Our Team
We are incredibly proud of the team that supports our students each week. Alongside their professional experience, they bring energy, care and a real commitment to helping young people thrive. Our team reflects the diverse communities we serve, because we believe representation matters. At The Boury Academy we often say, “you can’t be what you can’t see,” and we want every young person who walks through our doors to feel that the performing arts belong to them.
The team at The Boury Academy are working industry professionals who are passionate about sharing their experience and inspiring the next generation of performers.
Caroline Boury
Founder and CEO
Caroline is the Founder and Director of The Boury Academy and The Boury Agency. She trained at both the Urdang Academy and Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and has built a career spanning performance, coaching and arts leadership.
Her professional work as an actor includes theatre, television and radio, with stage credits including various Alan Ayckbourn productions, James and the Giant Peach and Horrible Histories, alongside appearances on television and BBC Radio 4. She has also worked extensively behind the scenes as a children’s acting coach and creative, including coaching young performers in the West End production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and working as a choreographer for CBeebies.
Alongside her professional work, Caroline has spent over two decades teaching and mentoring young performers. Many of the students she has worked with have gone on to perform professionally in the West End, on television and in film.
Caroline founded The Boury Academy to increase access to high-quality performing arts training and to create a welcoming and supportive environment where young people can develop confidence, creativity and community through the arts. Under her leadership, the organisation has grown from a small weekend youth theatre into a thriving creative community that now supports over 3,500 young people each year through academy training, school partnerships and community programmes.
In recognition of her work, Caroline has been named one of the Top 100 Women in Social Enterprise in the UK and has been nominated for the Women of the Future Awards for her contribution to Arts and Culture. She was also the overall winner of the Lambeth Council Future Connected Programme and has led partnership work with a range of organisations to improve access to creative opportunities for young people.
As a disabled female founder, Caroline is a passionate advocate for inclusion and believes strongly in the power of partnerships and community-led organisations to transform opportunities for young people.
Caroline also leads The Boury Agency, representing both adult and young performers across stage and screen.
We are incredibly proud of the team that supports our students each week. Alongside their professional experience, they bring energy, care and a real commitment to helping young people thrive. Our team reflects the diverse communities we serve, because we believe representation matters. At The Boury Academy we often say, 'you can’t be what you can’t see,' and we want every young person who walks through our doors to feel that the performing arts belong to them.
Rakesh Boury
Director and Founder
Rakesh recently returned for a limited period in Matilda the Musical in 2026, after spending 2 wonderful years as Mr Wormwood in the West End from 2022-2024
Prior to that Rakesh could be seen as Geoff/Dad in the Original Cast of David Baddiel’s ‘The Parent Agency’ for which he won Best Performance in a Musical at the 2025 UK Theatre Awards.
He also created the role of Larry and The Creaker King in Tom Fletchers ‘The Creakers’ Musical.
Other Theatre includes, ‘Fisherman’s Friends’ (Original Cast) Anna Jordan’s ‘Pop Music’ (Paines Plough & Birmingham Rep), ‘Man Of La Mancha’ (Coliseum) ‘We Will Rock You’ (Dominion Theatre), ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ (Phoenix Theatre) ‘Rock Of Ages’ (Original UK Tour), ‘Wind In The Willows’ (Original Cast) ‘Britains Got Bhangra’ (Stratford East/Original UK Cast) and ‘The Assassination of Katie Hopkins’ (Theatre Clywd).
Television. ‘Better’, BBC
Film. Disneys ‘Disenchanted’. Dr Farookh in ‘Tehran’ On NETFLIX
Recordings/Workshops. Bend It Like Beckham (Original Cast Recording). Zen and Now (Concept Album). The Doncastrian Chalk Circle (National Theatre).
He is very excited to be sharing his skills with the students and using his west-end connections to bring in brilliant guest teachers and opportunities.
Kage Douglas
Director
Kage trained at Bird College in Sidcup
Kage is one of the four Directors of The Boury Academy and is also Head of Dance.
He has worked extensively in dance and musical theatre and has appeared in The Harder They Come (Stratford East) Ghost The Musical, Assistance Dance Captain, Cover Subway Ghost, UK and International Tour.
Dirty Dancing, Swing, UK Tour. Dick Whittington, Sultan Vinegar, Cover Dick Whittington, Qudos Pantos, Manchester Opera House. Dirty Dancing, Ensemble cover Tito, Germany, Austria and Switzerland Tour. Dick Whittington, Sultan Vinegar, Cover Dick Whittington, Qudos Pantos, Birmingham Hippodrome. Naked Boys Singing, Jack, Charing Cross Theatre, West End. Hair, Dance Captain, European Tour. Joesph And His Amazing Techincoulour Dreamcoat, Judah, Gurnsey. We Will Rock You, Ensemble/Campino, Berlin and Stuttgart. Saturday Night Fever, Chester cover DJ Monty, Asian Tour. Hair, Ensemble, Gate Theatre, London.
The Pirates of Penzance, Ensemble/Pirate, Shaw Theatre London.
The Wild Party, Mr Black, Albany Theatre London.
TV and Film Credits
Disney’s Snow White, 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony, Mamma Mia! The Movie, I'd Do Anything, Crimewatch reconstruction
Commercial
Wikes, Direct Line, Burger Kind
We are incredibly excited to have Kage as part of our team. His enthusiasm and work ethic is infectious and the young people and parents alike are excited to be put through their paces and know they have someone in their corner every step of the way.
Shalisha James-Davis
Director
Theatre credits include: PUNCH Nottingham Playhouse/ Young Vic/ Apollo Theatre - Comedy of Errors The Globe- Anna Karenina Chichester Festival TheatreRomeo and Juliet (Royal Exchange – Nominated, Ian Charleson Awards 2024); The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe (London Theatre Company); Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare’s Globe); Alfred Fagan Award (National Theatre Studio); If We Were Older (Royal National Theatre); The Wolves (Stratford East); Our Country’s Good, Notre Dame (National Theatre).
Film credits include: Mary Queen of Scots (Working Title); Bay of Silence (Silent Bay Films) and Night Out (Unit 9 Films).
Television credits include: Casualty, Silent Witness (BBC); Crossfire, Vera (ITV); I May Destroy You (HBO); The Split 2 (Sister Pictures); Alex Rider (Eleventh Hour Films); Next of Kin (Mammoth/ITV) and Class (BBC America).
We are delighted to have Shalisha on our Board of Directors. She began her Boury journey as Mini B's assistant before taking over as teacher right back in 2018. Her career took off but she never lost touch, becoming a mentor, a patron and now joining the Board of Directors.
Ben Jackson
BOURY AGENCY
Ben developed his passion for the performing arts from a young age, growing up immersed in theatre and performance. Alongside this creative background, he pursued the business side of the industry, graduating from Coventry University with a First-Class Honours degree in Business and Human Resource Management.
Following his studies, Ben moved into talent representation, combining his understanding of performers with his business and organisational expertise. His work focuses on supporting performers in developing their careers, navigating the professional industry and securing opportunities across theatre, television and film.
At The Boury Agency, Ben works closely with clients of all ages, guiding them through auditions, castings and professional engagements. He is passionate about building strong relationships with performers and helping them approach the industry with confidence, professionalism and ambition.
He is proud to be part of The Boury Agency team, supporting emerging talent as they take their next steps in the performing arts.
Colleen Joseph
HEAD OF PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Colleen brings over 15 years of experience in the performing arts, with a career spanning theatre, film and education. As a performer she has appeared in numerous productions and projects across stage and screen, most recently appearing in the new Wicked movie. Her professional experience as a working artist gives her a deep understanding of the industry and the skills young performers need to succeed.
Alongside her performing career, Colleen has built extensive experience working with young people and developing creative programmes within schools and community settings. She is deeply committed to making the arts accessible, inclusive and inspiring for every young person she works with.
At The Boury Academy, Colleen plays a key role in developing and nurturing our partnerships with schools and community organisations. She works closely with teachers, students and families to ensure that our programmes are both high-quality and welcoming, helping young people discover confidence, creativity and a genuine love of performance.
Her extensive performance background, combined with her passion for education and her ability to build meaningful creative partnerships, makes her a dynamic and valued leader within The Boury Academy team.
Theo Campbell
Mental Health and Pastoral Lead
Theo leads our Mental Health work and Pastoral care by providing group sessions and 1-1 help for our students and families.
Prior to joining the team ,Theo has been working as a Learning Mentor, helping students overcome academic challenges and achieve their full potential. He recently expanded his knowledge and skills by becoming a Trauma Informed Practitioner. This means he is equipped to work with individuals who have experience trauma and able to provide them with the necessary support and resources to heal and recover.
He is thrilled to join The Boury Academy Team where he can continue to make a positive impact on the lives of students. He looks forward to sharing his expertise and contributing to the growth and success of both the individual and the organisation.
Pedr Davis
Academy Manager and Musical Theatre
Pedr trained at Bird College.
He has since performed in a variety of stage productions, crossing a wide range of dance styles.Credits include: Aida (Royal Opera House 2022 & 2025), Werq the World (London Pa
lladium), Beks (European Tour & Mighty Hoopla), Hairspray (RCCL), choreographer for ‘Oh My!’ (Georgia Phillips; Music Video), assistant choreographer for ‘(be)longing’ (Michael Mendones), dancer for Homoparody Queer Collective, Globestar Entertainment, Move It (2018 & 2019), Celebrity Cruises, UK Productions and Crossroads Pantomimes.
He loves teaching adults and young people across London, and is thrilled to be sharing his knowledge and choreography with the students at The Boury Academy.
Aysh Atkina
Singing
Aysh is a multi-disciplinary musician with several years of experience as a performer, voice coach and music director. She graduated from Brunel University with a BA(Hons) in Musicology, and also trained at a division of one of London's most prestigious institutions; Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Aysh has both on-screen and West End credits; and now combines her passion for the arts with training performers at professional music and theatre organisations across the UK.
Monique Anderson
DANCE
Moniqué began her professional vocational training at ’Bodywork Company’ in Cambridge. Moniqué trained as a ‘triple threat performer’ gaining a diploma in Musical Theatre - studying various dance disciplines like Hip hop, commercial, and jazz and focusing her efforts on Acting and singing. She furthered her education at GSA where she completed her Degree.
Credits include Actress in ‘For a brief Moment’, Currently training with House of Gospel Choir,
Assistant choreographer/lead dancer Queens Jubilee parade with Boury Academy,
Notting Hill Carnival Redbull stage artist Alicai Harley with ‘Energy Squad’, ‘Move IT’ featured dancer King of the Castle by Ryan Lee Seager.
Moniqué has a huge passion and enthusiasm for performing arts. She brings that same energy to her classes. Wanting each person to feel confident & most importantly to have fun!
Brian Raftery
SINGING
Brian is an actor, singer and multi instrumentalist from Galway, Ireland. After completing his degree in chamber piano and conducting at the MTU Cork School of Music, he moved across the Irish Sea to train in Musical Theatre at the Royal Academy of Music.
Since graduating, Brian has been involved in music and theatre, both on and off the stage as a piano accompanist, session musician and musical director as well as performing in such shows as Sweeney Todd (Theatre Royal, Stratford), Rising: A New Irish Musical (Toulouse L’Autrec), Jilted (Other Palace Theatre) and The Queen Is Mad (Edinburgh Fringe 2025, Zoo Southside).
Henry Osei Tutu
Drama
Henry is a versatile actor and theatre practitioner with experience across theatre and film, as well as a passion for dance, physical theatre, and music composition. Their performing arts journey began with singing in primary school, continued through competitive dance in secondary school, and culminated in a BA in Performing Arts (2024).
During their studies, which primarily focused on theatre, Henry leapt at the chance to develop their own short film for their dissertation, "SLEEPSCAPE", which received an Official Selection Award at a film festival, reflecting their love for storytelling, directing, and composing.
Trained with Frantic Assembly on the Ignition Programme (2022) and mentored on the Ignition Project in 2023, Henry has developed a strong foundation in devised theatre, ensemble work, and dynamic performance.
They are delighted to be teaching drama at the Academy, inspiring young students to explore creativity, build confidence, and shine in their own unique way. Through their own experience as a performer, they understand the excitement and challenges of stepping onto the stage and are committed to making every class a fun, supportive, and inspiring space for growth.
Jaden Evelyn
Mini B's
Jaden has been part of The Boury Academy family since its very first day and represents everything the Academy hopes to nurture in its young performers.
Beginning as one of our original students, Jaden quickly stood out for his commitment, kindness and natural performance ability. During his time at The Boury Academy he developed into a strong triple threat performer, going on to train at The Urdang Academy on the AVT course before completing his professional training at Fourth Monkey.
Alongside his training, Jaden has already begun building professional experience, including appearing in the 2022 Mini Cooper Christmas commercial.
Returning to teach at The Boury Academy is a particularly special full-circle moment for us. Jaden understands the Academy from the inside out and brings not only his professional training and industry knowledge, but also a genuine care for the young people following in his footsteps.
He is a brilliant role model for our students, especially our Mini Bs, who adore working with him each week. We are incredibly proud to see one of our original students now inspiring the next generation of Boury performers.
Mary Briggs
Mini B's
Mary is a vocalist, actor and musical theatre performer with a passion for nurturing young performers.
She trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts weekend school as a child, developing a strong foundation in vocal technique, performance and musical theatre. After initially stepping away from the arts to complete a Law degree and work within the legal profession, Mary ultimately returned to follow her passion for the performing arts - building experience across commercials, fringe theatre and live performances.
At The Boury Academy, Mary teaches the Mini B’s, where she focuses on helping younger students build confidence, develop their musicality and discover the joy of performing in a fun and supportive environment.
Mary is passionate about helping the next generation of performers develop their confidence both on and off stage.
ELEANOR WILSON
Performing Arts
Eleanor trained in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre at Bird College UK.
Since graduating, she has enjoyed a varied dance career, performing and choreographing internationally. Performance highlights include Oti Mabuse’s Gala Ball (2023) and competing in World Of Dance, Athens (2024). Recent performance credits include Dance Captain and cover Carbosse in Sleeping Beauty at Leeds Carriageworks Theatre (2025-26) and Featured Dancer in A Magic Night of Dance Musicals European Tour (2026).
Alongside performing, Eleanor has extensive credits as a teacher and choreographer, she has worked as a cover teacher and resident creative at Bird College UK from 2021 - Present.
In 2024 she set up her dance company Wellie Co., who performed their premiere work The Forty Elephants at the Camden Fringe (2025).
Marcella Smith
Drama
Marcella has trained in theatre and screen acting at Kingdom Drama School taught by industry professionals and co-founder, actor and director Ashley Walter’s (Top Boy, Bulletproof).
She is a retired qualified social worker who decided to follow her childhood ambitions of becoming an actor, playwright and screenwriter.
Marcella has extensive experience in social sciences and psychology, social care and child development. As a social worker she has experience working with marginalised children, looked after children and their foster carers, youth offenders and children with complex access needs, educational needs and neurodivergent needs who may additionally experience mental health challenges.
She believes performing arts is a key resource to supporting children to aspire to be the best version of themselves in a fun, supportive, safe space so children thrive, develop confidence and shine in their individual uniqueness.
Robert Ogilvie
Music Production / Technical Theatre
Rob is an incredibly talented lighting and technical designer and a valued member of the Boury family, responsible for bringing many of our productions to life on stage.
He has worked extensively across some of the UK’s most prestigious venues, including the National Theatre, Royal Opera House, Royal Festival Hall, Fairfield Halls and numerous West End theatres. Earlier in his career he was also part of the touring technical team for Swan Lake, travelling across Europe for two and a half years.
Rob’s skill set spans a wide range of technical and creative disciplines including lighting design and programming, laser design and programming, live sound engineering, music production and DJing. His ability to combine technical precision with creative flair allows him to create exciting and professional stage environments that elevate every Boury production.
We are incredibly lucky to have Rob as part of the team and his work plays a huge role in helping our students experience what it feels like to perform in a truly professional environment.
Kofi Mingo
Dance
Kofi Mingo is a movement artist and teacher with over 20 years of experience working in dance, performance and physical training in the UK and internationally.
He began dancing through youth centres in Newham, including Little Ilford and Forest Gate, before developing his practice with companies such as Boy Blue Entertainment and Rain Crew. Over time, Kofi has developed his own movement style, “Way of K”, which blends hip hop foundations with freestyle, Caribbean grooves, b-boying, popping, krump and elements of martial arts and breath-based movement.
Kofi has performed and choreographed across stage, screen and large-scale events. His credits include the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony (Dance Captain), international touring productions and commercial work with brands such as Nike and Red Bull. He has also performed with a range of music artists and companies both in the UK and abroad.
Alongside his performance career, Kofi is a passionate and experienced teacher. He has taught across all ages from young children to adults and has extensive experience working with young people in community and youth settings. His teaching focuses on confidence, musicality, physical awareness and self-expression, creating a supportive space where students are encouraged to find their own movement voice.
Kofi is also the creator of U-N-1 VERSE, a freestyle training programme that centres creativity, individuality and exploration through movement. At Boury, Kofi brings energy, honesty and a deep respect for the culture and roots of the styles he teaches.
Jessie Fuller
Yoga
Jessie is an experienced somatic yoga teacher, neurodevelopmental practitioner and qualified counselling psychotherapist with a deep passion for supporting body–mind integration and emotional wellbeing.
Her academic and professional training includes a BSc in Psychology and Sociology, an MA in Psychoanalytic Studies and qualification as a Counselling Psychotherapist registered with the BACP. She is also trained as a Neurodevelopmental Practitioner and in Blomberg Rhythmic Movement Therapy, alongside holding teaching certifications in Multi-Style Yoga, Yin Yoga and Special Yoga.
A lifelong student of the mind–body connection, she has been teaching yoga for over ten years, as well as hosting women’s circles and leading retreats focused on wellbeing and self-development.For the past six years she has worked full-time as the principal neurodevelopmental and auditory practitioner at a well-established clinic in West London, supporting individuals to improve emotional regulation, nervous system health and overall wellbeing.Her work is rooted in the belief that the integration of body, mind and spirit, alongside authentic connection within community, is essential to living a healthy and fulfilling life.
Through her work with The Boury Academy, she supports students in developing greater awareness, balance and resilience, helping them feel more grounded and confident both on and off the stage.