Natalie Katzler

Co-Founder & Head of Drama

I am a fully qualified primary school teacher with experience teaching music and drama, and class teaching experience across the key stages, between ages 5-11.

Theatre arts and involvement in plays, musicals and bands has been an incredibly positive and influential feature of my life, from my own primary school years to now.

The sense of community, commitment, friendship and confidence that builds through being part of a show, from class plays, to big stage shows, is a beautiful and powerful thing. The skills that we develop and the connections we make through theatre arts, whether backstage, on stage, or out at the front directing and cheering on our team, are invaluable and reap benefits for our health in so many ways, physically and mentally.

In terms of combining the arts and education - literacy skills are so beautifully developed through performance. Storytelling, reading, writing and speaking skills are all naturally woven in, from reading or writing scripts to speaking or singing in front of an audience. Children learn to find their voice in so many ways.

I’m so grateful for every creative project I’ve been involved in and I am excited for all of the new ones to come with Rise.