MEET OUR staff

JOSEPHINE PARSAD
Principal and Creative Director
Josephine trained in physical theatre with a BA from East 15 Acting school, with LAMDA in Drama and Speech Education and in L.A for Film and T.V acting, working with casting directors from ‘Desperate Housewives’, ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ and ‘General Hospital’. Her career as both a performer and a teacher has led her all over the world and she has worked with a variety of people of all ages and backgrounds. Including a run on Broadway’s 42nd Street where she performed in Kenny Wax’s production of ‘Around the World in 80 Days’. Josephine now works as acting and movement teacher at the prestigious Brit School in Croydon.
Credits Include; Doris Sanderson in ‘Whisky Galore’ Oldham Coliseum, Miss Singh ‘Around the World in 80 Days’- New Vic theatre/ Kenny Wax ent, Artful Dodger in ‘Remarkable tale of Oliver Twist’ Red Earth (National tour), Clown ‘Hansel and Gretel’ (Belgrade theatre), Moth in ‘Love’s Labours Lost’, Maria in ‘La Ronde’, Hippolyta in ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’, Francisca in ‘West Side Story’, Mr Fox in ‘Pinocchio’ (National Tour), ‘Barney the Dinosaur’ (National Tour UK & ROI), ‘The Maharajah and the Kohinoor’ (National Tour) and Faith in ‘The Leap’ (Chelsea Theatre). Josephine has appeared in many commercials and film projects including Pringles, Super Noodles, Gala Bingo (for Sharon Osbourne) , Disney and Pepsi working alongside the likes of Beyonce Knowles and Jennifer Lopez.
She debuted in film as the lead in the British Asian production of ‘Shame’, which was shortlisted in the Satyajit Ray film festival and Nominated for Best Short film in the East End Film Festival 2010.
Josephine established JADA in 2005 and it is one of the most established theatre schools for acting and theatre in Essex. With pupils having performed all over the UK and Europe in both professional and student productions. JADA and Josephine have a large focus on wellbeing through and within the arts especially for adolescent mindset training.

lynne Parsad
PA to the Principal, Safeguarding lead
Lynne has been a part of the JADA Team since its inception in 2005. She is responsible for the day to day running of the office and studio building, as well as being responsible for the Pastoral Care and safeguarding of the Students and one of the appointed first aiders on site.
Lynne very much enjoys working around young people and has loved watching many of them grow from children into young adults during their time at JADA.
Her background is in Secretarial/Administration in her professional life and as a Mum and Grandmother in her personal life. Both of which come with a variety of skills that she enjoys using here at JADA.
southend-on-sea faculty

jack Eccles
Senior Acting Tutor, Singing and Stage Combat teacher
Born in Derby, Jack has been involved in theatre since he was around 7 and became involved in his local village pantomime.
He recently graduated from East 15 Acting School from the Acting and Stage combat course. Jack has performed as Demetrius in ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’, Bernardo in ‘West Side Story’, Rob in ‘13’.
Recently he is also become the Director at the newly formed Chronologics Theatre Company as well as an actor and performer, they’re aimed around devising and creating new theatre.
Jack’s aim is to help make our students at JADA the best they can be.

Katriona Stidston
Acting Tutor Upper school, Drama club outreach teacher
After graduating from Acting and Contemporary Theatre at East 15 Acting School, Kat has toured two self-written plays across London: ‘Beneath A Cups’ and ‘Text & Delete’, showing at VAULT Festival 2023 and theatres including: OSO Arts Centre, King’s Head Theatre, Etcetera Theatre, and transferring to Cambridge this October. She works annually with ‘Frinton Summer Theatre’ and has Directed/DA’d shows which have transferred to The Other Palace, Off West End, and The Park Theatre, West End: ‘Abigail’s Party’, ‘Flowers in a Dark Room’ and ‘Black Chiffon’. Her two Theatre Companies, ‘In Her Element’ and ‘One.Five’ are currently developing two new shows for the London/international stage. Kat has been with JADA since she was twelve years old, and a part of JADA Young Company since she was fifteen. She is excited to continue JADA’s work ethic in directing and leading the new generation of young people at JADA. Her main aim is to create inclusive, contemporary work which puts young people at the forefront of conversations, helping them to grow into creative and passionate young adults.

Meg Smith
Acting Tutor Lower school, Singing Teacher
Originally from Leeds, Meg’s passion for musical theatre began at 4 with Stagecoach, where she was awarded a scholarship. At 14 she moved to TBL Academy to develop her skills in dance, singing and acting. At 16 she began training with TBL College and gained her RSL level 3 qualifications in Creative and Performing Arts. She graduated from Masters Performing Arts in 2023 having gained a level 6 diploma in Musical Theatre and Dance. Meg has performed as Ugly in ‘Honk’ and as a dancer at ‘MoveIT’. Her first professional role was Wishee Washee with Polka Dot Pantomines. Meg also has experience as assistant director for ‘Chicago’. Her latest professional role is this Christmas as a chef on the ‘Polar Express’ in 2024.
Meg’s aim is to help students at JADA find ways in which they can express themselves and find their place in the world.

Katie Wright
Lead Dance Tutor whole school
Katie started dancing at the age of 4 and has trained in various different styles including: Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz, Contemporary, and Commercial. She has trained with Lukas McFarlane as part of his Seeds training programme and many associate programmes at the UK’s leading dance colleges, as well as attending Tap Attack Associates.
She graduated Masters Performing Arts College in 2023 and has worked in various areas of the industry: performing as a Dancer at the Aditya Birla Group Awards in India, Dancer in the upcoming film ‘Better Man’ (Robbie Williams), immersive Dancer in ‘I Have A Dream! The Ultimate ABBA Party’, along with Pantomimes.
Katie strives to bring the best out of the students in a nurturing environment, so they are prepared for the next steps of their training.

Amy Munden
Dance Tutor
Amy started dancing at the age of 3 at Kreate Dance Centre where she took her ISTD exams in modern, tap and ballet. Amy was a Ballet Girl in ‘Billy Elliot’ The Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre from 2009-2012. She then went on to train professionally at CPA Studios where she graduated with a Level 6 Diploma in Musical Theatre and ISTD teaching qualifications in modern and tap. Since graduating Amy has appeared in Jack and the Beanstalk, Sleeping Beauty and Aladdin pantomimes all at Norwich Theatre Royal. Amy was a production dancer for Carnival UK onboard P&O cruise ship Oceana.
sidcup faculty

Shanaya Rafaat
Acting Tutor youth theatre and LAMDA provision
Born in Mumbai, Shanaya has been acting professionally since the age of eighteen. She read English at St Xavier’s College Mumbai and later trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. Besides working at JADA, she has also conducted workshops at RADA and MTA.
Recent theatre credits include: Great Expectations/ Frankenstein (Royal Exchange), The Homecoming (Theatre Royal Bath/ UK tour), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Leicester Curve, Liverpool Playhouse, English Touring Theatre), Jude (Hampstead Theatre), Romeo and Juliet/ Richard III (Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre, York), Uncle Vanya (Theatr Clwyd/ Sheffield Crucible), Terror (Lyric Hammersmith), The White Devil (Shakespeare’s Globe), A Tale of Two Cities (Royal & Derngate/ UK tour), Great Expectations (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Stateless (Tristan Bates Theatre), Around the World in 80 Days (St.James Theatre), King Lear (Shakespeare’s Globe/ International tour), Twelfth Night (The Lion and Unicorn Theatre).
Television credits include: Ellis, Dalgliesh, Doctors, EastEnders, Lewis and Silk.
Film credits include: Goldfish, Complicit and Honeycomb Lodge.

Izzy Austin
LAMDA Tutor
Izzy is an actor, director and teacher who trained at Rose Bruford Drama School on the BA Acting Course. She is a proud northerner now living in London and has been teaching acting and LAMDA classes for over 5 years!

Jack Eccles
LAMDA tutor
Born in Derby, Jack has been involved in theatre since he was around 7 and became involved in his local village pantomime.
He recently graduated from East 15 Acting School from the Acting and Stage combat course. Jack has performed as Demetrius in ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’, Bernardo in ‘West Side Story’, Rob in ‘13’.
Recently he is also become the Director at the newly formed Chronologics Theatre Company as well as an actor and performer, they’re aimed around devising and creating new theatre.
Jack’s aim is to help make our students at JADA the best they can be.