About Us | Ryder Academi

Principal - Craig Ryder

I am so proud to say that Ryder Academi has come back bigger and stronger after lockdown! Our new timetable aims to be more inclusive than ever before.

Over the past ten years I have been incredibly proud of all of our students. Together we've produced plays, musicals, pantomimes, concerts, dance pieces, short films and verbatim theatre, to great acclaim.

Our students have gone on to have professional careers in the industry as actors, singers, dancers and make-up artists. We are equally as proud of our students who have gone on to be teachers, solicitors, managers, shop assistants or any career in which they have excelled with confidence and pride in themselves.

We have always provided a safe space for every child to be themselves.

To play; to create; to learn; to grow; to take risks; "to be who you want to be..."

It is a very special process to watch a young person grow in confidence... the ability to be confident can only serve us positively in life.

As a young boy I was so fortunate to have my teacher Mrs Ostle to inspire me and make me believe that anything was possible. I like to pass this on to my students.

I won't personally promise any parent or guardian that I can teach their child to sing, dance or act to a West End standard; or promise them that their child will be a big star. But I do promise that by sharing my knowledge of the Arts it will give your child positivity, reassurance and confidence in day to day life.

"If I can get from Llanrwst to the West End, then so can you..."

TRAINING: NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE OF WALES & LIVERPOOL INSTITUTE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS (LIPA)

A former pupil of Ysgol Bro Gwydir and Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy, Craig Ryder is a multifaceted creative who has worked over the last 20 years as an actor, director, writer, producer and teacher. He has a wealth of experience across TV, Film and Theatre, in both English and Welsh language.

Craig is currently in the West End production of Moulin Rouge - The Musical!

Having trained as a performer at The Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts (LIPA), Craig went on to perform in many West End productions such as 'Bat Out of Hell', ‘We Will Rock You’ and the original West End cast of ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert'. Craig played Khashoggi in the UK touring production of ‘We Will Rock You’, and closed the UK and European touring production of ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’ playing Tick at the Menora Arena in Tel Aviv.

More recently he played Bill Austin in a new production of Mamma mia in Cyprus. He has performed all over the world onboard Cruise ships.

Alongside theatre, Craig has appeared in both film and television. This includes the second series of "We Hunt together" and the Welsh soap ‘Pobol Y Cwm’ where he played series regular Dylan. He played Dafydd in the welsh drama ‘Caerdydd’. He also appeared in two series of ‘Tim Talent’ and was a Guest Actor in Channel 4’s ‘Paradise Hotel’.

Feature films include galloping around the Welsh mountains as Sir Percival in Dragons of Camelot (Titan Global Entertainment). Other films also include David Redgrave in The Indian Bride (FFP New Media) and David in Five Days in August (JNP)

Craig’s voice can also be heard on a range of the ‘Talking Books’ for the RNIB and he has also enjoyed voicing projects for BBC Radio 4.