Ross Doodson

Owner & Director / TACT Founder

Ross has produced, directed and musically directed close to 200 productions over the past 20 years. Ross’ specialisms are musical theatre, music education and educational leadership. Ross is the owner of The Arts Centre Telford, and was one of the three TACT founders in 2010.

Ross is a qualified teacher (QTS), who also holds a Licentiate Diploma from London College of Music (LLCM), a Fellowship from the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), and the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH).

Ross is an experienced artistic and musical director. For a decade, Ross was an Associate Musical Director and regular vocal coach for Aberystwyth Arts Centre, one of the largest and leading arts centres in the UK. Ross was Musical Director for the Oakengates Youth Summer Project for 8 years. Ross has also been a guest MD for Simply Theatre, Switzerland’s premier English speaking theatre academy, as well as several other theatre companies in the West Midlands. Ross has conducted choirs and orchestras across Shropshire and is the founder of Voices in Partnership, a musical theatre and vocal harmony company, which is one of TACT’s flagship performance outlets.

For many years, Ross ran a busy timetable of private singing students. Ross’ students achieved outstanding examination success and many were successful in obtaining places at prestigious stage schools in London and across the UK following audition preparation with Ross. It is with enormous pride that Ross can report that his former students have gone on significant professional success, with several performers currently appearing in West End productions, UK tours, cruise ships across the World, and in regional theatre.

Musical direction credits include: West Side Story; The Phantom of the Opera; Children of Eden; Songs for a New World; Sweeney Todd; Les Miserables; A New Brain; The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe; Merrily We Roll Along; Fame the Musical; Oliver!; Seussical the Musical; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat; Jane Eyre the Musical; I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change; High School Musical; Into The Woods; The Addams Family; Scrooge the Musical; Annie; The Wizard of Oz; Cats; Bad Girls; 9 to 5; Back to the 80s; Disco Inferno; Beauty & the Beast; Guys & Dolls; A Slice of Saturday Night; Bugsy Malone; Sister Act; Peter Pan; Just So; Little Shop of Horrors; Godspell; Our House; Working; Grease; All Shook Up; A Chorus Line & Sweet Charity.

By day, Ross is the Deputy Headteacher at a secondary academy in Walsall, where he has strategic responsibility for Quality of Education (Teaching & Learning, Curriculum & Professional Development). Ross was previously Director of Performing Arts at the academy for over a decade and when he was Head of Music, his department boasted one of the largest school choirs in the region, which won national competitions and performed at several high profile events across the country. Prior to life in Walsall, Ross was Music Coordinator at a Telford school for 2 years. Ross has also worked as a Music Education Consultant and has provided interim and advisory leadership support for secondary school music departments in the Midlands.

Ross is an experienced school governor and is proud to be Chair of Governors at Millfield Primary School and a Governor of the Cadmus Federation of Schools. Ross has previously served as Chair of Governors at Alumwell Junior School and Newport Infant School, and has been a Governor at Jerome Primary School and Muxton Primary School.

Ross is excited to be heading up a new TACT leadership team from September 2024 and encourages performers and supporters to get in touch to see how they can be involved.