Hi, I’m Jude.
Founder & Teacher

I originally founded Speaking Works in 2012 to give children confidence in speaking. I wanted to run something different to a stage school where pupils wouldn’t get lost and could gain confidence in speaking.

Whilst setting up the business I worked as a peripatetic (visiting private) drama teacher at two fantastic independent schools in Hertfordshire and a drama specialist in a pre-prep school.

Before setting up in the UK I lived and worked in Hong Kong for 2 years heading up the English and Drama departments at a learning centre. Whilst there I introduced drama exams from The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). That learning centre is now the representative for LAMDA in Hong Kong.

I am also a trained Voice Coach for adults. I hold a LAMDA Diploma in Speech & Drama in Education, an MA in Voice Studies (RCSSD), and a BA in English Literature.

Meet the Team

Ella Dunlop

Finding Voices Online
Ella has a first class BA (Hons) degree in Acting from Rose Bruford College. Alongside her acting career, she has been teaching children and young people since 2020, covering LAMDA exam preparation, confidence building and public speaking. Ella also has experience running workshops for young people in SEN schools, through work with the theatre company Now In A Minute. Ella also specialises in coaching for college/drama school auditions.
As an actor, Ella has worked across stage and screen since 2013. Theatre venues highlights include: Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre, York Theatre Royal and Mercury Theatre, Colchester. For screen: BBC, CBBC, Netflix, ITV and Apple TV.
Ella has an enhanced DBS check.
Lauren Cesena (left)

Head of Herts & Online
Lauren graduated from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama where she studied Drama, Applied Theatre and Education. During her degree, she worked with young people, directing GCSE students, assisting with musical theatre workshops and regularly running drama workshops for primary ages.
Lauren joined Finding Voices (previously Speaking Works) as a volunteer in 2013 and we are proud to have been part of Lauren’s journey. Lauren now works for several diffirent companies as a self-employed speech and drama teacher alongside working as a peripatetic LAMDA teacher at St Albans High School for girls.
Lauren has an enhanced DBS check.
Georgie Murphey

Finding Voices Online
Georgie is from a village in Gloucestershire and is passionate about theatre and performance for young people. She's really excited to join Finding Voices as a LAMDA Tutor!
Recently, she worked with children's theatre company Slot Machine Theatre on their magical puppetry show Miki (Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, 2023).
Outside of theatre, Georgie enjoys yoga, long walks and loves reading. She hopes that her students all feel happy and supported on their journey to taking LAMDA Exams.