About West London Drama Training
CO-Owner & Creative Director
My Journey to West London Drama Training
I didn’t properly set foot on a stage until I was 20 years of age, and a friend asked me to come and be part of the local youth theatre and amateur dramatic scene. I immediately knew I'd found my passion and purpose in life. Looking back, I can see that theatre gave me a confidence I'd never had before. It's that same confidence, creativity and sense of belonging that I now hope to pass on to every young person who comes through our doors.
It took me 2 years of trying to get in to the drama schools I wanted, and I finally chose the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. I left with a First Class BA (Hons) Degree in Performance. Upon leaving, I spent the next 3 years touring Austria and Italy with Vienna’s English Theatre, followed by a 2-year period of short films, commercials, the lead in a feature film and a musical at The Almeida.
Then I walked away from acting... for eight years.
During that time, I discovered another passion. I began facilitating, teaching and coaching children, young people and adults, working at a number of theatre schools and dance and drama colleges. I became an integral part of the participation team at The Rose Theatre Kingston, headed up the senior school at West London Drama Training, and also worked as Esta's assistant at the agency.
I absolutely love teaching. Watching confidence grow and a love of theatre develop in young people is one of the greatest privileges of my career. My hope is that the confidence they gain and the creativity they discover stay with them throughout their lives, whether they go on to work in the performing arts or choose a completely different path.
At 40, I realised how much I missed performing and returned to acting. Since then, I've worked consistently across theatre, film, television and commercials. My performance credits include touring across the UK and playing at The Theatre Royal Haymarket in 'Breakfast at Tiffanys' and I spent 14 months on the road in the first UK tour of 'Kinky Boots' playing Mr Price.
In an age of ever-advancing technology, I believe the need for live performance, creativity and genuine human connection is more important than ever. My vision for West London Drama Training is to provide exactly that: a school that offers outstanding training in acting, singing and dance, while giving every child and young person a safe, inclusive and inspiring environment in which to develop their skills.
More importantly, I want West London Drama Training to be a place where confidence grows, lifelong friendships are formed, and every child feels they belong. A place where, for a few hours every week, children and young people can be bold, be creative and be themselves.
Andy Watkins
CO-Owner & Office Manager
Louise's love of performing began at a young age through dance. She spent many years training and performing in shows, with one of her proudest memories being dancing at the Sydney Olympic Games in Australia in 2000. Alongside her dance training, she also appeared in numerous amateur theatre productions, where she first met Andy.
Many years later, Louise and Andy are now married and are proud to run West London Drama Training together. Alongside her role at WLDT, Louise has built a successful career in childcare and currently works as a Deputy Manager at a nursery.
For many families, Louise is the first person they speak to when they join West London Drama Training. She loves getting to know every child and family and is passionate about creating a warm, welcoming environment where everyone feels supported from the moment they walk through the door. Her experience in childcare, combined with her caring and organised nature, helps make WLDT a place where children can thrive both on and off the stage.
Louise Watkins
Meet Esta
Esta founded WLDT over 25 years ago, driven by a lifelong passion for discovering and nurturing talent.
She began her career as an actress on stage and television before moving behind the scenes to become one of the UK’s leading Casting Directors, working on landmark productions including Quadrophenia, Scum, and the Oscar-winning Chariots of Fire. She later became a highly successful Producer, creating and leading major television series such as Robin of Sherwood, Boon, Birds of a Feather, winning a British Comedy Award for One Foot in the Grave, and a wide range of children’s and comedy programmes for the BBC, ITV and Channel 4.
Esta was awarded an honorary degree from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in recognition of her commitment to working with and developing talent. She believes great work is always the result of collaboration, curiosity, and giving people the confidence to shine.
Founder
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