Our Staff

Stephen Watkins B.Mus. (Hons)

Stephen is a freelance musician based in Worcestershire specializing in piano:- performing, accompanying, teaching and coaching. 

After initial training with Arthur Pickles, Katrina George and Philip Kubilius, Stephen graduated from the Birmingham Conservatoire in 1998 following studies with the pianist-composer Philip Martin.

Whilst there, Stephen won the David Brookes Piano Competition, the Rena Kellaway Piano Competition and the Accompanists prize in the Reginald Vincent Lieder Competition. With Swingle singer Wendy Nieper he formed the duo, Two’s Company, which toured extensively throughout the U.K through the Live Music Now! Scheme, of which Stephen was the Midlands Regional Director for a time.

For seven years Stephen was an accompanist and musical director on the staff of the Birmingham School of Acting. He is regularly a Musical Director at venues including the Crescent Theatre, Birmingham; Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham; Norbury Theatre, Droitwich; Rose Theatre, Kidderminster; Swan Theatre, Worcester etc.

In 2003 Stephen launched the Malvern Hills Piano Holiday, a summer school aimed at adult amateur pianists of all calibres who were seeking a vacation and quality tuition, (tutors on the course have included Philip Martin, Vanessa Latarche, Ben Frith, David Quigley and Michael Blackmore), without the pressure associated with many of the more traditional courses. Artistically a success, the 2006 course featured in Alexander Waughs BBC documentary, Passion of the Piano. 

Stephen was the first Head of Musical Theatre at the Elgar School of Music in Worcester having developed the Musical Theatre Academy from its conception. On the staff at the school from 2006 until 2016, in addition to his one-to-one teaching and sitting on the Board of Studies, he ran their Jazz band, the ESM Singers and two junior choirs- Songbirds and Nightingales. Whilst at the school he was the Musical Director of The Boyfriend (2012), Annie (2013), Let’s face the Music and Dance (2014), Half a Sixpence (2014), Crazy for You (2015), Bugsy Malone (2016) and his personal favourite, The Desert Song (2016). He left the school in summer 2016 to develop Malvern Hills Music.


Autumn 2016 saw the birth of Stephen and Pammy’s latest venture- Wymsical Theatre (Worcestershire Youth Musical Theatre). Initially homed at the Worcester Arts Workshop, the group now rehearse at Powick Parish Hall. 


In addition to directing Malvern Hills Music he teaches as a peripatetic at Hanley Castle High School, Prince Henry’s High School and King’s School, Worcester.



Pamela Watkins B.Sc. (Hons) Dip.LCM

Pamela has had a passion for all things musical theatre since she joined the Norbury Theatre in Droitwich at the age of 11. In fact she met her husband there so the Norbury has has a lot to answer for!

Pamela studied under Claire Prewer-Jenkinson in Worcester mixing classical and musical theatre examinations to diploma level. She has participated in masterclasses with Anne-Marie Speed and Paul Farrington.

Over the years she has enjoyed playing a variety of roles from ‘Madam Dubonet’ in The Boyfriend to 'Alice Beineke' in The Addams family. 

Pam was a founding member of the Musical Theatre Academy based at the Elgar School of Music in Worcester where she was also on the vocal staff, specialising in Musical Theatre and Rock and Pop and helping to run the Special Music Makers. Pamela left the Elgar School to develop Malvern Hills Music and Wymsical Theatre in 2016, 

Pam's initial degree was in psychology, with a particular interest in educational psychology. In 2015, she led a seminar in “Learning Styles and the Psychology of Achievement” for the Elgar School of Music’s annual training session. 

She is currently completing her Certificate of Musical Educators qualification under the tutelage of Marie McNally.

Pamela is a certified chaperone for Worcestershire County Council.

In addition to teaching for Malvern Hills Music, Pamela is a peripatetic voice teacher at Kempsey Primaru School and Bowbrook House School.

Britt Needham

Britt Needham has been dancing for 44 years and hopes to continue for another 44!


As a graduate of Bird College, Britt is trained in all genres of dance and musical theatre. After completing her training, Britt enjoyed an international dance career before telling back in her home city, Worcester, with her newborn daughter, Penny.


Her original intention on returning home was to hang up her dancing shoes but this plan lasted approximately 5 weeks when she was called upon to choreograph a local production. With baby Penny strapped to her in a sling, Britt returned to dancing and hasn't looked back since. 


Trained and qualified in childcare (NNEB), special needs (County Learning Support), Ballet and Modern Dance (AISTD), acting (LAMDA), and voice technique (VIDLA), Britt's skillset is tailored towards the needs of young people within the discipline of the theatre.


In 2015, Britt became the owner and manager of 'La Danse', Worcester's specialist retail dance shop. Using her combined skills in the industry, Britt has developed the shop and now offers a professional pointe shoe fitting service that attracts dancers from an extemsive radius. Her time is divided between the running of this enterprise, teaching at Wymsical and spending quality time with family and friends.



Alec Fellows-Bennett

Alec graduated from BOVTS more years ago than he cares to remember and has enjoyed a wide ranging career in theatre, from actor to practitioner, classics to improvised comedy and most recently enjoying a close relationship with Birmingham Old REP as Director 2018-2022. He began his career waving that famous flag in Les Miserables as a child, and went on to work with companies such as Birmingham REP, RSC, National Theatre, Royal Exchange and many more. 


Heavily involved in the classics he has played Romeo, Hamlet, Puck, Richard II and, dare we say it, Macbeth. In recent years he has taken an interest in the traditions of REP. As a way of placing theatre firmly at the heart of its community, Alec has played an active part in the Repertory Theatre revival alongside the Paul Taylor Mills company, Theatre Royal Windsor and the Pavilion Theatre clocking up nearly 200 roles in the last 10 years. As a practitioner and theatre director he has been a resident at the Abby Theatre Dublin, MAC Birmingham, Windsor TR, Academy of Arts Philadelphia USA (as Director of Shakespeare), Soho Theatre NYC and most attractively the Minack Cornwall. As a tutor, workshop leader and theatre facilitator he has taught and lectured at academies, drama schools and universities across Britain and the United States covering everything from the origins of theatre as ritual to modern day Broadway hits. He has several awards to his name, most notably ‘Best Over all Production’ NY Fringe, for his production of ‘This is Where We Live’, a project that began with two chairs in a 40 seater theatre above the Alma Tavern.





Other tutors and directors to include 

 Richard Taylor,

Tori Wakeman & Paul Milton.


Further details to follow...