Oxford

Meet Benjamin Ashton!

Benjamin is thrilled to take on the role of Co-Principal at Razzmatazz Theatre School Oxford, after a year as a teacher. He looks forward to sharing his passion for the performing arts and fostering the growth of young talent.

Benjamin has performed in musical theatre since the age of four. Previous roles include Tony (West Side Story), Eddie (Funny Girl), Lawrence (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), and Che (Evita) for which he received a District NODA Award for Best Male character in a Musical. Production credits include choreographing Little Shop of Horrors and directing Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.

He has also done supernumerary work in various operas and in the 2017 Evita national tour. Benjamin has been working as a teacher for 8 years having taught at various arts schools across Oxford. Benjamin also serves as the Development and Licensing Officer for Oxford Operatic Society.

Benjamin has extensive Musical Theatre Training, including an ATCL Diploma in Musical Theatre, a Shakespeare Bronze award from The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and a Grade 8 in Performance Arts. Benjamin holds a B.A. in Italian with Polish from the University of Oxford.

Meet Rachel Shrader!

After four years of teaching at Razzmatazz Oxford, Rachel is excited to embark on he rnew journey a Co-Principal. Bringing with her a wealth of experience and a deep passion for the art, Rachel is looking forward to growing the warm and passionate community she has come to know and love a Razzmatazz Theatre Schools Oxford.

Rachel began her professional arts career at nine years old and over 18 years has performed across mediums ranging from musical theatre (Ragtime, Anything Goes, Willy Wonka),theme park entertainment (Walt Disney World, Busch Gardens Williamsburg) and 5 US National Tours. Rachel is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA.

Rachel studied the Royal Academy of Dance curriculum and achieved her Advanced Foundation Certificate in 2019, and has been teaching for 12 years across the US, Canada, and now the UK. She is an American Ballet Theatre Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3. She has a B.Th in Theological Studies from The University of Oxford.