Angela Wilcox writes....

I feel quite inadequate having read what other ex-members have been up to but I wanted to add my piece because my Dynamo years have had many positive effects.

Angela played Helena in Midsummer Night's Dream in 1987

I was in all sorts of shows between 1981 (as a founder member) and 1989. The DYT life training scheme gave me confidence, dedication, presentation skills, team work, the experience of shared goals and achievements, friendships and lots of good memories!

So hello to all the ex-members I shared that time with & thanks to all the adults. I went on to get a degree in Psychology & Communication and used lots of DYT basics running play schemes and residential camps for inner city kids. Then I trained as a Hospital Play Specialist and used many DYT skills working on children’s wards and with the Teenage Cancer Trust helping patients and families.

I married Danny Scrase and we’ve undertaken four little productions of our own; Ed was born in 2000, Annie in 2002, Katy in 2004 and Jonny in 2007!

We are now following our dreams and living “the good life” in Normandy, France. We live in a farmhouse with a holiday cottage to rent. We are surrounded by wonderful countryside and every day is different. You can see it on our website www.lehamelroger.com.

The DYT workshops are paying dividends again as I mime my way through daily life while trying to master the French language!

April 2008

Luke Smith is doing a three year degree course at Portsmouth University in Creative and Performing Arts
Oct 2007

Nina Boswell-Brown (nee Pidcock)

Nina was a very active member of Dynamo until 1988, appearing in 'Jesus Christ Superstar' and 'Oliver' among other productions, until she was involved in a very serious motor accident. After seven months of rehabilitation, she returned home to a busy summer including sitting GSCEs and a ski trip for the BBC programme ‘Challenge Anneka’ (which followed in two more trips until she decided that wheelchair tennis might be a safer option!).

After graduating from Southampton University, she joined Motivation, an international disability and development charity devoted to improving the quality of life for people with mobility disabilities in low-income countries.

It is estimated that more than 20 million people around the world are in desperate need of a wheelchair, and only 2% of disabled people in the developing world have access to basic rehabilitation services. Since 1991, Motivation has implemented programmes in over 30 countries across Central America, Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific.

Nina spent five months in Albania and has since worked on short-term projects in Sri Lanka and Africa. “Having relied on rehabilitation in the UK to reclaim my independence, I was shocked by the lack of equipment and services in developing countries leaving people with little hope, ability or motivation to enjoy a full quality of life. It has been wonderful to have the opportunity to help others who have had a similar experience but face far more challenges (such as negative attitudes, a very wheelchair unfriendly environment and lack of employment) and see that with an appropriate wheelchair and health and mobility skills training, a person’s life can easily be transformed – it means they are able to become a contributing and active member of their community.”

Nina now works part-time from the head office in Bristol as Peer Training Coordinator. Three years ago she married Andrew (an ex-Zimbabwean farmer turned pilot) and is now the mother of Jack (fifteen months).

To find out more about Motivation see their website: www.motivation.org.uk

October 2007

Susannah Fielding

DYT is pleased to note the achievement of Susannah Fielding in securing a major role in the critically acclaimed production 'The Rose Tattoo', currently showing at the National Theatre, with Zoe Wanamaker in the main role. Although she was only a member of DYT for a short period before moving on to boarding school, Susie Hearson, as she was known to all of us, was a much valued and respected member. Taking a positive part in everything she could, she is nevertheless, probably best remembered for her performance as the Artful Dodger in Oliver, which incidentally had a very youthful Joe Carr taking the title role!

All of us will follow Susannah's highly promising career with interest.

May 2007

Susannah is also appearing in 'Philistines' at the National

July 2007

Ex-Dynamo member Laura Briggs has recently been in the news, not, this time, for anything to do with the theatre, but because she undertook the mammoth task of running a six-day Marathon across the Sahara Desert.
Click the picture to read the full story
(The News - 19/4/2007)

Gary Jordan (aka Gary Wilson (87-93)) has had a very busy showbusiness career (see his CV here). He recently found time to give a singing masterclass for the current members.

March 2007