Key Personalities

Michelle was born in Glasgow and emigrated to Sydney, Australia when she was six. For as long as she can remember she has loved the performing arts, compelling her sisters and friends to perform in her devised shows and staging them in any space that could be conceived as a mini theatre. Her family returned to live in the south of England when she was fourteen where she continued her education and performing arts training.

At sixteen, whilst still a student, Michelle began working for the family’s hotel and theatre businesses in the Torbay and Bournemouth areas. She choreographed her first professional summer season show, aged eighteen, at the Carlton Theatre, Teignmouth. She graduated from Exeter University with a Bachelor of Education (Theatre Arts). Shortly after she was selected to represent the UK as a “Cultural Ambassador” during the inaugural year of Disney World’s EPCOT Centre in Florida. Here she performed and devised Renaissance street theatre shows with SAK Theatre Company and also performed at state Renaissance Festivals and the New Orleans World Expo. Once back in the UK, she re-joined the family business, founding Majestic Holidays Limited with her father. When the business re-located to South Wales, after purchasing the former Butlins resort (Barry Island), she took the decision to remain in the Bournemouth area and pursue her own career as a teacher/director. During this time, Michelle also enjoyed performing and played several principal roles with BBLOC at the Pavilion Theatre. She directed and choreographed numerous concerts and musicals for both BBLOC and the original Big Little Theatre Company., including directing the award winning BBLOC production of Mr Cinders (Best Musical – South Coast). Whilst teaching at St Thomas Garnet School, she created her first theatre school business, Guy’s School of Performing Arts. A few years later she began Big Little Youth Theatre, which she co-founded with Colin Billing. In May 2003 she combined both businesses to form Big Little Theatre School Limited and later in 2008 she registered the company as a “Not for Profit” organisation, which appropriately reflected the ethos of the organisation. For the past 33 years, Michelle has lived in Ringwood with her husband, Nick, and three (now grown up) sons.

In December 2021, after twenty five years, Michelle retired, as sole director and School Principal and she is delighted that the future of Big Little Theatre School is in the immensely capable hands of Colin Billing and his vibrant team. She feels privileged to have worked with the wide and diverse range of talented staff, volunteers, associate creatives and professional advisors, who have shared her passion and supported her vision for “enabling personal excellence through performance” in young people. She continues to be part of the Big Little teaching team as head of “Acting for Examinations” She was accepted onto the Board of Examiners for LAMDA in 2017 and looks forward to continuing her work as examiner in the UK and abroad.

On becoming the Alumni Ambassador for the BIGLITTLE Arts Support Trust Michelle said “The creation of the BIGLITTLE Arts Support Trust – BLAST, is an exciting new development for the BIGLITTLE community, at large. I am delighted to be involved in my role as Honorary Ambassador for the Alumni. I am immensely grateful to each and every one of BIGLITTLE’s graduate students who have continue to support and promote all that we believe in. It’s inspiring to hear about the diverse range of careers and interests that our former students have followed, and how their BIGLITTLE experience helped them on their way. I look forward to now having the time to connect with as many of our grads as possible, to hear more about what everyone is up to and also to invite as many grads as possible to the exciting events that BLAST are planning in the near future.”

Bio and picture to follow

My life in theatre began at an early age as both my parents (Jean and Fred Wood) were singers and active members of Sale Operatic Society – now renamed Sale and Altrincham Musical Theatre. Not surprisingly I joined as soon as I was old enough!  Having a tenor and a soprano for parents I found my range as a contralto!  Thus we were able to rehearse many numbers together at home. I met my husband Graham, in this society too.

I was on stage for many shows until I started my family.  Then followed many years of backstage work with SOS but also with other local theatre companies such as NOMADS and North Cheshire Operatic Society.  I was primarily working props but was also set building, ASM as well as being a member of the various committees, helping the societies administratively.

When my husband and I decided to move south, following career changes, We ended up becoming involved with several local operatic societies, including BBLOC, Poole and Parkstone O.S, Brownsea Open Air Theatre, ImpAct Theatre,  and especially Big Little Theatre Company.  This latter was a new group and included many young theatre and musical addicts  who needed an outlet for their talents. It was here that I met and became friends with so many people who have gone on to professional careers in musical theatre.  Again, I was involved with backstage tasks, including props and stage management, costume and sound.  I’ve been known to open curtains and haul on the ropes for set changes, and brace and weight the flats too. Not used so much in this day and age!

I continued my friendship with many BIGLITTLE members, and when the principles decided to launch their Theatre School I enjoyed helping them with their productions backstage, as well as being part of the Friends group and a Patron.   A period of three years living and working in Los Angeles left me without theatre or singing ( except that which I could buy tickets for!) and I couldn’t wait to get back to it when I returned. So back to Big Little Theatre School and more fabulous and challenging weeks  backstage at the Pavilion, and other venues locally.  Latterly as part of the sound team, fitting radio mics. Nothing can compare with the buzz of more than 200 children and teenagers on stage and having to swap out 20 mics ( headsets, mic packs, pouches, and batteries) in a strict excel spreadsheet schedule so that they all got their solos mic’d up.

The year and more of lockdown and isolation only served to make me realise just how much I miss being a part of a society and once we were able to get back to live theatre again without the restrictions, I re-joined BBLOC to help with their recent productions, whilst still maintaining my longstanding relationship with BIGLITTLE, by way of the Hospitality group, donations and patron-ship and Front of House assistance.

So that’s a bit about me…