Jessica Bigland

Jessica started dancing at the age of two and a half  and at the age of 11, she successfully auditioned to become a boarder at The Arts Educational School, Tring Park At Tring she began full time studies in ballet, tap, jazz, flamenco, national, modern and contemporary dance along with comprehensive training in drama and singing.

After Tring Jessica was accepted for further professional training first at Laine Theatre Arts and subsequently at The London Studio, where she gained a diploma in musical theatre as well as winning the prestigious singing cup.

As a child Jessica worked with the English National Opera in “Street Scenes” and “The Cunning Little Vixen” and on two occasions, after nationwide auditions, she secured a much sought after invitation to work with The National Youth Music Theatre in London and Edinburgh, under the direction of Sir Jim Broadbent.

Whilst at school Jessica was also asked to sing for HRH Prince Edward at a gala performance and was selected to work with The London Contemporary Dance Theatre, which fostered in her a continuing love of contemporary dance.

When she left college, she performed in “Return to The Forbidden Planet” in Berlin, “Hey there Gorgeous” at The Orange Tree, and “Starlight Express” both in Germany and in London, where she played the parts of Buffy and Pearl. She also danced in “The time of our life” at The Epsom Theatre and “Rake’s progress” and “Dance Umbrella” at Wimbledon Theatre.

She has appeared on television in “The Michael Barrymore Show”, “Clementine” and “Grange Hill”.

Jessica has extensive dance training in all aspects of dance and has been fortunate in working with Arlene Phillips, and Wayne Sleep.

When the boy band Blue was created, Jessica was present at the auditions and acted as vocal coach and choreographer to the band.

Although Jessica enjoyed considerable success as an actress, dancer and singer, having also secured a recording contract with Innocent Records, she decided that the endless audition circuit was not for her and decided to join Rita as a teacher with Theatre Club Kids.

She did however, make a brief return recently to the stage, when she was asked to take part in a concert celebrating London’s Apollo theatre’s 80th Birthday, performing alongside casts from “Jersey Boys”, “Wicked”, “Pricilla Queen of the Desert” and many other well-known actors and performers.