Charlie Hirst
Co-Founder of Tumble Dog | Artistic Director
Charlie trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, where she was personally mentored by Elaine Paige OBE, securing Sky Arts and BBC performance credits, developing new musical theatre, and receiving Arts Council England support for her writing.
At 21, she launched a drama school in London, later stepping into leadership as Head of Part-Time Study at Pauline Quirke’s Islington-based sixth form academy. During her time there, she was invited to speak on Sky News about tackling bullying in schools, advocating for the role of performing arts in building young people’s confidence.
Charlie has always been fascinated by what makes people tick; how we communicate, how we learn, and how confidence is built. This curiosity led her to postgraduate study in Psychology (Glasgow) and Psychotherapy (Regents & Oxford) before working as Head of Training & Development for a pioneering mental health company in London.
Alongside her creative work, Charlie is a highly experienced therapeutic coach, specialising in neurodiversity for both children and adults.
Creating Tumble Dog brings together her knowledge of mental health with her passion for the arts, serving her much loved home community of Suffolk.
She lives in Trimley St Martin and can often be found rapping along to ‘90s hip hop, dancing around the kitchen and chasing her 3-year-old around the garden.
Matthew Kaltenborn
Co-Founder of Tumble Dog | Interdisciplinary Artist
Matt is a filmmaker, photographer, and theatre-maker.
He graduated from Rose Bruford in 2014 with a first-class honours degree in European Theatre Arts and has since worked with leading arts institutions and brands, including Netflix, National Theatre, and the Barbican to name but a few. His work has spanned theatre, live performance, and digital media, capturing everything from intimate workshops to large-scale productions.
While studying, Matt’s dissertation focused on multimedia puppetry; a passion that’s come full circle with Tumble Dog, where he combines theatrical storytelling, digital media, and hands-on artistry to create playful, visually rich performances for children and families.
Alongside his creative work, Matt has spent the past 10 years teaching Film & TV to young people aged 6-18, helping the next generation of filmmakers find their voice behind the camera. His students have gone on to work on large scale Hollywood movies such as Peter Pan and Star Wars.
He loves living in rural Suffolk and can often be found photographing the local landscape and wildlife alongside their ridiculously tiny dog, Jub-Jub.
Hatty Ashton
Lead Facilitator | Performer
Hatty is a multidisciplinary creative, performer and facilitator based in rural East Anglia. She trained as an actor at RADA and as a clown at Ecole Philippe Gaulier, and has spent over a decade creating bold, heart-led work across theatre, community projects and education. From healthcare clowning to writing children’s books, Hatty’s work always centres on connection, imagination and impact. They bring creativity, care and a deep sense of play to the Tumble Dog world and are especially excited about the project’s power to uplift young audiences and spark confidence through storytelling.
Stephen Watt
Advisory Director
Stephen has been singing and dancing since the age of three, when he charmed his neighbours with impromptu doorstep performances. With over 25 years in theatre, he’s performed across the UK and Ireland, including at the Waterford International Festival, and brings rich experience both on stage and as a director. Stephen is the Vice Principal of PQA Ipswich and currently works as a Commissioning Manager for Essex County Council, leading services for physical disabilities, sensory impairments and personalisation. With a first-class MA in Economics, qualifications in coaching and mentoring, and a deep belief in the power of theatre to transform lives, Stephen brings strategic insight and creative heart to the Tumble Dog team.
Emily Watt
Advisory Director
Emily is the Principal of PQA Ipswich, where she’s been nurturing young performers since 2015. She trained in professional musical theatre at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts after growing up immersed in Ipswich’s vibrant theatre scene. A proud mum of three and an advocate for inclusive, empowering spaces, Emily brings lived experience of dyslexia and a deep understanding of children’s creative learning. As a creative advisor to Tumble Dog, she helps us stay bold, kind and always rooted in what matters most — joy, imagination and the confidence to be yourself.
Cat Bensley
Advisory Director
Cat is a Suffolk-raised writer, singer, casting assistant and proud mum of two toddlers. She holds an MA in Musical Theatre from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and has worked with top UK casting directors including Lucy Bevan, Sarah Crowe and Amy Jackson. She brings a brilliant eye for talent and story to the Tumble Dog team. Her original musical Chronic debuted at the Tristan Bates Theatre before transferring to Southwark Playhouse. With her blend of creative flair, industry insight and lived experience, Cat helps shape a world that feels as real as it is magical.