OUR PATRONS
JOE COLE
BAFTA nominated Actor for his role in Black Mirror. Other works include the award-winning Peaky Blinders as John Shelby, Skins, Offender, Pure, Green Room, Casualty, Secret in their Eyes and many more. He will soon be playing the lead role in HBO’s new TV drama Gangs of London. Joe recently won Best Actor for the role of Billy Moore in A Prayer Before Dawn at the British Idependent Film Awards.
“Having performed with Billy from an early age, as well as being a good friend of his, I know very well his undeniable talent as an actor/singer/dancer and teacher. This, coupled with his incredible drive, work ethic and approachability make him the perfect person to lead a team developing talent in the Kingston area. The practitioners that he has on board are some of the most experienced and skilled people in the business. Expect to have fun, build confidence, make new friends and develop a range of skills. This is the kind of thing I was crying out for as a teenager growing up in Kingston.”
OMARI DOUGLAS
BAFTA and Olivier Award nominated actor Omari Douglas.
Omari recently starred opposite Russell Tovey in the critically acclaimed production of ‘Constellations’ at the Vaudeville Theatre as well as Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne in Cabaret the Musical. Star of the pivotal Channel 4 series “It’s a Sin” and Emma Rice’s “Wise Children.” Omari is breaking boundaries in the industry and we are beyond delighted to have Omari as one of KiPA’s Patrons. A true inspiration!
LUCIE JONES
Currently stunning audiences and critics in the West End as the leading role of Elphaba in the Award-winning musical Wicked.. Lucie represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest and was a finalist on The X Factor. Other credits include: Fantine in Les Miserable, Jenna in Waitress, Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, Meat in We Will Rock You, Maureen in RENT, Cosette in Les Miserables, Victoria in American Psycho, Molly in Ghost the Musical, Holly in The Wedding Singer, Sarah Jane Adventures and ITV’s Midsummer Murders.
“Billy Cullum is one of the most inspiring, talented and humble performers I have ever had the privilege of sharing the stage with. His perfectly balanced confidence in himself and his ability with his humility gives him the perfect temperament to teach and mentor. Billy is approachable, knowledgeable and his patience is astounding. I have no doubt he will assemble a team around him that he trusts, that share his values as a performer and as a person and will make the optimum atmosphere to learn and create.”
LAYTON WILLIAMS
Layton is currently starring in the new series of Bad Education for Channel 4 where Layton is also a writer for the series. He recently played the lead role of Jamie in the hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie in the West End. Layton is an active diversity role model being involved with LGBTQ+ charities such as Stonewall and Ditch the People. Other credits include: Channel 4’s Bad Education, BBC’s Beautiful People, the title role of Billy Elliot in the West End, Young Michael Jackson in Thriller, Angel in RENT, Seaweed in Hairspray the Musical. Layton also was part of the cirtically acclaimed production of Car Man by the Olivier award winning choreographer Matthew Bourne.
“I am super excited to be a patron of KiPA because I know Billy Cullum is just as passionate as I am when it comes to inspiring the next generation of performers. They will be getting the best training out there and I’ll certainly be popping in when I can to shake a leg too!”