Our Team
Meet the creative minds and biggest cheerleaders behind ACT. Whether they're leading workshops, supporting participants or dreaming up the next big idea, our team is dedicated to making creativity welcoming, inspiring and fun for everyone.
Grace Knill
Grace has spent her entire career working within the creative arts and engagement fields, starting off as a community musician working for charities abroad in Uganda and Thailand. Grace returned to the UK working as a secondary school music teacher, and then moved into the third sector and creative arts management.
Grace has a Masters in Community Music, PGCE with QTS, and is a qualified Sound and Sound Arts Therapist with the British Academy of Sound Therapy.
She is a specialist vocal coach, with musical theatre and confidence. Her work combines her fizzy enthusiasm and love for the arts and community to enhance and improve the benefit and wellbeing for all.
She brings the humanity!
She brings the pizazz!
Anna Graham
Anna has been involved in musical theatre for many years, both on and off the stage. Alongside performing, she has expanded her experience into producing, directing, choreographing, and most recently, stage management, developing a well-rounded understanding of all aspects of theatre production.
Passionate about storytelling and creating memorable performances, she particularly enjoys working with young performers, helping them build confidence, develop their skills, and discover their full potential
Through A.C.T Collective, she brings together her love of performance, choreography, and creative storytelling to inspire the next generation of performers, encouraging them to be bold, expressive, and confident both on stage and beyond.
She brings the momentum!
Rachel Cawte
Rachel is currently a social worker, but she’s always had a passion for the theatre. Her background is in community drama with a particular interest in how the arts can be used to bond and develop communities, helping them work together to create a piece that is personal and unique to them. Rachel has used these skills to support the people she has worked with throughout her career. Memorable experiences have been performing at the Edinburgh festival, Stockton International festival and also for the late Queen Elizabeth.
Recently she has been volunteering with Ripon Youth Theatre, supporting young people to develop their self belief and resilience, alongside their acting skills. Drama isn’t just about performing and putting on a show, it’s about developing understanding and building skills for life.
He brings the imagination!
Dan Cawte
Dan is a primary school teacher with over 15 years’ experience and a background in Community Drama. He believes drama is far more than entertainment; it is a powerful tool for developing confidence, communication, empathy, collaboration and creative thinking.
Before his teaching career, he worked as Artistic Director of Scunthorpe Youth Theatre and has a particular passion for Shakespeare. Having recently trained with the Royal Shakespeare Company in their Rehearsal Room approaches, he uses drama-based techniques to help young people engage with challenging texts, develop their own ideas and grow in confidence.
Dan’s aim is simple: to help children find their voice and develop the confidence to use it.