Ophelia began performing at the age of five with her childhood village’s amateur dramatics society, where she discovered a lifelong passion for acting and theatre. Since then, creating and performing drama has remained at the heart of her journey. She studied Drama at both GCSE and A Level and was awarded Stagecoach Student of the Year in 2020. After completing a science degree at university, Ophelia was delighted to reconnect with her former A Level drama teacher, Sarah Dowie. This reunion led to an opportunity to work with Sarah’s Community Interest Company, Sparkhouse Creatives, where she became a member of Sparkhouse Ensemble. Collaborating with a talented group of like-minded graduates to devise original theatre has enabled Ophelia to continue developing her creative practice while exploring bold, collaborative storytelling - something she finds both inspiring and immensely rewarding.

At 19 years old, Charlie has developed a passion for performing through a range of opportunities, including appearing in Lark Rise at Chipping Norton Theatre. Alongside acting, he enjoys singing publicly and loves using performance to connect with audiences and bring joy to others. Next year, Charlie will begin studying Computer Science at Aston University while continuing to pursue his love of theatre. Being part of an ensemble is something he deeply values, as he enjoys collaborating with others, sharing creative ideas, and bringing performances to life as a team. For Charlie, there is nothing more rewarding than making people smile, and being part of an ensemble allows him to do exactly that in one of the most enjoyable and fulfilling ways possible.

Natalija is 19 years old and is currently on a gap year before starting drama school in October. Throughout her year out, helping to build Sparkhouse Ensemble has been one of the most exciting and rewarding things she has been part of. She has loved having the freedom to devise and create alongside such a talented group of people, bringing together everyone's ideas, experiences, and different perspectives on theatre. For Natalija, the collaborative process has been inspiring, challenging, and, above all, so much fun. She is incredibly proud of everything the ensemble has created together and is excited to take everything she has learned into the next chapter of her training. ​ Alongside performing, Amelia has discovered a genuine passion for choreography. She enjoys creating movement, telling stories through dance, and collaborating with others to bring creative ideas to life. As she continues to build her choreographic experience, her ultimate goal remains to pursue opportunities to perform professionally, combining her love of performance with her growing passion for creating work that connects with audiences.

Lenny has recently completed his GCSEs and is continuing to develop his passion for the performing arts through his work with Sparkhouse Ensemble and LAMDA. He is currently preparing and auditioning for Stratford-upon-Avon College, where he hopes to study Level 2 Performing Arts next year. Lenny has enjoyed being part of Sparkhouse Ensemble, embracing the opportunity to collaborate with other young performers, develop his skills, and take on new creative challenges. Looking ahead, he hopes to pursue a career in Musical Theatre and, ultimately, fulfil his ambition of becoming a drama teacher, inspiring future generations to discover the same love of performance that has shaped his own journey. ​ Alongside performing, Amelia has discovered a genuine passion for choreography. She enjoys creating movement, telling stories through dance, and collaborating with others to bring creative ideas to life. As she continues to build her choreographic experience, her ultimate goal remains to pursue opportunities to perform professionally, combining her love of performance with her growing passion for creating work that connects with audiences.

Georgina’s passion has always been theatre, and being a part of the Cidermill Collective has been an amazing opportunity to not only create theatre but bring it to the stage. She is currently in a gap year, and is heading to York University to study BA Acting, Directing and Writing. She hopes to one day be able to write and design her own theatre productions in the future.

Finnen graduated from the University of Manchester with a 2:1 (Honours) degree in Drama and English Literature. During his time at university, he was an active member of the Drama Society, performing in a wide range of plays, musicals, and short films, allowing him to develop his skills across a variety of performance styles. In 2025, Finnen co-starred in *The Pornstar Martini Effect*, performing across a 15-night run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Since graduating, he has returned home and is continuing to pursue opportunities in acting and performance while expanding his experience in directing and set design. Through his involvement with Sparkhouse Ensemble, he is excited to collaborate with other creatives, explore new approaches to theatre-making, and continue growing as a well-rounded theatre artist.

From the age of three, performing has been at the heart of everything Amelia has wanted to do professionally. After taking her very first dance class, she quickly discovered a passion for the stage that has only grown stronger over the years. One of her earliest and most memorable experiences was performing in the West End ballet production of Nanny McPhee as Baby Agatha, an opportunity that cemented her love for performing and confirmed her ambition to pursue it as a career. ​ In 2025, Amelia graduated from Laine Theatre Arts, where she refined her skills in acting, singing, and dance. Since graduating, she has been teaching performing arts, inspiring and nurturing the next generation of performers while continuing to develop her own craft as both a performer and creative. ​ Alongside performing, Amelia has discovered a genuine passion for choreography. She enjoys creating movement, telling stories through dance, and collaborating with others to bring creative ideas to life. As she continues to build her choreographic experience, her ultimate goal remains to pursue opportunities to perform professionally, combining her love of performance with her growing passion for creating work that connects with audiences.

Cherry has been a dedicated member of Cotswold Youth Theatre for over three years, where she has developed her passion for the performing arts through a range of exciting opportunities. During her time with the company, she has taken on lead roles in productions including *DNA* and *After Juliet*, gaining valuable experience and confidence as a performer. Alongside her stage work, Cherry has achieved LAMDA Grade 4 qualifications in both Acting and Musical Theatre, continuing to strengthen her skills and love for performance. Being part of Sparkhouse Ensemble has been both a challenging and incredibly rewarding experience for Cherry. She has embraced the opportunity to devise original work, collaborate with a talented group of creatives, and push herself artistically in new ways. She has thoroughly enjoyed the creative process and is proud to have been part of an ensemble that values teamwork, imagination, and storytelling.

Graduating with First Class Honours in Drama and English from The University of Manchester in 2025, Milly Nixon is an emerging theatre-maker with a passion for directing and developing new work. They were Assistant Director on Baby Steps, which transferred to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and co-directed An Accidental Spark during their studies. Alongside their creative practice, they work with young people through Cotswold Youth Theatre, fostering confidence, creativity, and a love of performance.

Brook is an aspiring actress with a passion for storytelling, she has performed in a variety of local productions in her hometown, gaining experience both on stage and behind the scenes. She is currently spending her second summer in New York, working as an assistant director at a summer camp, where she enjoys helping young performers build confidence and creativity as well as being able to produce upto three high scale musicals a month. She looks forward to continuing her journey in theater and expanding her experience as both an actress and director and is excited to see what is next in her career.