holds a BA in English and Latin from Exeter University and a PGCE from
   Nottingham University. Taught Classics before training at CYGNET. Rosalind has
   appeared in many productions and created the role of Elizabeth I in The Boy Actor.
   She studied singing with Monica Shallis, Pamela Faulkner and Evelyn Tubb and
   sings regularly in recital programmes and with the Richard Roddis Singers.
   She also studied and taught Tai Chi for several years. Rosalind adapted Alice in
   Wonderland for schools and has written for BBC radio. She teaches voice, text,
   singing and choral singing.

  Alistair studied English at Nottingham University before training at CYGNET,
   becoming Associate director in the early 90s. Since then he has helped develop
   the company’s movement training programme and directed many productions.
   Alistair is a trained Drama Therapist and lectures on Plymouth University’s MA in
   Dramatherapy. He is director of Lyme Youth Theatre and regularly directs for
   Whirlwind Theatre, Lancaster.
   Other work includes acting and directing for Theatre Royal Plymouth, Men Moving
   Bridge with Paul Beaumont in 2005 and Being In Between at Bristol Zoo.

  
   Stephen Copp (Teacher)

     Voice and speech tutor who also teaches text work and television training. 
     Stephen trained at Webber Douglas Academy and at RADA. He has appeared
     in seasons at Ayr, Exeter and Sidmouth. Plays include “Small Hours”,
     “On Approval”,“There’s A Girl in My Soup”, “Don’t Just Lie There Say Something”.

    Movement, improvisation, physical theatre and body awareness. "I met Suprapto
    Suryodarmo, Javanese movement artist and teacher in 1988 and studied with him
    for ten years" (1988 - 1998). Sandra has taught at Cygnet for many years.

  
   Ruth Way (Dance Consultant)
   Ruth is head of Theatre and Performance at the University of Plymouth. She has
     performed and taught internationally, being a trustee for Dance in Devon and
     External Examiner for Laban, London. Ruth is also a board member for Shin
     Somatics Training board, USA.

    Has a French/Drama degree from Bristol university. A year at Georgia University
    and the Ashland Shakespeare Festival in the USA was followed by stage
    management work in rep - Dundee, Bristol Old Vic, Canterbury, Cheltenham, a
    season with Scottish Opera, seven years with Peter Brook as PA and company
    manager and then in 1974 she joined the Northcott under Geoffrey Reeves, later
    becoming PA to Richard Digby Day. She met Monica Shallis in 1976 and was a
    co-founder of CYGNET becoming its first full-time administrator in 1986.

 Monica D. Shallis
1939 - 2006
  Founding Artistic 
  Director 

    CYGNET was founded in 1980. The Company grew out of an association
    between Monica Shallis, Mary Evans and the Northcott Theatre, Exeter- then under
    the direction  of Richard Digby Day.

    Cygnet has since grown into a full-time training company with its own Studio
    Theatre in a converted hall near to the centre of Exeter, in the Historic Quayside
    area of the city. It functions as a small-scale touring company, with productions
    regularly touring to venues around the South West. In addition, the Company
    takes showcase productions up to London and to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

    Cygnet Company members come from all over the UK and abroad to join its
    intensive three year ensemble theatre training programme, which combines the
    best of Conservatoire with the practical experience of a working Theatre Ensemble.