MATT ZINA - PRINCIPAL
Matt Zina is a specialist screen acting coach of 20+ years, casting agent and founder of the internationally acclaimed 'Yorkshire School of Acting' now 'Matt Zina Acting'.
Matt began acting at the age of 8 and has had a professional career spanning 22 years with roles in well-known TV productions such as 'Heartbeat', 'A Touch of Frost', 'Emmerdale', and 'Blood and Peaches'. It is from this career, working with some of the best actors the country has to offer, that he became aware of progressive acting techniques and began researching and specialising.
“For me, it was whilst working professionally that I was able to master modern acting techniques and able to understand the theory behind TV and Film acting techniques that casting directors demand.”
With a coaching record spanning 20+ years, he has trained well known actors and has led many people to be working in the industry in high-end Drama's, Adverts, Hollywood Films and Comedies. It is rare to watch TV and not see someone he has trained.
Matt is also an 'on-set' coach and has a CV working with professional actors on well-known productions for BBC/ITV and Films. His most recent production as the Performance and Dialect Coach has was selected for Cannes Film Festival and received a BAFTA nomination.
“Understanding the skill of acting for screen is a dedicated life long learning curve”
Matt has now developed the Trinity Acting Method, which is a specialist, pioneering method of acting training that he only teaches to his students at Matt Zina Acting.
Matt has also won a Prestige Award in 2021 for his services to Creative Arts Training and in 2022 was a winner in England's Business Awards for BEST CREATIVE ARTS BUSINESS.
He regularly puts out content for actors across social media platforms including Instagram @mattzinaacting Facebook @mattzinaacting Twitter @mzacting Snapchat @mattzina and TIKTOK @mattzina
Matt began acting at the age of 8 and has had a professional career spanning 22 years with roles in well-known TV productions such as 'Heartbeat', 'A Touch of Frost', 'Emmerdale', and 'Blood and Peaches'. It is from this career, working with some of the best actors the country has to offer, that he became aware of progressive acting techniques and began researching and specialising.
“For me, it was whilst working professionally that I was able to master modern acting techniques and able to understand the theory behind TV and Film acting techniques that casting directors demand.”
With a coaching record spanning 20+ years, he has trained well known actors and has led many people to be working in the industry in high-end Drama's, Adverts, Hollywood Films and Comedies. It is rare to watch TV and not see someone he has trained.
Matt is also an 'on-set' coach and has a CV working with professional actors on well-known productions for BBC/ITV and Films. His most recent production as the Performance and Dialect Coach has was selected for Cannes Film Festival and received a BAFTA nomination.
“Understanding the skill of acting for screen is a dedicated life long learning curve”
Matt has now developed the Trinity Acting Method, which is a specialist, pioneering method of acting training that he only teaches to his students at Matt Zina Acting.
Matt has also won a Prestige Award in 2021 for his services to Creative Arts Training and in 2022 was a winner in England's Business Awards for BEST CREATIVE ARTS BUSINESS.
He regularly puts out content for actors across social media platforms including Instagram @mattzinaacting Facebook @mattzinaacting Twitter @mzacting Snapchat @mattzina and TIKTOK @mattzina
Alan Shires (ADULTS/JR COACH)
Alan Shires is a British actor who lives in the US due to his busy acting schedule. Alan is also an exceptionally successful voice actor having voiced for countless companies including Krispy Kreme, Ford, Crunchyroll, and many others.
Having worked in the entertainment industry for 15 years he is an award-winning talent, MZA coach, and an excellent performer. His recent roles include 'Kevin' in the prolific video game 'Elmwood Trail', several on screen advertisements for Samsung, Nescafe and Shark and an upcoming role in the 4th season of amazon prime hit TV series 'Vindication'.
Working with clients all around the world for both on screen and voice acting Alan has an exceptional studio and working space and is utitising the art of connectivity making him a globally recognized talent.
Finally, having ran his own classes and having pioneered his own theatrical organisation we are proud to call Alan one of our teachers.
Having worked in the entertainment industry for 15 years he is an award-winning talent, MZA coach, and an excellent performer. His recent roles include 'Kevin' in the prolific video game 'Elmwood Trail', several on screen advertisements for Samsung, Nescafe and Shark and an upcoming role in the 4th season of amazon prime hit TV series 'Vindication'.
Working with clients all around the world for both on screen and voice acting Alan has an exceptional studio and working space and is utitising the art of connectivity making him a globally recognized talent.
Finally, having ran his own classes and having pioneered his own theatrical organisation we are proud to call Alan one of our teachers.
John Thacker (ADULTS/JR COACH)
John Thacker is an actor, writer, musician and facilitator from Manchester. He has been active since a young age on screen and stage, playing roles in various theatre productions, and film & television roles.
Studying his MA at the Academy of Live & Recorded Arts in Professional Acting. He is particularly passionate about diversity on our screens/stage and the representation of the LGBTQ+ community.
John is passionate about performers bringing their unique energy to their practice, and he encourages this through his teaching.
Alongside acting John works as a writer/director, his debut short screenplay 'Downward Seb' was directed by Vijay D. Varu and is currently in post-production aiming for a festival release in 2021. John also plays the title role of Seb. To produce the picture John teamed with up with successful production company Scene 97 , and subsequently co-produced by setting up with own production company Colour Me In Productions. John is working on a feature screenplay and collaborating on various short film screenplay projects. John recently directed his first short film ‘What She Said’ which is due for a release in summer 2023.
John also is an established singer/songwriter. For more information on his music please see: https://open.spotify.com/artist/74KiP3OYh1LItRtBvcSw3X?si=qQmWs0H0QSmGk5o_vdOIlw
For information on John’s performing credits, see: https://www.spotlight.com/0519-8943-3362. John is represented by Bodhi Talent.
Studying his MA at the Academy of Live & Recorded Arts in Professional Acting. He is particularly passionate about diversity on our screens/stage and the representation of the LGBTQ+ community.
John is passionate about performers bringing their unique energy to their practice, and he encourages this through his teaching.
Alongside acting John works as a writer/director, his debut short screenplay 'Downward Seb' was directed by Vijay D. Varu and is currently in post-production aiming for a festival release in 2021. John also plays the title role of Seb. To produce the picture John teamed with up with successful production company Scene 97 , and subsequently co-produced by setting up with own production company Colour Me In Productions. John is working on a feature screenplay and collaborating on various short film screenplay projects. John recently directed his first short film ‘What She Said’ which is due for a release in summer 2023.
John also is an established singer/songwriter. For more information on his music please see: https://open.spotify.com/artist/74KiP3OYh1LItRtBvcSw3X?si=qQmWs0H0QSmGk5o_vdOIlw
For information on John’s performing credits, see: https://www.spotlight.com/0519-8943-3362. John is represented by Bodhi Talent.
Stuart Piper (ADULTS/JR COACH)
Stuart has worked on most sides of the acting industry, first as a child to young adult actor, growing up on film sets from early childhood into his early 20’s (TV & film credits on IMDB). He appeared in feature films, TV series, in the West End, and on national tour.
In his mid 20’s he moved into theatre production (general managing and/or producing Pixie Lott in Breakfast at Tiffanys, Brian Dennehy in Death of a Salesman, Nicholas Hoult in New Boy all in the West End) and then worked as an agent for over a decade at Cole Kitchenn/InterTalent representing series regulars in Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife, a couple of Dame’s and even two of the Spice Girls!
He retired from agenting in 2018 to explore filmmaking while working in education. In Film, he has been a small part of two feature films as Executive Producer: The Time of Their Lives (Amazon Prime) starring Pauline Collins and Mrs Lowry & Son (Netflix) starring Timothy Spall. And in Education, he has directed & coached actors across the UK, and is delighted to join Matt Zina’s team having moved to Yorkshire to live nearer family, while becoming based at York St John University.
In his mid 20’s he moved into theatre production (general managing and/or producing Pixie Lott in Breakfast at Tiffanys, Brian Dennehy in Death of a Salesman, Nicholas Hoult in New Boy all in the West End) and then worked as an agent for over a decade at Cole Kitchenn/InterTalent representing series regulars in Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife, a couple of Dame’s and even two of the Spice Girls!
He retired from agenting in 2018 to explore filmmaking while working in education. In Film, he has been a small part of two feature films as Executive Producer: The Time of Their Lives (Amazon Prime) starring Pauline Collins and Mrs Lowry & Son (Netflix) starring Timothy Spall. And in Education, he has directed & coached actors across the UK, and is delighted to join Matt Zina’s team having moved to Yorkshire to live nearer family, while becoming based at York St John University.