EXPRESSIVE ARTS TEACHERS
TEACHING WITH EXPERIENCE AND HEART.
Sarah Allen
Sarah has been producing, directing and choreographing musicals across Limerick, Tipperary, Clare and Cork for over 15 years. She holds a Licentiate (LLCM) in Musical Theatre Performance and an Associate (ALCM) in Classical Voice from the London College of Music training under Emma English at the Limerick School of Music. On top of this Sarah also holds a Master’s degree in Music and Mathematics Education.
Sarah’s passion for the performing arts began during her 14 years as a student at Expressive Arts Theatre School. Since then, she has become a familiar face on stage, performing with many leading musical theatre societies with credits including the title role in Snow White and Wendy in Peter Pan with Limerick Panto Society; Ermengarde in Hello, Dolly! and Francisca in West Side Story with Cecilians Musical Society; Jennyanydots in CATS with Mary Immaculate Dramatic Arts Society (MIDAS); and performances with MUSE Productions Shannon and Limerick Musical Society.
During the 2022/23 Christmas season, Sarah appeared in the Lime Tree Theatre’s first fully professional pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk.
In 2023, Sarah founded SASS – Sarah Allen Stage School in Scariff. The school has gone from strength to strength, welcoming over 100 students in its first year and quickly establishing itself as a thriving home for young performers Clare.
Sarah is delighted to be returning to Expressive Arts as Artistic Director — although, in many ways, her heart never truly left.
Expressive Arts has been such a special part of her life for many years, filled with wonderful memories, friendships and a love of performing that has stayed with her throughout everything she has gone on to do.
Ciara Meade
Ciara is hugely popular with our students who really enjoy her classes and her constant encouragement and skill helps them to blossom.
She is an accomplished singer and highly qualified vocal coach who holds an M.A in Community Music from U.L Most of us will have heard the RTE ads and seen the many posters throughout the region promoting the wonderful work Ciara does with lung compromised sufferers and her Sing Strong for Lung Health choir which featured on Nationwide earlier this year.
A professional who has performed both nationally and internationally, on stages from Bunratty Castle to the 3 Arena with artists such as An Emotional Fish and the Irish Chamber Orchestra.
James Corr
James is a graduate of the BA in Contemporary and Applied Theatre Studies (BACATS) programme at Mary Immaculate College, graduating in 2021. He has been involved in theatre and film throughout Limerick and beyond from a very early age, working both on and off the stage across a variety of roles.
James grew up immersed in theatre, his parents having first met in the Cecilian Musical Society production, and being members of Limerick Panto Society, he hardly had a choice!
A past pupil of Expressive Arts, three years old James “auditioned” for his place in front of May and Pearl after being inspired by watching his older brother perform on stage. He continued with Expressive Arts throughout his school years, completing his Leaving Certificate before returning on numerous occasions as a workshop facilitator, substitute teacher and stage manager for productions in both Limerick and the sister school in Ennis.
James made his professional theatrical debut with Honest Arts’ production of Waiting for Poirot, before making his television debut in RTÉ’s Hidden Assets. Since then, he has worked extensively across theatre, film and television, as well as in directing, producing, facilitation and theatre education.
For the past five years, James has worked professionally as a performer with the Lime Tree Theatre on their annual Pantomime. He has also performed and directed with local Limerick theatre collectives Goose Chase and Weird Gravy. James had also been involved in a number of productions with both the Torch Players and College Players as a performer and technician. After a number of freelance years he has also began as a house tech for the University Concert Hall.
Since 2024, James has directed and produced the Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh Transition Year production. Each year, the project involved the development and staging of an original two-act jukebox musical, working collaboratively with students and the wider creative team from the early development stages through to performance.
Alongside his professional theatre work, James has worked as a drama facilitator, delivering drama education and workshops to a range of schools and organisations, including UL Drama Soc. He has also worked with Emerging Limerick Filmmakers in a variety of departments, supporting and mentoring emerging filmmakers across their projects.
Expressive Arts holds a very special and sentimental place in James’ life, making his return as a full-time teacher a particularly meaningful full-circle moment. He is delighted to begin this new chapter and hopes to pass on the same love of theatre, creativity and performance that he discovered at Expressive Arts to the next generation of young performers.
Grace Burke
Grace Burke is a performing arts teacher and choreographer from Limerick, working with young performers across Limerick, Clare, Tipperary and Cork. Incredibly passionate about theatre, Grace also teaches with Frontline Stage School, Stage Arts Academy and SASS – Sarah Allen Stage School.
As well as teaching and choreographing, Grace is an experienced and exceptional performer herself. She has appeared in the Lime Tree Theatre’s professional annual pantomime productions of Aladdin and His Magic Lamp (2023), Rapunzel (2024) and Red Riding Hood (2025).
Grace has also been involved with a number of musical societies, both onstage and behind the scenes, including Shannon Musical Society, East Clare Musical Society, MUSE Productions and MIDAS – Mary I Dramatic Arts Society.
This past year, she performed in Come From Away with Shannon Musical Society and Rent with MUSE Productions. Both productions enjoyed fantastic success at the annual AIMS Awards, taking home multiple trophies, including Best Overall Show in both categories and Best Ensemble.
Grace brings a wonderful combination of performance experience, creativity and enthusiasm for working with young people, and she is so excited for the year ahead.