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Welcome to CATS a Class Act Theatre School

Meet our Principals

Jill Williams

Founder Principal

Class Act Theatre School

Gareth Mitchell | Swansea

 

BA (Hons) Arts Ed, London

Gareth returned to Swansea and to his family at Class Act Theatre School in 2019 to take on the running of our Swansea Schools in Cockett and West Cross.

Gareth has been a part of the CATS family since the year 2000 when he joined as a student in the original Morriston class. As he grew up in Swansea his creative and performance skills blossomed, seeing him take on many leading roles in the company. These include Japeth (Children of Eden) Artful Dodger (Oliver!) Joseph (Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat) Marius (Welsh Premiere of Les Miserables School Edition) and Ryan (High School Musical). At this time Gareth was also part of many local choirs, West Glamorgan Youth Orchestra, County Youth Dance Company and National Youth Dance Company of Wales.

In 2007 Gareth was shortlisted for the Andrew Lloyd Webber Scholarship at the world-renowned Arts Educational School, London. Here he received his BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre and played Mr. Mistoffelees in Cats, working alongside Chrissie Cartwright and the late Dame Gillian Lynne and originated the role of Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, A Rock Opera.

Gareth graduated in 2010 and began working as a professional Actor and Performer. Credits include: Ensemble U/study Prince (Sleeping Beauty, Rhyl Pavilion) Ernst (Spring Awakening, English Theatre Frankfurt) Mowgli (The Jungle Book, UK Tour) Gangster (Bugsy Malone, Secret Cinema) Pirate/Policeman (Pirates of Penzance (Tabard Theatre, London) Priest U/study Bob (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Norwegian Cruise Lines) Featured Vocalist (Burn the Floor, Norwegian Cruise lines) Gareth has also worked as a featured singer onboard multiple cruise ships for Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Holland America Line. Gareth can regularly be seen in Pantomime as an Ugly Sister for Polkadot Pantomimes and was nominated, alongside his “sister” in 2023 for a UK Pantomime Association Award.

Gareth has always been passionate about teaching and between contracts has made many links in Swansea and London. Gareth taught for Perform, a London based theatre school for 3 years and has taught workshops and classes at Gower and Neath Port Talbot College as well as regularly returning to CATS to run workshops and teach choreography. Gareth is also a member of the teaching and creative team on the Level 4 UAL course at Gower College. 

Gareth is thrilled to be moving back to Swansea to take over as Principal from his friend and mentor Jill Williams and is excited to nurture the next generation of performers!

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