home-growing talent
Making work with passion
At Knock & Nash, we don’t just train actors—we actively create the kind of film, TV, and theatre that we are deeply passionate about. Founded in Cumbria in 2019, we are now the leading part-time drama school for adults outside of London, with operations across Newcastle upon Tyne, Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool, and online.​
What makes us truly unique?
We are two things in one: a dynamic drama school offering world-class training, and a production house where we make work with passion—stories that matter, told by the people who live them. Our students don’t just 'learn to act' —they train alongside industry professionals who are actively producing film, TV shows, and theatre. Whether you're honing your craft in the classroom or stepping onto set, you're training in a real working environment with the latest Netflix-approved equipment and hands-on experience in authentic, passion-driven projects.
Our Mission: Expert Training and Practical, Hands-On Experience
At Knock & Nash, we believe that the best way to prepare for a career in acting is through practical, hands-on experience. That’s why, alongside our part-time drama school, we offer on-the-job training in a professional production environment. Our mission is to provide the highest quality actor training while also creating genuine opportunities to work on real-world projects—from film and TV productions to theatre and digital content.
We are committed to ensuring our students don’t just develop their craft—they gain the skills and industry connections necessary to succeed. Through immersive training and access to Netflix-approved equipment, students at Knock & Nash get the rare opportunity to learn and create at the same time, while being mentored by tutors who are practicing professionals in the industry.
The Drama School: Building Skills for a Successful Career
As a part-time drama school, we offer expert training for adult actors looking to develop their craft without relocating to London or sacrificing their daily lives. Our flexible courses are designed to fit around your schedule, offering professional-level training in acting, voice, movement, and screen technique.
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Our teaching is led by industry professionals who are not just tutors—they are active creators in the world of film, TV, and theatre. By training at Knock & Nash, you’ll learn from those who practice what they preach, ensuring you receive training that’s relevant, current, and rooted in the real demands of the industry.
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Our drama school offers:
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Part-time courses for working adults, both online and in-person
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Tailored workshops focused on practical skills
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1-1 Mentorship from active industry professionals
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On-the-job experience through our in-house productions
Our students have appeared in
The Production House: Where Art Meets Ambition
At Knock & Nash, we are committed to producing bold, innovative work that pushes the boundaries of film, TV, and theatre. As a production house, our goal is to create exceptional, high-quality art—work that stands out for its creativity, craftsmanship, and attention to detail.
We’re driven by the art of storytelling, and we strive to bring together the best regional talent to produce work that is bold and distinctive. Our productions are a celebration of artistic expression, where every frame, every performance, and every piece of dialogue is carefully considered and meticulously crafted.
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One of our most exciting and critically acclaimed projects is Pillock, a theatre production that won the ADHD Comedy Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This fast-paced, irreverent comedy has received five-star reviews for its sharp writing, raw energy, and outstanding lead performance.
Drama Schools and Universities: Bridging the Gap Between Training and Industry
In addition to our part-time drama school, Knock & Nash has a proven track record of delivering screen acting workshops to over 2000 students at secondary schools, sixth form colleges, and universities across the UK and internationally.
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We specialise in providing customised workshops, seminars, and programs that bridge the gap between actor training and industry entry. Through tailored workshops and collaborations with educational institutions, we help students gain the real-world experience and connections they need to transition successfully into the entertainment industry.​
Our services include:
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Bespoke workshops for drama schools and universities
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Showreel and showcase packages that help students stand out
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Collaborations with educational institutions to create specialised residencies
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Opportunities to work with industry professionals and develop their craft in live, working environments
If you're an educational institution interested in becoming one of our partners, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can offer students a unique pathway from training to industry.
The Knock & Nash Scholarship: Breaking Down Barriers to Entry
Access to high-quality actor training can be a significant financial barrier for many aspiring actors. That’s why we launched the Knock & Nash Scholarship in 2022—to support talented actors from working-class and low-income backgrounds. The scholarship covers tuition and living expenses, making it easier for those with financial need to access our world-class training and production opportunities.
Recipients of the Knock & Nash Scholarship not only receive financial assistance but are also given the opportunity to gain real-world experience and industry exposure through our training programs and professional projects. These selected actors—chosen for their exceptional promise—are supported in developing the skills and connections needed to launch their careers.
If you are interested in sponsoring this fund and helping us reach even more aspiring talent, please get in touch.
Independent Commissions: Tailored Solutions for Your Needs
At Knock & Nash, we provide a wide range of services for independent commissions, offering creative solutions that meet the specific needs of businesses, educational institutions, and organisations. Our expertise spans:
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Corporate Work: Crafting high-quality, impactful content for brands and businesses.
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Digital Content: Producing engaging video and media for online platforms, campaigns, and promotional purposes.
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Tailored Workshops: Designing bespoke workshops focused on skill development, creative expression, and team-building.
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CPD for Institutions: Delivering Continuing Professional Development programs for staff in areas like acting, creative practice, and digital media.
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Public Speaking: Offering training and coaching in effective public speaking, communication, and presentation skills for individuals or teams.
Meet the team
Jordan Tweddle (he/hiM)
FOunder and ceo
Jordan is an award-winning Actor, Director and Writer. He trained at the Manchester School of Theatre, and since graduating has worked across television, film and theatre. He is an established acting tutor having worked as a visiting professional in some of the UK's leading drama schools, as well as coaching actors in various workshops, summer schools and with the national youth theatre.
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He is recently completed filming for ITV'S Coronation street. His acting Credits Include: Steel (Theatre by The LAke and National Theatre Studio), BBC's First Homosexual, Wings (Theatre by the Lake), Don't Blame Jack (Winner: Best actor, top indie film awards and monkey bread tree film awards), Boys on Film: 20 (Peccadillo Pictures), No Traveller returns (Iron Pier Films), Frozen (Edinburgh fringe and Uk Tour), NAMELY HOMELY COMELY TIMELY (Maeve Rendle), and Canopy of stars (tRistan Bates Theatre).
Chris CHapman (he/hiM)
DOP and Media Producer
Chris primarily works on ITV’s BAFTA winning soap Emmerdale, where his decade long career has seen him become a key member of their small post production team.
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Chris currently holds the position of Media Producer, where he is responsible for the final output of the show's six episodes every week. He also works as a visiting lecturer on a couple of Masters courses at Salford University.
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In Chris' personal work, he has held a number of positions across a variety of subjects, from Colourist to Timelapse Artist to Product Photographer. He has a thorough understanding of video and photography production from start to finish; and often consults on creative projects for other creators. Chris regularly works on Dominic Brunt's feature films and in 2021 completed work on his latest film Evie, where Chris was responsible for the film's data management each day, along with behind the scenes photography.
Rachael Gill-Davis (she/her)
aCting COach
Rachael has been working as a professional actor for Nine years and is a graduate of The Manchester School Of Theatre, where she met Jordan.
Rachael is currently appearing as regular role Gail in ITV's Emmerdale. She has also appeared in ITV's Coronation Street and is soon to feature in the new Netflix series KAOS (Sister Pictures).
Rachael's theatre credits include: Much Ado about Nothing (HER Productions) CONTACT (Aria Productions/The Lowry), Women Of Aktion (Bent Architects), County Lines (The Brewery Arts Centre) D'Eon (Straight Acting Theatre Company), On Corporation Street (ANU Productions), Flirty Dancing (Fight Like a Girl) Ageless Mystery (The Studio Widnes) JB Shorts (Real-Life Theatre) and Chained Reaction; a one woman show that is planned to tour in 2023.
Ellie ROse (She/hEr)
Acting COach
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Ellie is a Welsh theatre director. She trained as an actor at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and Salford University.
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Ellie Directed our upcoming Short set for 2025 release: The Sky spread Over Everything
Director Credits include; Kill Thy Neighbour (AD, Theatr Clwyd) Broken (Contact Theatre), I Am Not A Robot (Oldham Coliseum Studio) The Looks Department (53Two), Squirrels (Portsmouth Guildhall), Meet Me At Dawn (Hope Mill Theatre), Tangled & Wildfires (Vignettes, 22 & 21), Mortgage (David Glass Ensemble, AD), The Well (Salford Arts Theatre), When I Grow Up To Be A Man (The Lowry Studio). She teaches at drama institutions across the UK and is an associate artist of Created A Monster Theatre.