Five minutes with... Mrs Jane Parker, Director of Drama and Theatre at King's Ely from September 2024

Mrs Jane Parker has joined King's Ely as our new Director of Drama and Theatre.

As we do with all new staff joiners, we fired our 'Five Minutes With...' questions at Mrs Parker as a fun way for you all to get to know her a little better. Enjoy!

Your full name:

Jane Parker  

Where did you grow up?

Exmouth in Devon.  

Education:
  
Exmouth Community College (for GCSEs and A-Levels). 
Rose Bruford College (for a degree in Acting). 
University of Plymouth (for my PGCE in Drama). 

Your previous role and place of work: 

Director of Performance at Impington Village College.  

What are you most looking forward to about your new role and working at King’s Ely? 

Continuing the excellent provision of Drama and Theatre, and directing and producing shows in the Hayward Theatre. 

What did you want to be when you were growing up? 

An actress or a drama teacher.  

Hobbies/interests outside of school: 

Gardening, interior design, and going to the theatre (of course!). 

Any pets? 

Two beautiful Ragdoll cats (Nala and Simba), five chickens and two ducks (Betty, Mabel, Belina, Maud, Ethel, Daisy and Dotty!). 

What is your favourite meal/food? 

Cheese, cheese, and more cheese! 

If you could have a superpower, what would it be? 

To be able to morph into different people everyday and have fun playing lots of different characters. 

Who is your hero?

My mum.

What is your proudest accomplishment? 

I have not got a proudest accomplishment but I do pride myself on being a very positive person, and it is incredibly rare to find me in a bad mood.  

What was the last book you read?

'Stolen Focus' by Johann Hari.

What song are you most likely to sing at a karaoke? 

'Valerie' by Amy Winehouse every time. 

What is your favourite film?

'True Romance' by Quentin Tarantino.  

Do you have any phobias or fears?

Heights – I simply cannot stand on the edge of anything high!

If you could share a meal with any four individuals, living or dead, who would they be? 

Daisy May Cooper, James Corden, Steve Pemberton, and Ricky Gervais. All incredible comedy writers/actors, and I would probably laugh my way through the meal.  

Name three things you would want with you if stranded on a desert island for a week: 

Some sun cream, a sun bed, and a good book!