About

I’m Evelyn Shaw, founder of Next Stage Theatre School, a drama teacher and actor from Naas. After graduating with a BA in Drama and English from Trinity College Dublin in 2011, I trained in Musical Theatre at Guildford School of Acting, gaining an MA.  Thirteen years ago, I founded Summer Stage, the hugely successful series of performing arts camps, which ran in locations around Dublin, Kildare and Meath.  In 2018, I set up Next Stage as a response to requests from parents, and because I am passionate about providing high quality, affordable, inclusive performing arts training for all children.

I began teaching drama sixteen years ago at schools in Ireland and the UK such as George McMahon’s Performing Arts Academy, Theatretrain, Stagecoach, PQA and Dublin Stage School.  I also regularly facilitate dance and drama workshops for groups with special needs, and direct primary school musicals and shows.  I am, of course, Garda Vetted.

As an actor, theatre credits include Romeo and Juliet, Fantastic Mr Fox, James and the Giant Peach and The Twits (all at Mill Theatre Dundrum) Pride and Prejudice (UK / Ireland tour) A Midsummer Night’s Dream (UK / Ireland tour), The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark (UK tour / DUCTAC Theatre, Dubai), Testimonies (Smock Alley Theatre Dublin), and the  Christmas pantos Robin Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella and Aladdin (all at Mill Theatre Dundrum).  Most recently, I appeared in Little Red Riding Hood last Christmas at the Mill Theatre.