The Team

Founder and Artistic Director 

Laura was a member of ‘Stage ’65 youth theatre at the Salisbury Playhouse, then took a Contemporary Dance Foundation at Swindon Dance and a 3 year Professional Dance Diploma at the London Studio Centre. Here she was able to return to her love of acting and singing, alongside her dance training.

Since graduating, Laura has worked as an actress, rehearsal director, choreographer, movement director, Course Leader and Programme Area Leader for the Level 3 Performing Arts BTEC at City of Bath College. While there she directed many theatre and dance shows at the Ustinov and Egg Theatre, Theatre Royal, Bath. 

Laura was part of a programme called Women in Radio and trained to work as a Broadcast Assistant for BBC Wiltshire 2014-16. She was the Education and Arts Officer for Chippenham Borough Lands Charity from 2017 - 2024, co-ordinating the Chippenham Arts Team and Cultural Events Group, as well as producing an annual Fringe Feb festival for 5 years, supporting local artists to work collaboratively for the town, to huge success. 

The varied nature of her performance training makes her work creative, physical and often humorous. She adapts classic tales as well as creating original work for the Theatre Company and is really keen to get Chippenham performing outside, in original spaces and in ever more unique ways. She is a big physical theatre fan and keen to bring more of this to Chippenham in the future. 

Director – Contemporary Dance Teacher

Helen trained in Dance and Music, attending the Royal Northern College of Music and Dartington College of Arts before gaining her teaching qualification at Rolle College, Exmouth. She has been involved in many different arts activities over the years. These include teaching Contemporary Dance at the Bristol Dance Centre as one of the inaugural teachers in 1978 and she is still teaching in Bristol. 

Helen taught Improvisation and technique on the Foundation Degree Dance course at City of Bristol College for seven years. For twenty-four years, she taught a range of Performing Arts skills at City of Bath College, which is where she and Laura became firm friends, sharing a love of dance, physical theatre and the power of the arts to change people's lives. Having qualified with the Massage Training Institute in 2004, Helen now also works as a deep tissue massage therapist alongside her community dance work and workshop practice in Bristol. 

We are very lucky to have Helen’s expertise and experience on board. She has been a keen advocate and supporter of Rag and Bone Arts from day one. 

Director - Dance and Physical Theatre

Tamsin has over 20 years experience within FE and Secondary education as a Performing Arts teacher, specialising in dance, drama and physical theatre. She also toured and performed rurally with a Somerset-based Dance Theatre company, which showcased her ability to connect audiences with diverse, original work.

Her passion lies in exposing the many benefits of performing arts to young people and encouraging their participation. Tamsin trained in many forms of jazz and contemporary dance, and different specialised areas of drama alongside this.

Tamsin recently became a creative arts teacher at Abbeyfield Secondary School in Chippenham and is passing on her passion for dance, physical theatre and all things performing arts to a very lucky generation of school pupils. 

Tamsin lives in Chippenham and is as passionate about community and the arts as we are. We're over the moon to have Tamsin joining us as a Director.

Art Lead, Life Drawing and  18+ art - set and prop maker, graphic designer

Charlie studied graphic design at Bath College of HE, before embarking on a varied career as a graphic designer, sous chef, company co-director and a brief spell as an insurance salesman. He became a fine art and graphics lecturer at Bath College in 2003 and the set designer for the Performing Arts department from 2008.  He also ran the Life Drawing classes there and at Bath University for around 5 years to great success.

As the Performing Arts Theatre Designer he designed a space ship with opening airlock for ‘Return to the Forbidden Planet’, a disappearing door for ‘Alice – the Musical’, a full sized wicker boat for ‘The Snow Queen’ and a movable, usable set for the college production of ‘Olive’ –  all at the egg Theatre, Bath.

Charlie left Bath College in 2014 to concentrate on return to creating artwork of his own and building the art reputation at Rag and Bone Arts. 

Come and see if you have the artistic flair. It's a lovely calm environment to relax in and learn new skills . Chat, draw, learn some techniques and hang out with other budding artists.

Acting tutor - Actor & Drama Coach

Lisa Southam is an actor and drama coach with extensive experience in education as well as stage and screen work. At Rag & Bone Arts, she inspires both teens and adults to explore the world of drama, helping students build confidence, creativity, and performance skills.

Lisa’s teaching blends practical exercises with professional insight, giving students the tools to express themselves authentically while developing strong acting technique. Her sessions are engaging, supportive, and tailored to each group, whether guiding teens through dynamic scene work or helping adults find their voice and presence in performance.

Lisa mentors trainee and new drama teachers, both online and in person guiding the next generation of educators in effective, engaging drama practice. As well as leading drama classes, Lisa works 1:1 with performers, offers public speaking coaching, and brings her extensive experience in TV, film, and voiceover into her teaching. Her passion lies in helping students discover the joy of performance and the power of storytelling.

We're very excited to have Lisa on board.