ISTA - International Schools Theatre Association

ISTA staff are professionals drawn from different areas of expertise worldwide. At present there are over 80 artists/practitioners/educators who work for ISTA on a freelance basis. They are practitioners who have achieved excellence in their field, who are genuine collaborators and who have experience of working with young people. They share ISTA's vision of internationalism, sound education practice and dialogue between communities and world theatre forms. Their brief is to share their expertise and engage with young people and teachers from a variety of backgrounds and contexts in inspiring and dynamic experiences.

Please read a few of our example biographies!

Sacha Kyle is a graduate from The Royal Scottish Academy with a B.A (hons) Degree in Contemporary Theatre. As a Canadian she began her Theatre adventure in Vancouver, training at the Vancouver Film School, Studio 58 and Studio on the drive and then, feeling the draw of the pipes and her family, decided to give Scotland a wee try. Having been in Glasgow now for six years she has become positively acquainted with both Irn Bru and a vibrant and cultural theatre environment. She has extensive experience working as a freelance artist and as a creative specialist in a selection of theatres, schools, community groups and hospitals. Sacha is also a working Performer and Director involved in projects throughout Scotland and around the world and has toured through Italy on a Twin city production. She is also Artistic Director of Lemon Balloon Theatre Company for children and is working as a Performer and Director of Hoachin’ Stushie Theatre Company based in Glasgow. Most recently she has worked as the Artistic Director for ISTA's summer programme Encore! and is in the process of creating two new works for the Inspirations Festival in Scotland 2007. Sacha loves the magic that is theatre, and is inspired by the people she meets everyday, words, music and movement.

Jesse Factor is a former ISTA student. After graduating from the International School of Bangkok, he trained at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and now works in musical theatre. He was recently featured in the television commercial for the 25th Anniversary North American Tour of CATS. Jesse began his association with CATS as a company member portraying the character of Skimbleshanks. He then moved on to serve as the tour Dance Captain and subsequently Resident Director. Most recently, he is proud to have served as Assistant Director/Rehearsal Director for the current North American Tour of CATS. Other exciting performing projects include WEST SIDE STORY at Baltimore's Lyric Opera House under the direction of TONY award winner George Faison, making his Off-Off Broadway debut in the new musical COWBOYS!, and participating in New York City's annual Fringe Festival. Loving travel, he has performed in locales as varied as a tent in Berlin where he was a dancing gorilla, to the lawn of the Whitehouse in Washington DC, where he danced with a giant banana! Teaching credits include various "Camp Broadway" workshops with HS and MS students in New York City as well as CATS makeup and dance masterclasses across North America. Jesse has been on staff at exciting ISTA festivals in Moscow, Hillingdon (UK), and Geneva. He is honored and excited to be a part of the magic of ISTA and the wonderful people it brings together.

Maggie Young trained and taught in London in the sixties. Her international teaching began in Hong Kong and it was during her travels in South East Asia that she discovered the vitality and relevance of non-western theatre. The barong dance experienced in the tiny village of Kuta in 1972 engendered an understanding of both the role and the power of theatre in the lives of ordinary people. As Language Arts Coordinator at VIS Primary School she wrote Drama into the programme but soon realised that the 'empty space' is intimidating for most teachers and they need support to put drama where it should be, at the heart of the learning experience. After a period of Drama teaching in Singapore she returned to Vienna as the founding Director of Danube International School, a school committed to the Arts. After six years of administration she returned to full time teaching in Zurich to develop IB Theatre Arts and develop an MYP drama curriculum. Having experienced a wide variety of classroom situations she pursued a career as a consultant for four years but has returned to the classroom as Head of Theatre Arts in Kiev, Ukraine.