About Us
From the West End Stage to your classroom
Our Story
Pippa’s Poppets was founded in 2009 by West End and Broadway composer and lyricist Pippa Cleary. Pippa has been visually impaired since birth and from a young age found a connection with music, developing her song writing skills by ear. Her passion for musical theatre allowed her to grow in confidence and she quickly made it her goal to share the joy it brings her with others.
As a freelance composer, Pippa has written numerous musicals, including three which have been produced on the West End; The Great British Bake Off Musical , The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 and critically acclaimed My Son’s A Queer, which is opening on Broadway next year. Pippa’s professional experience is what we believe elevates and distinguishes Pippa Poppet’s and brings that extra theatre magic!
Make it
Pippa started working with little ones at various clubs and after a conversation with a local mum who was disillusioned with the same uninspiring repertoire of preschool songs, soon realised that using her own talents to write original music could create a new and unique way of learning. Since the early days of hosting classes in her mother’s living room in Pimlico, Pippa’s Poppets has flourished and developed. We now hold classes in some of London’s most reputable nurseries and clubs with clients including Miss Daisy’s Nurseries, Young England Kindergarten, The Kindergartens, Eaton Square Kindergartens, Willcocks Nursery and Cupcake Family Club.
We have had the opportunity to work in some amazing venues, including Soho Farmhouse and Beaufort House, Chelsea. We were lucky enough to be supported by the Bryan Adams Foundation after Bryan Adams himself fell in love with one of Pippa’s fruit and vegetable songs ‘Did You Ever Wonder?- listen below. We also have a team of highly skilled teachers, all musical theatre performers with extensive drama school training. Along with the help of our cuddly friend Pippa Panda, our teachers run classes, workshops and Father Christmas visits across London featuring Pippa’s catchy, original songs.
Meet the Team
Pippa Cleary
CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER
Pippa is an award-winning composer and songwriter, and the only female British musical theatre composer to have had three shows produced in the West End. My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You do?) and The Great British Bake Off Musical both ran in 2023! She also wrote the 2023 Olivier Awards Ceremony opening number ‘The West End Stage’, performed by Hannah Waddingham and other West End stars.
Currently, she is working alongside acclaimed American screenwriter and producer Philip LaZebnick (Pocahontas, Prince of Egypt, Mulan), writing songs for a new film Journey to The Christmas Star, commissioned by Storm Films.
Whilst studying music at Bristol University, she met her long-term writing partner, Jake Brunger. Together they have written many popular musicals, including The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 (which was nominated for both the Evening Standard Award for Best New Musical and a UK Theatre Award), The Great British Soap Opera, Prodigy, and the recent West End production of The Great British Bake Off Musical. They have also written three children’s musicals together for the Singapore Repertory Theatre, Red Riding Hood, Treasure Island and Chicken Little.
Her work also includes music for award-winning adverts including I Love Doing Dishes for Finish and The Feelings for This is Jelly. Her highly praised musical In the Willows, written with hip hop producer Kieran Merrick, toured the UK in 2019. I have composed songs for a musical adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream for BBC Teach and also won the Times Carol Competition 2011 for my song ‘In the Snow’. Her voice features on the popular award-winning children’s app Hip Hop Hen which teaches phonics through song. She also won The Arts Foundation Fellowship for Composition in 2012 and is mentored by the renowned composer Claude Michel Schonberg.
-
![]()
Lizzie
TEACHING LEAD
Lizzie has taught with Pippa's Poppets since 2021. In her role as Teaching Lead, she enjoys working closely with the teachers, making sure our curriculum and workshops are as fun, imaginative and educational as possible! Lizzie has nearly 10 years of teaching experience, having previously taught for Merton Music Foundation, Stagecoach and Razzmatazz. In 2016 she was even awarded Explore Learning's Tutor of the Year.
Lizzie is also a performer with a huge passion for family theatre. She graduated from the International College of Musical Theatre in 2018, and gained a first class degree in Musical Theatre from Middlesex University in 2022. Theatre credits include: Oliver Award winning Dinosaur World Live (UK tour) and Peppa Pig's Best Day Ever (West End & UK tour).
-
![]()
Harriet
TEACHER
Harriet started working with Pippa’s Poppets in 2022, after graduating from The Musical Theatre Academy in London in 2020. She has 10 years teaching experience in music, drama and dance in both in London and Hull, where she is from. Harriet loves teaching children of all ages and helping them build confidence, express themselves and have fun.
Harriet is also an actor who has worked extensively in children’s and family theatre, most recently with Horrible Histories, so loves seeing children engage and learn through the arts.
-
![]()
Curtis
TEACHER
Curtis joined Pippa’s Poppets in 2019 and loves it! Seeing children's faces light up when they’re singing and playing during class is his favourite part of the job.
His background is in Musical Theatre, having graduated from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 2017. He’s since gone on to work with children in almost everything he’s done from Playing Mr Toad in a primary school tour of “The Wind in the Willows”, to guiding adventures through the jungle and telling tales of cheeky Chimpanzees and Giant Gorillas.
-
![Elle]()
Ellen
TEACHER
Ellen Pearson is a mezzo-soprano from Kent. She graduated in 2024 with a Master’s of Music degree with distinction from the Royal College of Music.
She has recently performed Rosina in Rossini’s The Barber of Seville at Opera Holland Park as part of their Young Artist programme.
Ellen is absolutely delighted to be a part of the Pippa’s Poppets team!
-
![]()
Jennifer
TEACHER
Jenny graduated from the Urdang Academy in 2024, achieving a first class degree in Professional Musical Theatre and Dance. She has over 3 years of teaching experience, with a focus on the early development of music skills in young children. Jenny believes in the importance of encouraging creativity and curiosity, and loves supporting the children as they grow in confidence.
She currently also works as an actor and as a Dance and Drama teacher, where she enjoys working with children of all ages. Jenny is thrilled to be joining the Pippa’s Poppets Team.
-
![]()
Elinor
TEACHER
Having previously run a successful franchise of a well known baby, toddler and pre-school music group, Elinor was delighted to join a team where she could use her extensive knowledge of early years development and love of music to provide our Poppets with fantastic fun.
Elinor took a keen interest in Musical Theatre from a young age and went on to study Musical Theatre and Contemporary Music Performance at ArtsEd and BIMM respectively.
Whilst her background is in performance, she spent a number of years as a childcare practitioner, with a focus on children with additional needs / disabilities. From here she went on to work as Head of Recruitment for a company who provide specialist childcare practitioners to families and children with a wide range of support needs.
-
![]()
Grace
MANAGER
Grace has been working with Pippa since March 2023 and joined the Poppet’s team as Manager in early 2024.
She has worked in assisting and secretarial positions at various companies, namely Oscar award winning animation company Passion Pictures, music venue Hoxton Hall and is currently working as Pippa’s personal assistant.
She is also an actor and trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre arts in Musical Theatre graduating in 2022. Credits include: Holes UK Tour (Nottingham Playhouse and Children's Theatre Partnership), Alice Down the Rabbit Hole (Metta Theatre) and Little Women (Mountview).
-
![]()
Lewis
HEAD OF DESIGN
Lewis graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2020 with a Bachelors in Graphic Design.
He has worked as a freelance graphic designer since then working on a variety of projects. He also works for Blue Vanilla as their lead Graphic Designer.
Lewis worked with Pippa on her personal website and then joined the Poppets team in early 2024 creating all of our incredible designs and website!
-
![]()
Josh
DIGITIAL MARKETING
Josh has started working with the Pippa's Poppets team in 2024 to help improve our search presence.
Josh has been in the digital marketing industry for over 10 years, leaving behind a previous profession as a Personal Trainer!
He specialises in helping small to medium sized businesses grow online and is excited to help Pippas Poppets develop further.
