The Forty Elephants

Eleanor Wilson (Artistic Director & Choreographer): 

Eleanor is a London-based choreographer and performer, professionally trained in dance and musical theatre at CAPA College, Wakefield (2016) and Bird College, UK (2019). 

She is the founder of Wellie Co., a female-led dance company established in 2024, known for its bold fusion of classic jazz technique and the expressive fluidity of contemporary dance. The company’s latest production, 'The Forty Elephants', is currently playing at The Camden Fringe.

Eleanor is a Resident Creative at Bird College, where she has choreographed a series of works, including Bowie Ballet, Wave After Wave, and The Chain.

Her choreographic work spans theatrical productions, short films, and commercial events including productions for Hilton Hotels and Avra Events in Crete. She has also collaborated closely with acclaimed choreographer Mark Smith, contributing as both assistant rehearsal director and co-choreographer on several key projects.

As a performer, Eleanor has performed across the UK and Europe with the award-winning dance company The Queens (as seen on BBC’s The Greatest Dancer) and was featured in Oti Mabuse’s; Dance Nights, Gala Ball.

Deeply committed to inclusive practice, Eleanor has experience working with students with special educational needs and holds introductory British Sign Language skills. Her work continues to challenge artistic boundaries and captivate audiences through bold, narrative-driven movement.

Jack Blakey (Composer): 

Jack is a northern Actor-musician and Composer, based in London, trained at Rose Bruford College. He has composed soundtracks for two touring theatre shows for Box Clever Theatre, Jekyll and Hyde and Mark and the Marked. He has musically directed and arranged A Christmas Carol for Box Clever Theatre and The Jungle Book at Kew Gardens.

As an actor he most recently played Chief Weasel in Wind in the Willows at Queen’s Hall Arts Centre in Hexham, and at Alnwick Castle. Other credits include for the Garage, Norwich; Jack and the Beansprout, The Littlest Mermaid, and The Tempest. For Box Clever Theatre; Frankenstein, An Inspector Calls and Feet First. For The Courtyard Theatre in Hereford; The Elves and the Shoemaker, Hansel and Gretel and The Snow Queen.

When Jack isn’t acting or composing, he plays drums and flute in the band Chive.

Daniel Taylor (Lighting Design): 

Daniel is a London based lighting designer and production manager. Originally trained as a performer himself, his designs are influenced by his ability to portray story and emotion through light. Daniel has worked professionally in the west end and around the UK on a number of events and productions. He is currently Production Manager at Bird College Conservatoire of Dance and Musical Theatre, designing all in-house performances; working with both in-house and external creatives. In his time at Bird College, Daniel has worked on musicals such as ‘Rent’, ‘Spring Awakening’, Footloose’ and ‘Big Fish’ with creatives such as Jo Morris, Dan Burton, Richard Hindes, Ewan Jones, and Paul Robinson to name a few. Outside of Bird College he has been involved in numerous productions around the UK including ‘Death Suits You’, winner of Show of the Week at The Vaults festival and Go! the Musical at upstairs at the gatehouse.

Tegan John (Assistant Choreographer):

Tegan trained professionally in dance and musical theatre at Bird College UK. During her time at Bird her performances credits include, Sandy the Squirrel in SpongeBob the Musical (directed and choreographed by Simon Hardwick) and Dance Captain for her third-year dance project, demonstrating her talent for both performance and team direction.

Tegan joined Wellie Co. in 2024 and is thrilled to step into the role of Assistant Choreographer for the company’s first public production, 'The Forty Elephants'. She brings a sharp eye, vibrant energy, and a deep passion for movement and storytelling to the creative team.

Wellie Co. Dancers:

The dancers of Wellie Co. are a vibrant ensemble of emerging artists, all recently graduating from Bird College, UK (July, 2025), where they trained professionally in dance and musical theatre.

They joined the company in 2024 and are thrilled to be part of its first public production, 'The Forty Elephants'. Whilst in training, their collective performance credits include acclaimed musicals such as Flashdance, Fame, Titanic the Musical, SpongeBob the Musical, and Into the Woods; with many of the dancers playing leading roles and holding positions as dance captains. As well as external performances such as MOVE IT Show, Hilton Hotels Annual Awards and Musical Con. 

Wellie Co.’s dancers bring energy, individuality, and a shared passion for storytelling to every performance.