Kieran Vyas (he/him)
Artistic Director
Kieran is an award-winning director, acting coach and filmmaker with over 13 years experience across the theatre, film and TV industries. As a director, he has led projects across narrative film, documentary, corporate media, and stage productions, collaborating with the BBC, the National Theatre, Inspirate, Amazon Prime Video, Curve Theatre, Total Insight, Belgrade Film & Digital, Nottingham Playhouse, Underbelly, and many others.
Kieran has also spent many years working closely with top UK drama schools, teaching on BA and MA courses, and he has coached actors in high-profile roles for West End theatres, the RSC, BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Netflix, Sky Studios and more.
The arts have incomparable power to unlock young people’s potential and instil confidence that supports them in every aspect of life. It’s that bit of magic that motivates Kieran, and he constantly strives to inspire others, whether to pursue a career as a professional actor or simply to discover their own voice.
Katie Vyas(she/her)
Executive Director
Katie is an actor and producer who trained at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Her acting credits include Hypatia in ‘Misalliance’, Ellie Dunn in ‘Heartbreak House’ (Shaw’s Corner), Aurora in ‘How to Catch a Star’ (UK and Singapore tour), Lizzie Bennet in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ (Tread the Boards Theatre Company), Nor in ‘Kukunor/Kalahari’ (The Arena Theatre), and Scrooge in ‘A Christmas Carol’ (The Attenborough Arts Centre). She’s also produced numerous film productions for Total Insight, the internationally acclaimed Fierce Festival in 2022 and An Indian Summer Festival 2025.
Katie has a wealth of experience in Theatre in Education and teaching acting. She facilitates workshops with young people from primary school age through to young adult, and also teaches acting to degree-level students. As someone lucky enough to be able to turn a passion into a career, Katie relishes helping others explore and realise their own creative potential.
Chloë Crump (she/her)
Lead Practitioner
Chloë is an actor, acting tutor, and director with over a decade of experience. She is trained in Meisner, Chekhov, Stanislavski, Classical, and Physical Theatre, developing her craft at establishments such as Gecko, The Actors Class and The Actors Temple.
In film, her acting credits include Emily Gale in the feature film ‘GALE: Yellow Brick Road’, directed by Daniel Alexander. She has also worked with Violet Hayes Films playing Polly in ‘Teabags’, Super Freak Media playing Sophie in ‘Do You See It Too?’, and Imoria Pictures playing Officer Darling in ‘Never’. She has toured nationally with contemporary and classical theatre companies, roles including Hero/Beatrice in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ and Viola in ‘Twelfth Night’.
As a director and tutor, Chloë led the West End production of ‘Across the Line’ (His Majesty’s Theatre), ‘We Will Rock You’ and ‘Fame the Musical’ (Loughborough Town Hall).
With warmth, encouragement, and empowering techniques, Chloë thrives on helping young actors explore their creativity, stretch their limits, and discover what they are truly capable of. She is overjoyed to share her passion for the industry and to support students in becoming fuller, more confident versions of themselves through the power of performance.
Grace Ford (she/her)
Lead Practitioner & Combat Specialist
Grace trained at UYA for seven years. During that time she performed in a number of projects including playing Jess in ‘Where Were You,’ hosting and leading in the UYA Theatre Festival at Sue Townsend Theatre, and winning the Over 16s Scratch Slam 2022 with a duologue from Macbeth. She also recently portrayed Morticia in a production of The Addams Family Musical.
Grace is currently in her final year of training at East 15 on the BA Acting and Fight Performance course.
Rosina Cusano (she/her)
Assistant Practitioner
Rosina is currently training on the BA (Hons) Acting course at De Montfort University and has been with UYA for over 2 years, performing in a variety of in-house and professional projects. She’s also worked as a supporting artist on several film and TV productions including Eastenders, Silent Witness and Warner Brothers’ Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking.
The performing arts have helped Rosina be the confident person she is today. She is passionate about creating a safe space in the rehearsal room so everyone can explore their ideas and be themselves.
Jacob Ford (he/they)
Assistant Practitioner
Jacob has been with UYA for almost seven years, acting in numerous productions both on stage and screen. He is currently studying drama, media and literature and aspires to work in the creative industry in the future.
As an actor, Jacob has great talent and razor-sharp wit and says they are excited to be working with UYA to share the skills he has gained and to inspire the young actors.
