Kate Smith

I am a dynamic and energetic individual trained in theatre and drama with an expansive background in performance related roles ranging from sales and customer service to acting and teaching. I have spent the last nine years living and working in Italy teaching English and Theatre and have gained invaluable experience both professionally and personally, including learning to speak Italian fluently as a second language. However, after much deliberation, I have decided to return to my roots in Newcastle upon Tyne where I am looking to start a new chapter in my professional career. I have two UK degrees in theatre studies and a Cambridge certificate in teaching English to speakers of other languages, though I would like to change career paths. My ideal situation would be to work within a performance-based role wherein I have the opportunity to utilize my second language on a daily basis. I am an incredibly passionate and industrious person, taking pride in my work no matter how big or small the task, and I endeavour to build a strong rapport with my colleagues and clients.

I have spent the last nine years teaching English through theatre both in schools and as a freelancer to children and adults throughout Italy. I started out as an actress touring a repertoire of English-language shows in schools and theatre across the country from which I was then promoted to senior actor, writer and assistant to the artistic director. I have successfully co-ordinated and carried out many projects such as English summer camps, music projects, talent shows, and end of year proms to name a few. I am an excellent project planner and co-ordinator and worked hard to ensure that all of my creative projects were brought to fruition for the benefit of my students.

Before my time in Italy I worked in London for two years following a path in project co-ordinating/sales and marketing for various companies including Konstructa (Portakabin Group) and Giant Group. I developed many skills within these performance-based roles which involved meeting targets, creating new clients as well as taking care of existing clients. Konstructa was a particularly interesting role as it was within the construction industry and I took part in site visits and drawing up installation plans for the client.

I have a Masters Degree in Performance Practice, a type of theatre where I explored and developed my own theatre practice as an artist heavily focused on engaging in an experimental laboratory fuelled by theory and research. I also have a Bachelors Degree in Drama and Scriptwriting and a CELTA certificate in teaching English as a foreign language.