English-born and professionally trained at drama conservatories in London, Vanessa is an award-winning actor, voice specialist and director. Prior to moving to the U.S 17 years ago, Vanessa taught on many of the U.K.’s most prestigious theatre programs directing productions from Shakespeare to Sondheim. Since moving to San Diego, she has directed Purcell’s opera Dido & Aeneas (Bodhi Tree Concerts), Sofonisba by Callie Kimball (The Eastern Theatre Group), Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest and Sondheim's Follies: in Concert (Coronado Playhouse), Katie Luther: the Opera (EveryDay Opera), Much Ado About Music (San Diego Symphony Orchestra), Beatrice The Butterfly (North Coast Rep. Theatre School), The Shakespeare Musicale, Shakespeare at the Opera, Shakespeare Faves & Raves (San Diego Shakespeare Society), Love Letters (Peninsula Pops!), and assisted on Shockheaded Peter (Cygnet Theatre) and Public Enemy (New Fortune Theatre) to name but a few. Some notable U.K. productions include Desperately Seeking an Audience, Women Beware Women, A... My Name Is Alice, Love, My Sister in This House, Closer Than Ever, Macbeth, and As You Like It. Vanessa has also directed many fundraiser performances and student performances for youth theatre companies.