Patron
Rachel Tucker recently starred in Come From Away at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on Broadway. Playing Annette/Beverley Bass, she originated the role here in London and received a nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical at the 2019 Olivier Awards and Best Supporting Actress in a Musical at the 2020 WhatsOnStage Awards.
Her debut solo album The Reason was released in 2013 at her first sell-out concert at the St. James Theatre, and she returned to the St. James with her one-woman show Rachel Tucker: Back from Broadway for which she won a West End Wilma Award in 2015. In 2017 Tucker launched her first solo tour, Rachel Tucker: Live in Concert, in London, UK and Ireland, alongside releasing a new album On the Road for which she also won the West End Wilma Award for Best Cabaret/Solo show.
Theatre credits: Elphaba in Wicked (West End, Broadway and the London 10th Anniversary Cast); Two by Jim Cartwright at the Bridge House Theatre; Meg Dawson in Sting’s musical The Last Ship directed by Joe Mantello (Neil Simon Theatre, New York and Bank of America Theatre, Chicago); Communicating Doors (Menier Chocolate Factory); Farragut North (Southwark Playhouse) and Meat in We Will Rock You (Dominion).
Television credits: Sharon Collins in Informer (BBC1/Neal Street productions); I’d Do Anything (BBC), where she reached the semi-final stages for the role of Nancy.
Workshops credits: The Baroness in Lempicka (Williamstown Theatre Festival, New York); Elly in Lazarus; Grace in T’Aint; Dusty Springfield in Dusty and Meg Giry in Love Never Dies.
“I am proud to be the Patron of such a fun and unique school and as a local resident, I find it exciting that such an opportunity is being presented to our children and aspiring stars of the future. It is important for children to be creative whilst having fun and Take Flight offers just that!”– Rachel Tucker
Supporter
Lee is best known for winning the title role in the 2007 West End revival of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” through the BBC reality TV casting show “Any Dream Will Do”. He then went on to pursue a music career with his first concert tour of the UK, before going into London’s hit show “Wicked!” as Fiyero. Following that, he went on to play the role of Emmett Forest in “Legally Blonde” at the Savoy Theatre and is currently appearing in BBC1’s “Casualty”, playing the role of Lofty. For more information, go to www.leemeadmusic.com.
“I would like to wish everyone at Take Flight Academy of Performing Arts all the best and they have my continued support. It’s brilliant that the kids attending will be under the guidance of such passionate and experienced teachers in their field” –Lee Mead
Trustee
“As one of the original co-founders of Take Flight Theatre School in collaboration with director Stevie Tate-Bauer, I am both thrilled and honoured to be a Trustee of Take Flight Academy. The original concept was to merely fill the need for the lack of musical theatre outlets for young people in the local area. Acknowledging the subsidiary skills of team work, confidence building and commitment that comes with the art form of theatre, the vision was simple and effective. As I step back and observe the transformation of Take Flight, from school to academy, I am filled with pride and astonishment. Both at the caliber of the kids and the progression of the school. It’s now not only about the additional skills that are presented by musical theatre.Take Flight Academy is a place for children to nurture the fusion of professional acting, singing and dance. At the heart of the academy are incredible teachers, energetic children and a creative, professional community of theatre people. It’s an honour to be associated with such brilliance and I look forward to the journey ahead.” – Ahmet Ahmet
