Vivienne Smart - President

Vivienne Smart is the President of The College Players and The VIVA Youth Theatre. She has trained to teach Drama but says she is still trying to put all the theory into practice. She has been a star of the stage since the age of six (a few years ago now!) and can't give it up. Live theatre (Pro or Amdram) is a great stimulant.

 Janis English - Chairman

Chairman of The College Players, joined the Soham group in 1991 following the demise of The Burwell College Players having been a member there since 1974. Occasionally found working backstage, but usually performing. Has acted in many different roles from Shakespeare to Jean-Paul Sartre to Noel Coward, Favourite part so far, playing Toad in "The Wind in the Willows".

 Judy Heath

Judy is a founder member of VIVA Youth Theatre, a committee Member of The College Players and produces VIVA's shows She is the organisational force in VIVA and deals with all of our administration. Judy is no stranger to amateur dramatics and has taken many lead roles in local productions. She has an MSc and works in the finance department of Soham Village College.

 Malcolm & Doreen Spears

Malcolm and Doreen Spears first met playing husband and wife in a production with another company. They have been with the players since 1986 and have also lent their daughters too.

 Dan Schunmann

Founder, leader and Director of Viva Youth Theatre. Attends The Central School of Speech and Drama training as an Actor and Director. He has been a member and committee member of The Soham College Players, Newmarket Operatic Musical and Dramatic Society, Campaign Amateur Theatre and The Pied Pipers. Dan has worked with many professional Actors and Directors including Prunella Scales, Jimmy Cricket, Roy Hudd and Jeremy James Taylor (Director of the National Youth Musical Theatre). Dan has written and Directed many Productions and has performed in many theatres from the Arts Theatre in Cambridge to The Minack Open Air Theatre in Cornwall., his pantomime scripts are also to be published in the near future. He is a school manager for Imagination Theatre School and is directing shows in The Millennium Dome for the school.

 Angela Miller

Angela has a BSc, an MSc and PhD and works in the West End of London . She is a very experienced actress and has appeared in both amateur and professional shows. Angela has been a member and served on the committee of many Drama groups and is a Leader/Director and Stage Manager of the VIVA Youth Theatre.

 Jennie Roberts

Jennie has been a major part of the VIVA Youth Theatre drama education group from it's beginnings in 1997. She has just graduated with a 2:1 honours degree in Media Studies and Journalism and is now the editor of a magazine for a regional charity. She is a very experienced actress and director in Amateur and Semi-Professional theatre. Jennie had a regular column in The Ely Standard and has also written for The Cambridge Evening News and The Newmarket Journal. She has also worked with The National Youth Music Theatre and other professional theatre companies.

 Amanda Cousins

With her charming smile and winning personality Amanda Cousins was the perfect choice for the role of Cinderella. Though still a young woman she has a wealth of acting experience both within the College Players and further a field. Away from acting she is a talented linguist, speaking French, German and Spanish, and is also a person to know if you are unwell, being both a qualified dispenser and a keen student of homeopathy.