MEET THE TEAM
Theatretrain Artistic Director
STEVE DAVIES
Choir Director
LESLIE CHURCHILL WARD
Leslie graduated with an honours degree in Acting from The Ohio University School of Theatre and was as an award-winning actor and singer in the States. Now living in North Wales, she continues to share her passion for the performing arts with students, performers, and communities. Much of Leslie’s current work revolves around her love of music, but she always approaches it from the perspective of an actor — encouraging students and choirs to connect with their emotions and express the meaning of the lyrics they are singing, all while finding their self-confidence and having fun.
Leslie believes strongly in inclusion and diversity: she is the Creative Director of the Inclusion Project at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, the co-founder and Artistic Director of Work in Progress (a mental health performing arts group for adults), and the founder and Musical Director of community choir Acquire and Acquire’s Jazz Choir.
She loves lighting the spark of the performing arts with students of all ages. She has held drama residencies at primary and secondary schools and was guest lecturer for The Hammond School, working with graduating performing arts students. Leslie also gives private acting and singing lessons for children and adults. Although teaching remotely during the pandemic produced many challenges, it also enabled her to work with students in Wales and England — and as far away as California and Vietnam!
Steve Davies
Artistic Director
Steve took over Chester Theatretrain in April 2005 and over the next four years successfully opened the schools in Wrexham, a second Chester School on Fridays and then the Mold School. Steve's role is to oversee the artistic and teaching standards within the schools. He also regularly leads classes if teachers are off for any reason and also creates all of our productions by bringing together the various aspects of the show at the final stages of rehearsal. As well as leading workshops in primary schools in the area Steve also regularly acts and directs. Having been a member of Tip Top Productions since the company's inception he also has the responsibility of being the group's Artistic Director. He has worked as a professional actor on stage and TV screen.
