OUR TEAM

Vicky and Kate, who met at drama school, share a passion for creating theatre and working with children. Having completed their MAs they continued to work in schools and drama clubs. They both felt that children came up with the best possible ideas and wanted to create a company that encouraged this thought process. Inspired by Sir Ken Robson’s theory on divergent thinking they founded Divergent Drama - a way for children to explore, expand and experience their own learning.

Victoria Sheldon

Founder

Having graduated from drama school with an MA in professional acting in 2013, Victoria currently splits her working time between acting and teaching drama. Before deciding to tread the boards she gained a BA in English Literature from Bristol University with a view to becoming a full time teacher. Victoria has always enjoyed teaching - gaining early experience in the field as a swimming teacher and as an Assistant Director for a Youth Theatre School (Daydreamer) - not to mention taking part in numerous theatre in education shows, fringe and professional theatre shows post graduation.

Victoria is excited to have co-founded a company where she is lucky enough to combine her two loves: teaching and drama.

Kate Gwynn

Founder

Kate’s passion for teaching began from a young age, having assisted her mother as a primary school teacher - she attended university to study Drama and Performance. During her BA she specialised in community theatre and worked at local youth theatres  and schools. She made the decision to continue her studies and went on to complete an MA in professional acting. Kate has worked and toured with various educational companies and theatres in education and fringe shows.

Amy Gallagher

Facilitator

Amy trained as a professional actress at Drama Studio London having already gained a BA Hons degree at Brunel University in Modern Drama Studies. It was here her passion for working with children through the arts grew and she has experience within theatre in Education as well as a children’s party Entertainer. She enjoys watching children’s confidence &  imaginations come to life through drama & performance. Amy splits her time between acting professionally including film, TV and theatre and teaching drama.She is also a Radio DJ at her local Hospital.

Lerato Islam

Facilitator

Lerato Islam is a freelance youth drama practitioner and director. After completing her studies at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, she now works with various youth theatre groups across London, at venues such as the Kiln Theatre, the Arcola and Theatre Peckham. Lerato delivers fun, high energy classes focussed on confidence and self-expression, and specialises in devising plays alongside her groups.

Katie Dalzell

Facilitator

Katie trained as an Actor at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts on the BA Acting course. In her youth, Katie was a member of The National Youth Theatre. As a performer, Katie has been in shows at the Edinburgh and Camden Fringe Festivals and worked as a voice-over artist. Even though Katie trained as an Actor, she loves to sing and does so regularly in a musical theatre quartet called Behind The Mask at various venues including Keswick's Theatre by the Lake.

Performing is not the only passion of Katie's. Since graduating, Katie has worked as a Nanny and as a Teacher for Stagecoach Performing Arts. She loves seeing the children progress and encouraging their confidence to blossom through creative learning. Yes, Katie is the teacher/child minder, but she finds herself learning from the children too! Their imaginations and the way they see the World is truly inspiring.

Vanessa Rose

Facilitator

Vanessa Rose is a professionally trained performer and graduate of Rose Bruford Drama School. She has a true passion for children’s theatre and entertainment. Vanessa has an extensive amount of experience touring theatre and facilitating workshops around the world including; Italy,Germany, China, Australia and Japan. She loves storytelling and exploring different characters through voice and physicality. Vanessa also holds a CELTA qualification and has had years of experience combining her performing skills with her teaching qualification to make learning fun and enjoyable. Vanessa aims to inspire, educate and entertain others through her passion for performance.

Callan Durrant

Facilitator

Callan trained at Derby Theatre, the National Youth Theatre and The Actors Class. He has toured multiple times across the UK appearing at theatres such as New Vic Theatre, Derby Theatre and the Create Theatre. He has also performed for Dreamworks and Sky. He is also the Artistic Director of Reflex Theatre and as a Facilitator, he has worked extensively with emerging artists, children with special needs, vulnerable young people and has supported a diverse range of communities across the country through drama learning initiatives.

Hayley Evenett

Facilitator

Hayley is a working professional actor, specialising in Shakespeare, Physical Theatre and Children’s Theatre. Since graduating from the University of Kent with a Masters in Drama and Theatre Studies, Hayley has been acting in touring theatre, film and voice over projects across the UK, Ireland and as far as Australia.

Hayley has a passion for teaching and training young people in the skills she has learnt through working within the industry over the last 15 years. Hayley has extensive experience in Children’s Theatre and Theatre in Education and began teaching Acting and Musical Theatre to 4-18 year olds at NTA Workshops and Cally Davis Drama shortly after graduating, before moving to Norfolk and joining Triple Threat Stage School and Limelight Studios, Norwich. She now delivers workshops in everything from Science to Creative writing, Shakespeare to women's roles in WWI.

Hayley loves working for Divergent, travelling to schools across the country and delivering workshops.  She likes to keep lessons fun and accessible, while focusing on building valuable skills and confidence.

Suzie Correya

Facilitator

Suzie is an actor, playwright and private tutor, gaining most of her experience from teaching Drama and Music in primary and secondary schools as well as weekend stage schools, and directing amateur productions for both children and adults within local communities across the UK.

Jessica Alade

Facilitator

Jess trained as an actor at the Guildford School of Acting graduating with a first class BA Honours degree in 2017. Her work with young people began at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, where she assisted with term-time acting classes and school holiday activities. The Lyric is where Jess began her journey as a performer, which is why she enjoys her work there with young people who are finding themselves on a similar path. She also works with Youth Music Theatre UK as a manager of the pastoral team on residential musical theatre projects around the country. 

Chloe Oliver

Facilitator

Over the past 12 years Chloe has toured with well respected companies throughout the U.K., Europe and Internationally in a wide range of theatrical productions as an actor, singer, dancer and puppeteer. Last year, Chloe performed as a soloist in west end award winning concert; ‘Twisted’ at Trafalgar Studios. Swiftly followed by starring in multiple award winning short horror film project; ‘An Unrequited Haunting’ (early last year) - created in collaboration with Monsteers Artistry. Most recently, in December 2020, Chloe played the role of ‘Jingles’ in immersive theatre production -‘Lapland U.K.’ and can currently be seen in Marvellously Modern Film and Theatre Companies Shakespeare project; ‘That Rockin’ Bard’, which is currently available on Facebook, IGTV and YouTube. Chloe is also a poet and recently was selected as one of the top ten poets for WordSpoken Podcast (@wordspokenpodcast) episode; #TakeTheMic. Her work can also be seen featured at Off The Chest Poetry (@offthe_chest).

Chloe very much enjoys working in arts education which is reflected in her several years of experience as a facilitator working on a number of theatre in education shows and workshops. Chloe also worked as a facilitator and storyteller at Discover Children’s Storytelling Centre in Stratford, London, prior to the pandemic.

Chloe is very pleased to be a part of the Divergent Drama team and looks forward to future projects.

https://www.spotlight.com/2411-0198-8685

Dylan Eleanor Faye

Facilitator

Eleanor Faye is an actor, writer and facilitator originally from Sunderland, now based in Kent. They present 'Read With Ellie' on the Dazzle & Fizz Club app, a Makaton integrated phonics show for little ones. As a writer, their work has been commissioned by Olivier award winning Theatre N16 and shortlisted by Royal Court. Eleanor regularly gigs with London Contemporary Voices at leading cultural venues such as Camden Roundhouse, Royal Opera House and the Union Chapel and provides session vocals for recording artists. Most recently, they sang with Years & Years as part of an advertising campaign for Absolut. Teaching is a key part of Eleanor's creative practice and they are particularly passionate about creating accessible theatre for young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities.