights, The Wizard of Oz, The Demon Headmaster, Teechers, Fantastic Mr Fox, Friesland Specialist Performing Arts School) Choreographer (Grease, Saint John Houghton Catholic School) Choreographer (13, Erewash Musical Youth Society) Co-Choreographer (Oliver, EMU’s Showcase, Erewash Musical Youth Society)