About Us
English Theatre Düsseldorf was founded in January 2018 by Rosie Thorpe (UK) and Ilya Parenteau (USA).
Our mission is to bring professional English-language theatre to international audiences, provide cultural experiences, encourage cultural exchange, and promote arts appreciation and expression for all ages.
English Theatre Düsseldorf supports Düsseldorf and NRW's cultural scene through the arts. We do this by collaborating with international artists, offering a diverse season of new and international plays, and empowering our community with theatre workshops for adults and children.
WHO WE ARE
ROSIE THORPE
Artistic Director
Born and raised in Kent, England, Rosie trained as a professional actor at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB). Since graduating in 2010, she has mainly worked in theatre, touring in Germany, Austria, and the UK with companies like Selladoor Theatre, Vienna’s English Theatre, and White Horse Theatre. This experience inspired her to create her own company, English Theatre Düsseldorf. Rosie also works in voiceover.
ILYA PARENTAU
Co-Artistic Director
Ilya from Chicago, USA, is a professional actress, director, and drama teacher. She studied ballet at Robert Joffrey’s American Ballet Center in NYC and the Ellis-DuBoulay School of Ballet in Chicago and went on to study theatre at the University of Utah, SLC, the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and the Circle in the Square in NYC. Her credits include Shakespeare plays, like "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" with PlayMaker’s Repertory Co., and film, "Footloose" with Paramount Pictures, and musicals like "Cats" with the Really Useful Co. in Zürich, CH.
VIVS TAKAHASHI
Education Administration & Theatre Pedadogue
Vivs Takahashi, from São Paulo, Brazil, is a singer, actress, and drama teacher. With extensive experience in theatre, musicals, and voiceover, she combined her acting and English skills to teach drama at Red Balloon and Cultura Inglesa in Brazil. She later became assistant coordinator of the Red Balloon Drama Group, planning lessons, training teachers, and managing productions. Now in Germany, Vivs works as a workshop leader, actress and head of education for the English Theatre Düsseldorf.
OUR WORKSHOP LEADERS
SOPHIE LUKER
Originally from London, England, Sophie is an Actress and teacher of Theatre/Dance and English. She studied Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies at Roehampton University, England. Sophie worked in London for several years in Theatre, Films and radio plays before having the pleasure to travel and teach Theatre abroad in America, Australia, Middle East, Singapore and now Germany. Sophie is currently teaching Theatre at the International School on the Rhine in Neuss (ISR) and in several Kindergartens and Language schools throughout Dusseldorf.
HANNAH NUTTALL
Hannah Nuttall is a Drama teacher as well as a professional actress and singer, originally from Essex, England. She trained at London School of Musical Theatre, and has been working professionally in the industry for 10 years. She is also LAMDA trained, with Gold Level Acting (Duologue) and Verse and Pros. Hannah has been teaching performing arts within local drama schools for over 12 years, working with children aged 4 to 18. Her strengths lie in Musical Theatre, as well as drama and singing workshops.
VANESSA HARTMANN
Vanessa grew up in Romford, England and in southern Germany. She got her BA in Musical Theatre in 2010 from Buckinghamshire New University. Since then she has been working as a theatre and screen performer as well as a teacher in various countries. Vanessa first started teaching when she joined the Pauline Quirke Academy in 2015, teaching Drama. Since she has been in Düsseldorf she taught Drama at the International School Düsseldorf next to performing herself and currently gives Performance Training for singers at the Singers' Institute in Düsseldorf. Vanessa joined the ETD in 2020 when she performed in the musical 'Cinderella' and is now teaching 'Musical Theatre' classes there.
JOHANNA SCHOLTISSEK
Johanna is a bilingual theatre pedagogue from Essen with over a decade of experience in youth work, theatre, and education. She began working with children and teens at fourteen and made pedagogy her profession. With a background in acting, she studied education and English at the University of Duisburg-Essen, joining an English drama group during her studies. Later, she trained in theatre pedagogy and clownery at the Akademie off-Theater nrw, where she developed a passion for directing and performance art. Johanna is dedicated to exploring new ideas and perspectives through her work.
DEVON NICKEL
Devon is a theatre workshop leader and actor. He hails from Phoenix, Arizona, USA. His acting work extends across regional theatre and tours, to world premiers. His favourite roles include Alan Strang in "Equus" (Phoenix New Times Best Actor), Huckleberry Finn in "Big River" (Arizona Best Actor-Musical Nomination), Leo Joseph-Connell in "4000 Miles", Arles/etc. in "Greater Tuna", and John McClain in "Die Hard Christmas" with a company near and dear to his heart, All Puppet Players.
MARIANNE EILERS GONZÁLEZ
Marianne grew up in Viña del Mar, Chile, and earned a degree in Arts and Humanities at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, focusing on the Theory and Practice of the Scene. She later completed an MFA in Directing for Stage and Screen in London, where she gained experience in various theatre roles. Her recent play, Alerta, premiered in 2023 at the Bread and Roses Theatre. Now based in Düsseldorf, Marianne is exploring teaching opportunities with the ETD, focusing on empowering artists through diverse, inclusive, and multicultural narratives. She is passionate about using art for social justice and community connection.
ROWAN MILLER
Rowan is originally from Scotland and completed her Diploma in Acting and Performance in Glasgow. She then went on to study a further Diploma in Acting at Newcastle Theatre Royal. In 2022, she wrote and performed in an original play 'Head Girl' in various venues in the North East of England before taking the show to Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Most recently, she completed a one year tour throughout Germany performing 3 English theatre pieces for children and young adults. Whilst living in the UK, Rowan taught drama, singing and dancing at Stagecoach and Newcastle Theatre Royal.