OUR TEAM
We have drawn together a professional team of passionate speech and drama teachers, dedicated to helping every student reach their optimum potential in the performing arts. Fully qualified and experienced, our caring staff will work with you or your child to improve communication, inspire creativity, overcome challenges, build confidence and develop strong skills across the spectrum of performance arts.
Kayte Lewis
Academy Director
With a rich background in the performing arts, Kayte is founder and director of the Acting and Communication Academy. A lifetime of experiences contribute to her expertise, including spells in the fields of acting, writing, directing, production and the entertainment industry’s legal arm. She is also a professional development specialist.
Adam Chan
Arts Administrator and Producer
Adam completed his Trinity College Diploma in Performance whilst studying at Sydney Grammar School. This year, he will have also completed his Teaching of Speech and Drama Diploma. Adam has a passion for film making and loves presenting to an audience. He has participated in numerous debating competitions and yearly eisteddfods and was recently accepted into the UNSW Co-op Program. He attributes much of his success to his 13 years of speech and drama studies. Now a 5th year Acting and Communication Academy student, Adam welcomes the opportunity to pass on the extensive knowledge and skills that he has developed in the field.
Chris Tomkinson
Artist in Residence
Chris is an all-round talent. He has taught, directed and devised shows for The Actor’s Centre, the Australian Theatre for Young People, the Australian Institute of Music – Dramatic Arts, E-studio, Casula Powerhouse and Shopfront Youth Theatre. He also created I am not a Feminist (No Women Aloud) with MLC students.
Jessica Spies
Tutor
Jess holds a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting) from NIDA and a Diploma of Acting from WAAPA. As well as working professionally as an actor, Jess is a passionate teacher who shares her love of performance with her students at several locations across Sydney, including the NIDA Open Acting program. Jess prioritises a sense of community and belonging in the classroom, encouraging students to interact in a brave and open way. She believes in using performance as a tool for academic and social growth.
Isabella Metcalfe
Tutor
Isabella is passionate about performing arts and has been involved in drama groups since the age of five. She has taken part in various onstage productions as both an actor and assistant director and loves learning from her mentors and passing on their teachings. She is a third year Acting and Communication Student having completed her Trinity College Grade 8 Speech and Drama and is a qualified gymnastics coach who loves helping her students achieve their goals celebrating their wins. Isabella is currently studying at NIDA in the Acting Studio Course and in 2023 is attending the University of Sydney for Ba Arts/Ba Advanced Studies (International and Global Studies). In 2023 Isabella will alco complete her Associate Diploma with Trinity College London in teaching and performing Speech and Drama. When not tutoring ACA students she loves learning to fly, hiking and being involved in Girl Guides as a Junior Leader.
Lily New
Tutor
Lily graduated from MLC School in 2013. In 2011, Lily completed Diplomas in Performance and Teaching Speech and Drama with Trinity College London, and since has performed in shows such as ‘Mirror, Mirror’, ‘Aida’, ‘Wolf Lullaby’ and more. On graduating from MLC Lily was accepted into the Australian Institute of Music, Dramatic Arts (AIMDA) program, beginning an Accelerated Bachelor of Performance in 2014. Here she worked with some of Australia’s leading actors, directors, voice and movement coaches and specialist in areas of performance. Lily has been teaching with the Acting and Communication Academy (formerly The Studio) since 2013 and came to manage the AC Academy in June 2014.
Nicolas Witte
Tutor
Nicolas was born and raised in Switzerland and graduate from the Ecole Jacques Lecoq in 1994, Nicolas has been a professional performer and teacher ever since, working in Europe and throughout the world. After leaving Lecoq, Nicolas joined the international mask-theatre company Familie Flöz, and has performed in over 29 different countries including a sold-out season at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2015. Nicolas enjoys working with children, young people and adults as an educator and clown. Over the past 20 years as a performer and clown doctor in hospitals, Nicolas has developed a unique insight into the education and entertainment of children and young people. He also created and designed the interactive shows ‘The Little Orchestra of the Senses’ in 2010 performed for children with physical and/or intellectual disabilities. This highly successful show is still on tour in Switzerland today.