AlumNi NewsleTTer - Central School of Speech & Drama

The Alumni Newsletter 

CeNTrAl sChool of speeCh & drAmA, uNiversiTy of loNdoN issue 18 | februAry 2012 

News from alumni across the world 

Central announces new Jeremy Brett Scholarship 

Spotlight on MA Advanced Theatre Practice 

Central and the 2012 Olympics 

Stage and screen news 

Alumni event round-up

2 | CeNTrAl AlumNi NewsleTTer 

Happy New Year and welcome 

to the latest edition of the 

Central Alumni Newsletter, 

our twice-yearly publication 

for alumni and friends of the 

School. We hope you are all 

keeping well and that 2011 

was a happy and successful 

year for you all. 

In this issue of the newsletter we hear about some of the 

fantastic awards our graduates have won (pages 4-5), we 

have some exclusive insider views from alumni involved 

in preparations for the 2012 Olympics (pages 6-7), we 

bring you wonderful news of a significant donation to 

the School which has helped us to develop a scholarship 

in honour of Jeremy Brett (page 17) and details of 

how Central graduates are continuing to shape the 

communities around them (pages 10-11). 

In this edition we also bring you a new feature section 

where we focus on one particular study programme. This 

issue we hear from Nicholas Wood, Course Leader of MA 

Advanced Theatre Practice, as he tells us about some of 

the brilliant things that his graduates have gone on 

the achieve. 

Since our last issue and our announcement regarding the 

launch of The Pivot Club, we have been delighted by the 

generosity shown to us by our alumni. Now more than 

ever before we need your support to ensure that future 

students can benefit from a Central education (read more 

on page 16). Stories about other ways in which Central 

alumni are showing their ongoing commitment to the 

School are liberally scattered throughout this issue. 

Significant numbers of you are visiting Central to give 

talks, assisting on student projects, and offering work 

placements. We thank you all for your ongoing support 

and wish you a happy and successful 2012. 

With our best wishes, 

The Alumni Relations Office 

Zoe Haddock, Louise Jones and Meg Ryan 

Front cover image: Central’s production of Epsom Downs (photo by Patrick Baldwin) 

Inside cover image: Central’s production of Divine Words (photo by Patrick Baldwin) 

Contents 

04 Awards and Nominations 

06 Central and the London 

2012 Olympics 

08 Alumni Collaborations 

10 Alumni in the Community 

12 Screen News 

13 After Central 

14 Stage News 

16 Showing Your Support for 

Central 

18 Alumni in the Building 

20 Alumni Abroad 

22 School-Wide News 

24 Research at Central 

26 School of Professional and 

Community Development 

News 

28 Event Round-Up 

31 Research Event News 

31 Forthcoming Events 

32 Contact Us 

Acknowledgements 

CeNTrAl AlumNi NewsleTTer | 3 

With thanks to all featured alumni and 

photographers and to the following Central staff for 

their contributions towards this newsletter: Amanda 

Brennan, Anna Faulkner, Ayse Tashkiran, Caroline 

Townsend, Claudette Williams, David Petherbridge, 

Gail Hunt, Gareth White, Gavin Henderson, Geoff 

Colman, Greg Duke, Jane Boston, Jessica Bowles, 

Martin Wylde, Nick Moran, Nick Wood, Stephen 

Farrier. Designed by: Nimbus. Printed by: Disc to 

Print. Photographs: All credits (where provided) have 

been included in the newsletter.

4 | CeNTrAl AlumNi NewsleTTer CeNTrAl AlumNi NewsleTTer | 5 

Awards and Nominations 

Central alumni continue 

to be recognised at awards 

ceremonies across the globe, 

cementing their reputation 

as among the very best in the 

business. If you have recently 

been nominated or won an 

award, please let the Alumni 

Office know. 

Clockwise from top left: Oliver Chris (courtesy of 

Independent Talent Group Limited), Kristin Scott Thomas 

at the London Evening Standard Theatre Awards (courtesy 

of Picture Evening Standard), Christopher Eccleston in the 

BBC drama Accused (courtesy of RSJ Films), Catherine Tate 

(courtesy of Dawn Sedgwick Management). 

bAfTA film awards 

Judi Dench (S 57) received a Best Supporting 

Actress nomination for My Week with Marilyn at 

the 2012 BAFTA Film Awards. The winners will 

be announced on 12 February. 

whATsoNsTAGe AwArds 

Six Central alumni were recently nominated 

at the 2011 Whatsonstage Awards. Kristin 

Scott Thomas (BEd SD 80) and Vanessa 

Redgrave (S 57), Best Actress for Betrayal and 

Driving Miss Daisy respectively; Catherine 

Tate (S 93), Best Supporting Actress in a Play 

for Season’s Greetings; Oliver Chris (BA A 

00), Best Supporting Actor in a Play for One 

Man, Two Guvnors; Harriet Thorpe (S 81), 

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for Crazy 

For You; and Michael Grandage (S 84), Best 

Director for King Lear and Luise Miller. The 

winners will be announced on 19 February. 

loNdoN eveNiNG sTANdArd 

TheATre AwArds 

Central alumni were also out in force at the 

London Evening Standard Theatre Awards. 

Both Michael Grandage (S 84) and Kristin 

Scott Thomas (BEd SD 80) were honoured 

again when they each received special awards 

during the ceremony on Sunday 20 November. 

Kristin was honoured with the Lebedev Special 

Award for contribution to theatre, presented to 

her by Stephen Fry, and Michael picked up the 

Editor’s Award for his achievements as Artistic 

Director of the Donmar Warehouse. 

Lizzie Clachan (MA ATP 98) received a 

Best Design nomination for Wastwater at the 

Royal Court. Bijan Sheibani (MA ATP 01) 

and Jessica Swale (MA ATP 06) were also 

recognised on the awards longlist, all in the 

Best Director category, alongside Michael 

Grandage. Theatre company 1927, which 

includes alumna Esme Appleton (MA ATP 

06) were nominated for the Outstanding 

Newcomer award. 

iNTerNATioNAl emmy AwArds 

Christopher Eccleston (S 86) won the award 

for Best Performance by an Actor for his role in 

the BBC drama Accused. 

primeTime emmy AwArds 

Andy Pryor (BA TP 88) received a nomination 

at the Primetime Emmy Awards on 18 

September. He was recognised in the category of 

Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a 

Special, for his work on Upstairs/Downstairs. 

liNbury priZe for sTAGe desiGN 

Congratulations to Sarah Beaton (BA TP 11), 

who won the Linbury Prize for Stage Design 

on 10 November 2011. Sarah’s design was for 

Babur in London – a new work produced and 

developed by The Opera Group, directed by John 

Fulljames. Guoda Jaruseviciute (BA TP 11) 

received a nomination for her design for The 

Tempest at the Watermill Theatre, Newbury 

and fellow alumni Neli Ivancik (BA TP 11) and 

Liv Wright (BA TP 10) were selected for the 

Directors’ Round. 

ACAdemy AwArds / 

iNdepeNdeNT film AwArds 

Vanessa Redgrave (S 57) received an award 

on Sunday 13 November 2011 by the Academy 

of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the firstever 

European tribute to an actor. Playwright 

David Hare hosted the event, entitled An 

Academy Salute to Vanessa Redgrave. Vanessa 

also won Best Supporting Actress at the British 

Independent Film Awards in November, for her 

role in Coriolanus. She starred alongside Ralph 

Fiennes and fellow graduate James Nesbitt 

(S 88) in the film adaptation of Shakespeare’s 

classic. 

sCreeN NATioN AwArds 

Nonso Anozie (BA A 02), who was most 

recently seen in Game of Thrones, won the award 

for Male Performance in TV. The Screen Nation 

Awards are the UK’s only award ceremony 

supporting the best in black talent within the 

film and television industry. 

eveNiNG sTANdArd loNdoN’s 

1,000 mosT iNflueNTiAl people 

Cameron Mackintosh (Tech 64), 

Sonia Friedman (Tech 85) and Michael 

Grandage (S 84), along with Principal Gavin 

Henderson were all named in the Evening 

Standard’s list of the ‘London’s 1,000 Most 

Influential People 2011’ 

TheATre AwArds uK 

Lizzie Clachan (MA ATP 98) won the Best 

Design award for Happy Days at the Sheffield 

Studio, at the 2011 Theatre Awards UK on 30 

October. Fellow alumna Ruth Sutcliffe (BA 

TP 08) was nominated in the same category for 

her design work on The Duchess of Malfi at the 

Royal & Derngate, Northampton and director 

Anna Mackmin (S 86) was recognised in the 

category for Best Musical Production for Me 

and My Girl at the Crucible, Sheffield. 

KNiGhTs of illumiNATioN AwArds 

Richard Pilbrow (Tech 55) was honoured 

with the 4th Knights of Illumination Lifetime 

Recognition Award. Jamie Thompson (BA TP 

04) won a Knight of Illumination in the Concert 

Lighting for Arena Shows category for his work 

with The Script. Neil Carson (BA TP 05) was 

nominated for the Concert Lighting for Arena 

Shows award for his work with Chase & Status 

and Paul Green (BA TP 08) was presented with 

the award for Best Emerging Theatre Lighting 

Designer by Richard Pilbrow and Chairman of the 

Association of Lighting Designers, Rick Fisher. 

AlleN wriGhT AwArd 

Matt Trueman (MA ATP 07) was a winner of 

the 2011 Allen Wright Award for excellence in 

arts journalism. The awards were established 

ten years ago to encourage quality writing in the 

field of arts journalism and are named after Allen 

Wright, the former Arts Editor of The Scotsman. 

Top left to bottom right: Sarah Beaton (left) with 

Central Design for Stage tutor Aldona Cunningham 

(courtesy of Nick Moran), Vanessa Redgrave 

with fellow alumnus James Nesbitt in Coriolanus 

(courtesy of Lionsgate Films), (l-r) Rick Fisher, 

Paul Green and Richard Pilbrow (courtesy of Nick 

Moran), Happy Days at the Sheffield Studio (by 

Robert Day), Nonso Anozie (courtesy of Garricks).


Central and the london 2012 olympics 

Courtesy of Getty Images 

With the Olympics now in 

sight, the Alumni Office 

spoke to recent graduates 

Polly Bennett (MA MS 11), 

Rebecca Brower (BA TP 11) 

and Jo Eaden (BA TP 11), who 

are bringing their creative 

flair and Central training to 

the team for London 2012 

Ceremonies. 

What are your roles in the 2012 Olympics? 

Polly: I’m one of ten movement assistants to 

Toby Sedgwick, the Movement Director of two of 

the three sections of the opening ceremony. I’m 

contracted to assist Toby devise and prescribe 

movement according to the ceremonies 

concept, and guide the selected performers in its 

execution. The rest is top secret! 

Rebecca: I’m Design Studio Assistant. My job 

is to communicate with the Designers and the 

Technical department, making sure everything is 

on track and assisting the Designers where they 

need extra help, ether model making, technical 

drawings or designing small scenic elements. 

Jo: I am the Production Assistant for the Staging 

and Scenic department within London 2012 

Ceremonies. 

How did the job come about? 

Polly: At Central, I had written my MA thesis on 

Olympic Mass Movement after being involved 

in large companies and stadium work before. 

Having realised that nothing had been written 

about prescribing movement to hundreds and 

thousands of volunteer participants, I got in 

touch with leading practitioners in this field and 

learnt of opportunities within London 2012. Ayse 

Tashkiran, my Movement Tutor at Central, also 

recommended me and I was asked to audition to 

be an assistant. 

Rebecca: I initially applied for the job in July 

after seeing it on the Olympics website. 

Jo: I also applied for the job through the London 

2012 website. I actually applied for a different 

graduate position within Ceremonies, but was 

referred for an interview for two production 

assistant roles that were advertised at the same 

time as I was seen to have enough experience to 

have a more responsible role, which was great! 

How are you finding the experience and 

what has been your highlight so far? 

Polly: I’m enjoying working with the rest of the 

team: from Toby and Steve Boyd, to the other 

assistants who are established movement people 

in their own rights. As the youngest assistant, 

I am learning a great deal from discussing the 

appropriate approach to working with large 

groups and achieving the desired movement 

qualities as well as by seeing the others in action. 

At the moment we’re auditioning the volunteer 

performers, so it’s also pretty amazing to see 

“non-movers” achieve a complex moment of 

choreography by the end of a session, and visibly 

enjoy the experience. 

Rebecca Brower 

Polly Bennett 

Rebecca: One of my biggest loves is model 

making, so I am really enjoying progressing my 

skills in that. The scale of the whole design is 

incredible and a great challenge which is really 

fun to see come together. The main highlight has 

to be the people I am working with. There are 

such a vast number of people with different skills 

and backgrounds. I feel privileged to be working 

with them. 

Jo: The job so far has been great. We’ve all been 

sworn to secrecy so I can’t obviously tell you 

much about what I do, but it’s been good fun. 

How did your Central training prepare 

you for the role? 

Polly: It endowed me with the confidence I 

previously lacked as a practitioner. The course 

taught me about structure, accuracy but mainly 

to have faith in my ideas. 

Rebecca: Central taught me to be flexible within 

my practice, expect the unexpected and mould 

myself to be able to deal with that. Central also 

taught me to be confident when being dropped 

into the deep end and when having to find your 

feet from nothing. Working with a range of 

different people at Central has really prepared 

me to think fast in team situations. My course 

encouraged being imaginative and thinking 

outside the box – skills that have become very 

useful in this job. I felt that Central also pushed 

me to make as many professional contacts as 

possible and network when I could. This really 

built my confidence when communicating with 

different people and will also prepare me for 

when I leave this job in a year from now. Central 

gave me a very good representation of the real 

world in our industry. 

Jo: Without my Central training I wouldn’t have 

this job. Central provided me with the platform 

on which I could get the experience necessary 

to do this role. Through my course, I gained the 

skills and contacts to get myself jobs and work 

experience whilst at Central. It is that outside 

experience which then got me this opportunity. 

What’s next? 

Polly: Rio 2016? 

Jo: No idea yet! I would love to stay in large 

scale events and get involved in more festivals 

and wouldn’t say no to Rio if the opportunity 

presented itself. 

Numerous other alumni have also landed 

roles within the London 2012 Ceremonies 

team, including… 

Sam Hunter (BA TP 79) as Production Stage 

Manager; Luke Mills (BA TP 07) as Deputy 

Production Manager – Pyro, Flame and 

Special Effects; Gary Beestone (BA TP 02) as 

Production Manager – Victory Ceremonies; Ben 

O’Neill (BA TP 07) as AutoCAD Draftsman; 

Rhian Davies (BA DATE 09) as Professional 

Cast Assistant; and Anna Morrissey (MA 

MS 05) and Diane Mitchell (MA MS 09) as 

Movement Assistants on the Opening Ceremony. 

Central is also delighted that a number of 

current students have secured work placements 

with London 2012. At the time of going to print, 

current second year students Justin Allin, 

Charlotte Smith, Megan Rowlands, Antonia 

Lynch, Rosie Chaplin and Claire Docherty 

(all on the BA TP Costume Construction 

course) had started their placements with 

the costume department of the Opening and 

Closing Ceremonies of both the Olympics 

and Paralympics. Four final year students 

on the same course had been interviewed for 

placements, as had two final year students on 

the BA TP Design for Stage course. 

We look forward to bringing further 

updates in the next edition of the Alumni 

Newsletter. If you’re going to be involved 

with London 2012, but haven’t been listed 

above, please let the Alumni Office know! 

Courtesy of Getty Images


Alumni collaborations 

Whether on stage, on screen or behind the scenes, our alumni inevitably work with fellow graduates at some 

point in their careers. If you have a story of collaboration to tell, please get in touch. 

Boii Theatre’s Alicia Ambrose-Bayly (courtesy of Eva Daníková) 

boii TheATre 

The Boii Theatre Company, founded by Eva 

Daníková (MA ATP 09), presented Boiled Heads 

or Girl, Death Is Dancing on Your Tits – a dark 

comedy by Czech playwright Marek Horoscak, at 

the Tristan Bates Theatre on 12 November 2011. 

Translator and Dramaturg Eva collaborated with 

Sound Designer Jon McLeod (MA ATP 10), 

Director Maja Milatovi-Ovadia (MA ATP 07) 

and performers Alicia Ambrose-Bayly (MA 

ATP 10) and Matthew Haigh (MA ATP 09). 

hArdy’s ridGe 

Matthew Bateman and Kevin McGlade 

(both BA DATE 03), performed in Hardy’s 

Ridge – a two man show at the LOST Theatre 

Company during November. The show was 

directed by Rosie Peake (BA DATE 05) and 

Jamie Allan (BA DATE 03). 

bAd hosT 

Bad Host is a new company that makes intimate 

encounters and events. It is formed of Anne 

Hightower Wareing, Catriona Kerridge, 

Chelsea Walker, Heledd Watkins, Lucy 

Knight and Paul Williams (all MA ATP 

11). The company formed in April 2011, in 

preparation for the Sustained Independent 

Practice Unit on Central’s MA Advanced 

Theatre Practice course. 

Devising with graffiti and stories hidden in 

London’s toilets, Bad Host took over the toilets 

next to Central’s scenography studio in June 

with a first showing of their project Occupied. 

Building on responses from students and tutors, 

they presented the final version of Occupied 

untethered films 

Untethered Films was founded in 2011 by MA AS 2010 

alumni Hamza Jeetooa, Lee Lytle, Isabel Steuble- 

Johnson and Colin Waitt. They produce characterdriven 

entertainment with a cross-Atlantic sensibility. In 

less than a year, they’ve made ten short films and the web 

series This Is Steve, which was featured on Step2.tv and the 

British Webseries Directory. 

During the summer of 2011, the company created a 

collection of short films that were screened throughout 

October and featured the work of Central alumni Martin 

Cowan (MA AS 10), Jennie Gruner (MA AS 10), Tom 

at the Battersea Arts Centre in July to great 

acclaim. 

Since completing their training at Central, Bad 

Host returned to the BAC in October, scratching 

a new show called When the Lions Drink… and 

presented this show in a one week residency 

there beginning 30 January 2012. The company 

are also in talks with the Oxford Playhouse for 

another toilet invasion with Occupied. 

Speaking to the Alumni Office, Paul said, “Our 

experiences at Central have played a huge part 

in who we are and what we do as a company, and 

we hope to join the long list of famous alumni 

some day!” 

Colley (MA AS 10), Bill Neenan (MA ATC 10), Rachel 

Summers (MA AS 10), Rachel Crowther (MA AS 11), 

Ewa Kolodziejska (MA ATC 10), Lorrie Rivers (MA 

AS 10) and Spencer Evoy (MA WfSBM 10). 

In January 2012, Untethered Films shot the TV pilot for 

This Is Steve and were in pre-production for a featurelength 

comedy written by Spencer Evoy. 

More information can be found at 

www.untetheredfilms.com 

Occupied by Bad Host (courtesy of Paul Williams) 

The ChANGeliNG 

Production Manager Alex Stone (BA TP 

06), Sound Designer and Composer Jamie 

Flockton (BA TP 10), Video Designer 

Cate Blanchard (BA TP 08) and Lighting 

Designer George Bishop (BA TP 10) 

worked together during autumn 2011 on The 

Changeling at the Southwark Playhouse – a 

new production based on Middleton and 

Rowley’s 1622 tragedy and directed by JMK 

Award winning director Michael Oakley. 

The Changeling (courtesy of the Southwark Playhouse) 

AssoCiATioN of 

souNd desiGNers 

Formed by Central sound tutor Gregg 

Fisher (MA ATP 01) and a steering 

committee of others from the profession, 

the ASD was recently created to represent 

the interests of sound designers in the UK 

theatre industry. 

The committee includes Gareth Fry (BA 

TS 96) as Chairman, Gregg Fisher as a 

trustee and Carolyn Downing (BA TP 02) 

as Secretary. 

For more information about the 

ASD or becoming a member visit 

www.associationofsounddesigners.com 

four sTAliNs 

Spencer Evoy (MA WfSBM 10) and Mark 

Keegan (MA WfSBM 10) are collaborating 

on a new comedy project called Four Stalins. 

Together with fellow writers and performers 

Paul Dance and Dave Hart they have created 

a surreal world where there are in fact, four 

Joseph Stalins. And they share a flat together. 

With Prince, the pop singer. 

Four Stalins (courtesy of VERITAS) 

In another Central connection, Prince is 

played by Tahsin Tarzan Gemikonakli who 

attended the inaugural Theatre Production 

Bootcamp (read more on page 27). Several 

short sketches have already been filmed and 

are available on YouTube and Vimeo. It is 

planned to develop the concept further with 

a view to making a pilot.


Alumni in the Community 

Central alumni shape communities through arts projects, teaching and charity work. 

Hajaz Akram 

The ACAdemy of 

AsiAN ANd eThNiC 

drAmATiC ArTs 

Hajaz Akram (MA ATP 01) founded the 

Academy of Asian and Ethnic Dramatic Arts 

(AAEDA) in October 2011, which aims to 

discover ‘untapped talent’ and diversify the 

performing arts industry. 

The Academy, the first drama school in 

the UK aimed at Asians and other ethnic 

minorities, runs full and part-time acting 

classes for school children, young people and 

adults and is based in the heart of London’s 

theatre land, with studios in Central London, 

Ealing and Walthamstow. Principal and 

founder of the Academy, Hajaz Akram has 

always had a passion for learning about 

‘Asian and ethnic approaches’ to theatre 

and text. AAEDA’s key aim is to equip each 

student with drama and actor training from 

the Academy’s highly esteemed tutors – each 

of whom are established actors, directors, 

theatre and film practitioners currently 

working in the industry. 

With its own agency alongside the school, the 

Academy aims to make the Asian and ethnic 

communities excited about drama again, as 

well as to realise their dreams and aspirations. 

Hajaz says that the experience and guidance 

he gained from Central proved to be 

invaluable. “Teaching individuals how to act 

– for stage, screen and radio – is at the heart of 

the Academy’s aims. Asian and ethnic wouldbe 

actors now have a dedicated school which 

is solely geared to servicing both their and the 

industry’s needs. Our aim is to have people 

shouting out from the roof tops that drama 

training can aid and inform you and your 

communities, can help you communicate 

better, can make you work better – and it can 

even make you a star.” 

For more information please visit 

www.aaeda.org.uk 

Step on Stage Academy’s production of Romeo 

and Juliet (courtesy of Emma Tinniswood) 

bridGe ArTs & CulTure 

In 2011, Amanda Wright (BA A 03) created 

Bridge Arts & Culture – an education and 

training company who specialise in using 

drama and storytelling to engage young people 

and hard to reach communities with the Arts. 

In the past few months, Bridge Arts & Culture 

successfully delivered an Audition Technique 

Summer School at Clean Break – a theatre, 

education and new writing company based in 

Kentish Town, London. 

They also ran a four-day course in Tottenham 

in collaboration with Bernie Grants Arts Centre 

called the Black History Youth Theatre, and 

were commissioned by the V&A to collaborate 

on a storytelling project called ‘Spotlight on 

Africa and the Diaspora’ – as part of a new 

visitor guide for the museum. 

sTep oN sTAGe 

produCTioNs 

Emma Tinniswood (PG Cert DTYP 08) 

recently founded Step on Stage Productions 

– a theatre company based in Twickenham to 

enable young people to explore and develop 

their skills in a professional environment and 

to experience a wide range of styles of theatre. 

Speaking to the Alumni Office back in October, 

Emma explained, “I wanted to provide 

students from all backgrounds with the chance 

to develop as actors and to work with industry 

professionals and professional theatres. 

We have been rehearsing Romeo and Juliet for 

the Shakespeare Schools Festival (which we 

performed at the Riverside Studios) and we’re 

now in rehearsal for the full length version to 

be performed at Christmas at the Hampton 

Hill Playhouse. As part of the project we have 

also worked with the cast to broaden their 

skills with an animation workshop, stage 

combat workshops and master classes with 

professional actors and directors. 

We initiated a new writing project earlier in 

the year which was performed as part of a 

youth festival and we have enabled many of 

the cast to appear on TV and in local press. We 

are also in rehearsal for a new musical version 

of Alice In Wonderland. However, the funding 

has now run out and we are currently trying 

to find sponsorship to enable the project to 

continue in 2012.” 

These Sour Times (care of State of the Nation Crew) 

Bridge Arts & Culture (photo by David Matthews) 

usiNG TheATre To 

eNGAGe wiTh youNG 

offeNders 

Courtesy of HMI Prisons 

Megan Buckner (MA AT 09) is currently 

working as CIAS (Careers Information Advice 

Service) Advisor in Her Majesty’s Young 

Offender Institute in Feltham, where she helps 

young offenders source education, training and 

plAyiNG The CommuNiTy 

Central’s Principal, Gavin 

Henderson visits playwright 

Ann Jellicoe (S 47) at her home 

in Lyme Regis. 

Central Principal Gavin Henderson with Ann Jellicoe 

employment opportunities. An important part 

of this involves working creatively to engage 

the young men in productive activities. In June 

2011, Megan offered a placement to three MA 

AT students, where they devised a play with a 

small group of prisoners called A Dream Deferred. 

It was performed to an invited public audience 

consisting of organisations that work with young 

offenders. This proved to be a catalyst for future 

projects within the establishment and generated 

numerous opportunities for the young adults. 

On 6 December, Feltham hosted a Family Day, 

where young fathers in custody were able to 

have a visit from their children and engage 

in family focused activities. When Natasha 

Jones, the Head of Interventions and Services 

at Feltham, asked Megan if she knew of anyone 

who could help out creatively with the event, 

she immediately thought of Central students. 

The students were tasked with planning 

activities that interested the dads and their 

Ann Jellicoe joined Central as an acting 

student in 1944, and as she recalled, “… the 

School must have been at its lowest ebb with 

very few male students and appalling problems 

with staffing. Gwyneth Thurburn and Vera 

Sargent had together somehow pulled the 

School through the war… A few years later I 

returned to teach in a very different Central, 

now teeming with ex soldiers (both British and 

American) who were offered free education 

by grateful nations. I stayed for two happy and 

fruitful years until moving on.” 

Ann ‘moved on’ to become a very notable 

playwright – sending in The Sport of My 

Mad Mother to The Observer Playwriting 

Competition, winning first prize and 

immediate production at the Royal Court. 

It began a period of close association with 

the Court, which included perhaps her most 

famous play The Knack, which went on to 

become a much acclaimed film; eventually 

she became literary manager of the Royal 

Court. But in 1974, she and her husband – the 

distinguished photographer Roger Mayne, 

moved to Dorset. “We disliked the pressures of 

London and I was dissatisfied with theatre: it’s 

hard to say why except that perhaps it seemed 

totally unimportant in most people’s lives.” 

Lyme Regis became their home, and here Ann 

sought to work with schools, as she had tried 

to do unsuccessfully in London, “I’m grateful 

now that my total inexperience was not tested 

in those tough schools… as part of a small rural 

community I found things easier.” Even so, 

her first attempts were frustrated by internal 

children, for example puppet shows, storytelling 

and drama games. 

Megan said, “When I studied MA Applied 

Theatre at Central I was given some fantastic 

opportunities to run projects in prisons and with 

ex-offenders. These undoubtedly contributed 

to getting my current position with Prospects in 

HMYOI Feltham.” In the near future there will be 

another opportunity for a Central student to take 

up a longer term placement running the Big Boyz 

Talk programme, which encourages prisoners 

to compose and record stories for their children. 

This initiative helps to maintain the vital bond 

between prisoners and their children and will 

give the student invaluable first-hand experience 

working one-to-one with young offenders. 

Central is pleased to have recently 

launched a new pathway for the MA 

Applied Theatre course, entitled Drama 

and the Criminal Justice System. 

school politics and sensitivities, but eventually 

she was able to produce The Reckoning – set in 

the Lyme Regis of 1686 – about the Monmouth 

Rebellion. How she brought together different 

elements of the local community, against a 

background of initial scepticism and degrees 

of hostility, is a fascinating saga. Suffice to say 

just about everyone in the town was touched 

in some way by this extraordinary exercise 

– leaving them with an appetite for more. So, 

one can say, the ‘Community Plays’ movement 

was born. Neighbouring towns had come to 

observe, and they wanted their own play. The 

Colway Theatre Trust was set up (named after 

her house in Lyme Regis) and another play by 

Ann Jellicoe, The Tide, was produced in the Axe 

Valley – after which Ann commissioned plays 

from friends of hers: The Poor Man’s Friend by 

Howard Barker, for Bridport; The Garden by 

Charles Wood for Sherbourne; and Entertaining 

Strangers by David Edgar for Dorchester, 

amongst them. 

All in all, Ann oversaw some ten community 

plays in and around Dorset, ably assisted by 

another Central alumna Sylvia Lee (S 48). 

They still both live in Lyme Regis, and support 

the work of the Marine Theatre. She handed the 

company over to John Oram in 1985, and many 

other organisations, festivals and arts centres 

have taken up the challenge of producing 

Community Plays – no doubt with a copy of 

Ann Jellicoe’s admirable Community Plays, 

and how to put them on at their side. Hers is a 

fine foundation we work on – for much of the 

community and outreach development now 

undertaken at Central.


sCreeN News 

Central alumni feature prominently on both the small and silver screen. 

Clockwise from top left: Amanda Wright (photo by Claire Newman-Williams), Amit Gupta with author Owen Sheer on the set of Resistance (courtesy of Metrodome Group), Amy Manson and the cast of Young James 

Herriot (courtesy of BBC/Shed Productions), Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (courtesy of Channel 4), Neil Stuke in Death in Paradise (courtesy of the BBC), Kit Harington in Game of Thrones (courtesy of HBO), Dame Judy 

Dench in My Week with Marilyn (courtesy of Freud Communications). 

youNG JAmes herrioT 

Amy Manson (BA A 06) played the female 

lead Whirly Tyson in the BBC1 series Young 

James Herriot in December 2011. She will also 

star in feature film January, alongside James 

Cosmo and Nora Jane Noone, which is set for 

release in 2012. 

eAsTeNders e20 

Nessah Muthy (BA TP 10) wrote an episode 

of Eastenders E20, a spin-off series of the 

primetime drama, which was screened as part of 

an omnibus on BBC 3 on 14 October 2011. 

deATh iN pArAdise 

Neil Stuke (S 91) appeared in Death 

in Paradise as Lucas Talbot for BBC1 in 

November 2011. He is also filming the second 

series of Silk, the acclaimed BBC drama about 

the lives of barristers, which continues through 

to February. 

CAll The midwife 

Tom Colley (MA AS 10) appeared in the BBC1 

drama Call the Midwife as Ron Redmund, 

alongside Miranda Hart, Jenny Agutter and 

Pam Ferris. An adaptation of Jennifer Worth’s 

bestselling trilogy of books and directed by 

Jamie Payne, Call the Midwife was aired in 

January. 

doCTors/midsomer murders 

Amanda Wright (BA A 03) appeared as a 

guest lead in Doctors for the BBC in October. In 

November, she filmed an episode of Midsomer 

Murders – making history as the first black 

character to appear in the ITV drama. 

my weeK wiTh mArilyN 

Judi Dench (S 57) and Zoë Wanamaker 

(S 70) appeared as Dame Sybil Thorndike and 

Paula Strasberg, respectively, in the feature film 

My Week with Marilyn – alongside Michelle 

Williams and Kenneth Branagh. 

resisTANCe 

Amit Gupta (MA ATP 97) made his feature 

film directorial debut with Resistance, starring 

Michael Sheen and Andrea Riseborough. The 

film, which was released on 25 November 2011, 

also showcases alumnus Nigel Egerton (MA 

ATP 96) as Costume Designer. Amit returned to 

Central for a Q&A with MA ATP students this 

autumn – see page 18 for more. 

misfiTs 

Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (BA A 06) appeared 

in series three of Misfits for Channel 4, playing 

the role of Curtis. 

GAme of ThroNes 

Kit Harington (BA A 08) appeared as Jon 

Snow in the critically acclaimed drama Game 

of Thrones for HBO. The second series will 

premiere in April 2012 and will also feature 

Nonso Anozie (BA A 02). 

After Central 

Alumni tell us about careers that have taken unexpected or interesting turns. 

siAN ANdersoN (bA Tp 08) 

Preserving props from the silver screen 

Since 2010, Sian has been working as a 

researcher and copywriter at the Prop Store 

in London – a company which specialises in 

acquiring featured movie props and costumes. 

Rather than researching and sourcing for an 

upcoming production, Sian now is responsible 

for collating production material after it’s been 

used and featured. 

The Prop Store has given Sian countless 

opportunities to use her knowledge, attention 

to detail and organisational skills to great 

potential. She has already been to visit the 

bright lights of Hollywood to whip the Los 

rev. pAm CrANe (Née 

simmoNds) (s 64) 

From Central to the stars 

After training at Central, Pamela Simmonds 

was introduced to Ben Weinreb, a friend of 

make-up tutor Teddy Gray, who employed her 

at his new antiquarian print shop opposite the 

British Museum. After two years there she was 

a sufficiently skilled print colourist to work 

freelance, which she did after marrying and 

moving to Kent. 

However in 1968 her life was changed again 

when she met her first astrologer. Entranced 

by astrology’s profound psychological and 

spiritual truth, she joined the Astrological 

Association, gained her Certificate and Diploma 

from the Faculty of Astrological Studies, and 

was quickly recruited as a tutor with the faculty 

and as assistant editor on the AA’s Journal and 

Newsletter. In 1975, young psychic Russell 

Grant turned up on her doorstep to learn 

astrology, and became a close friend. 

Over the past four decades she has trodden 

many stages – not in the West End, but in 

lecture theatres all over Britain and overseas, 

becoming increasingly well known throughout 

the astrological world (first as Pam Bennett, 

and since 1981 as Pam Crane) as a counsellor, 

Angeles store team into shape and work 

with some incredible movie material, not to 

mention meeting a range of amazing industry 

professionals. 

Sian considers her Central training and 

production experience in theatre, TV and film 

as priceless for her job in this unusual industry. 

She says, “None of this would be possible without 

the great foundations I built upon whilst at the 

Central School of Speech & Drama.” 

Sian Anderson (courtesy of the Prop Store) 

Pam Crane being interviewed in Coventry by Marty Jopson for BBC’s The One Show (photo by Gerard Crane) 

teacher, innovative researcher, lecturer, 

broadcaster and writer. Her first book Draconic 

Astrology was published in 1987, followed in 

2000 by The Draconic Chart. The many articles 

she has contributed over the years to the AA 

Journal and other international magazines, 

together with those she writes in her online 

bulletin ‘Small World’, are collected on her 

website www.TheHolyTwelve.co.uk 

The work that has engaged Pam most intensely 

since her ordination to Deacon in the Liberal 

Catholic Church in 1992 has been detailed 

research on the nativities of Jesus and Mary. 

The extraordinary story of this work and the 

remarkable series of charts that support her 

conclusions can all be found on her website, 

and will appear in the new edition of her book, 

currently in preparation. It has also involved her 

with the BBC, appearing on documentary series 

Everyman on BBC1 and Beyond Belief for Radio 

4. To her delight, the BBC also noticed a tiny piece 

she sent to the People’s War website and three 

times since 2005 has filmed with her the story of 

her father Ted Simmonds’ work for the citizens 

of Coventry the day after the WW2 Blitz. 

Pam now lives in Llandudno in Wales with 

husband Gerard, reads for the local Talking 

Newspaper, and continues to push the 

boundaries of the subject that she loves.


stage News 

Clockwise from top left: Cush Jumbo in J’ai Deux Amour – The Josephine Baker Story (courtesy of Cush Jumbo), Craig Pinder in Othello (photo by Mike Eddowes, courtesy of the Nuffield Theatre, Southampton), Audrey Brisson 

in The Wild Bride (photo by Steve Tanner, courtesy of Kneehigh), Tom Keeling in Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (courtesy of Crawford McMillan Photography), Stewart Wright (second from left) in Swallows and Amazons 

(photo by Simon Annand, courtesy of Bristol Old Vic), Lindsay Duncan (courtesy of Independent Talent). 

Central graduates treading 

the boards and working behind 

the curtain. 

eTCeTerA TheATre 

Cush Jumbo (BA A 06) performed her 

one-woman show J’ai Deux Amour – The 

Josephine Baker Story at Etcetera Theatre on 

20 September 2011. Cush wrote and directed 

the piece, which has since been picked up to 

be produced jointly by the ETT and Playful 

Productions and will be performed in winter 

2012 at a London venue yet to be confirmed. 

NoTTiNGhAm plAyhouse 

Tom Keeling (MA MT 10) has been cast in 

the title role of Arthur Seaton in a new musical 

adaptation of Alan Sillitoe’s Saturday Night and 

Sunday Morning at the Nottingham Playhouse. 

The production is written, composed and 

created by and for Nottingham people, keeping it 

as close to the original text as possible. It initially 

runs for a week in May 2012 for previews and a 

gala opening. 

bloomsbury TheATre 

Andrew Mathys (MA AMT 06) performed 

with the Birmingham Stage Company in Philip 

Pullman’s The Firework Maker’s Daughter at the 

Bloomsbury Theatre from December 2011 until 

January 2012. 

royAl shAKespeAre Company 

Anna Morrissey (MA MS 05) was the 

Movement Director for the RSC’s production of 

Marat/Sade, which played from 14 October – 5 

November 2011 at the Royal Festival Theatre in 

Stratford-upon-Avon. 

NATioNAl TheATre 

Claudie Blakley (S 95) starred alongside 

Lenny Henry in the National Theatre’s 

production of The Comedy of Errors. She won 

rave reviews for her performance as Adriana: 

“Claudie Blakley portrays wifely love and 

concern without shortchanging the comedy”, 

said Ian Shuttleworth of the Financial 

Times… and the Metro called her performance 

“outstanding.” 

brisTol old viC 

Audrey Brisson (BA A 09) appeared in 

Kneehigh Theatre’s production of The Wild 

Bride at St George’s in Bristol (Part of Bristol 

Old Vic programme) and on a national tour 

throughout October and November 2011. 

Fellow alumnus David Jubb (MA ATP 98) is 

Chair of Kneehigh Theatre company. 

bATTerseA ArTs CeNTre 

Will Glenn (MA ATP 11) directed Mend at the 

Battersea Arts Centre, as part of their Freshly 

Scratched event. 

Nuffield TheATre 

Craig Pinder (MA ATC 08) played the 

lead role in Othello at the Nuffield Theatre 

Southampton from 14 September – 31 October 

2011. He has also been working with Upside 

Out Theatre Company, playing Willy Loman in 

Death of a Salesman until 16 December 2011. 

Noël CowArd TheATre 

Lindsay Duncan (S 74) will star as Judith Bliss, 

alongside Jeremy Northern, Kevin McNally and 

Olivia Colman in Hay Fever at the Noël Coward 

Theatre from 10 February until 2 June 2012. 

Curve TheATre 

Catherine Russell (S 86) completed her run as 

Rosie in the West End’s production of Mamma 

Mia, before going on to play Nurse Ratched in One 

Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest at the Curve Theatre 

Leicester from 14 October – 5 November 2011. 

vAudeville TheATre 

Stewart Wright (BA A 96) played the lead role 

of Roger Walker in Tom Morris’ Swallows and 

Amazons at the Vaudeville Theatre (a Bristol 

Old Vic co-production with the National) from 

December 2011 – January 2012. 

Apollo viCToriA TheATre 

Lillie Flynn (BA A 07) and Gina Beck 

(BA A 04) appear as Nessarose and Glinda 

respectively, in the West End production of 

Wicked from 11 December 2011. 

spoTliGhT oN puppeTry 

Matt Hutchinson (BA TP 11) worked on 

The Wild Night of the Witches at the Little 

Angel Theatre during September 2011, which 

showcased long string marionette puppetry. 

The show revived the first ever production 

performed on the Little Angel stage 50 years 

ago. Following this, Matt assisted puppet 

designer Peter O’Rourke for Norwich Puppet 

Theatre’s adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood 

and was also involved in creating puppets 

for Theatre-Rites’ production of Mojo at the 

Barbican, both shows opening in December 

2011. Alumna Yvonne Stone (BA TP 03) was 

also involved in the latter show. Alongside 

this, Matt has also been providing puppetry 

technical support for War Horse – the sell-out 

phenomenon at the New London Theatre. 

Rouge28 Theatre’s production of Urashima Taro (courtesy of Monika Kita) 

The current company also features fellow 

alumni Matthew Forbes (BA A 08), Emily 

Cooper (BA TP 04), Meghan Treadway 

(BA A 10), Sam Clarke (BA A 10), Jack 

Parker (BA A 10) and Richard Cant (S 89) 

in various roles as puppeteers and actors – as 

well as Toby Olié (BA TP 06) as a consultant 

for the production. 

Isabel Lyster and Jemima Yong (BA TP 

11) worked with Nenagh Watson (Central 

Creative Fellow) on Concertina for the Gods 

in November, as part of SUSPENSE 2011 – 

the London Puppetry Festival. Inspired by 

writer Dennis Silk, the piece follows an erratic 

narrative about the travels of an umbrella and 

employs the use of Ephemeral Animation – a 

term created by Nenagh to describe objects 

brought to life in performance by natural 

elements. 

Paul Piris (MA ATP 06) is Artistic Director 

of Rouge28 Theatre. He and Aya Nakamura 

(also MA ATP 06) have been collaborating on 

their latest project, Urashima Taro – which has 

toured for a year across Britain and to many 

international puppetry festivals. Most recently, 

they performed at the World Festival of Puppet 

Theatres in Charleville-Mezieres, France, the 

largest puppet festival in the world; at Decibel 

Performing Arts showcase in Manchester; and 

at the Skipton International Puppet Festival. 

2012 will see the production take part in the 

Festival Marionnet’IC in Bretagne, France. 

Further details can be found on the company’s 

website www.rouge28theatre.co.uk 

Central is one of the only UK institutions to 

offer specialist puppetry training. For more 

information visit www.cssd.ac.uk/study 

War Horse (courtesy of the National Theatre)


showing your support for central 

If you believe that your Central training has a positive impact on your career, please consider lending your 

support to secure the future of the School. There are many thousand alumni and together we can make a 

huge difference in helping those wishing to follow in your footsteps. 

1 9 0 6 

The Pivot Club 

s u p p o r t i n g c e n t r a l 

“My Pivot scholarship meant 

everything to me. It enabled me 

to complete the course at Central 

and therefore provided the basis 

for my entire career.” 

Beryl King (T 50), Original Pivot Scholar 

“Thanks to the kindness and 

generosity of Central’s donors I 

am now embarking on one of the 

most intensive and rewarding 

years of my life and I have the 

chance to achieve my dream. 

This simply wouldn’t have been 

possible without a scholarship.” 

Nigel Allen (MA AS), Current Central Scholar 

The pivoT Club 

Recent changes to the way 

universities are financed have 

meant that Central has had to 

compensate for drastic losses in 

funding from the government. As 

such, we have to find new ways 

to support the School and its 

students, so we are turning to our 

alumni for help. 

As we reported in the last issue of the newsletter, 

we are very pleased to announce the launch of 

the newly-reformed Pivot Club and we would 

like to take this opportunity to invite all friends 

and alumni of Central to consider joining, and 

helping us to raise much-needed funds. 

Pivot Friend: 

£50+ per annum 

> Mailing of our termly calendar of productions 

and events 

> Acknowledgement on the Central website 

The Pivot Club Circle: 

£250+ per annum 

The above privileges plus: 

> Complimentary invitations to private 

exhibitions such as prop-making, costumemaking 

and scenic design, plus theatre 

festivals and industry speaker events 

> Two free show tickets* per term 

> Invitations to our regular pre and post show 

receptions with the cast 

> Biannual copies of the Central Newsletter 

The Pivot Club Stalls: 

£1,000+ per annum 


> Two additional free show tickets per term* 

(four in total) 

> Invitations to attend exclusive internal events 

The Pivot Club Stage: 



> A named scholarship for one year 


(six in total) 

> Access to our annual, invitation only, acting 

showcase 

> The opportunity to attend a London show 

featuring a Central alumnus with other Pivot 

Club Stage and Founder level members 

The Pivot Club Founders: 




(eight in total) 

> A short performance, reading or song for you 

and your guests 

> Invitation to the Founders Dinner hosted by 

the Pivot Club President and special guests 

> Recognition on Central’s production publicity 

> Named recognition in the foyer of Central’s 

Embassy Theatre 

Benefits correct at the time of going to print 

* Show tickets are subject to availability and must be booked 

via the Department of External Affairs 

oTher wAys To supporT 

Remembering Central in your will 

Pledging a legacy as part of your will is a way of 

making a lasting gift to help support the School 

and future generations of Central students. We 

strongly advise you to consult your legal advisor 

before drafting a new will or updating an existing 

one. It is entirely up to you whether or not you 

wish to disclose any of the details of your will to 

Central; however, it would help us to plan for the 

future if we know of your intentions in advance. 

Introduce us 

Perhaps an individual or organisation you know 

would be interested in sponsoring, or donating 

to Central or providing a contribution in kind. 

Could you introduce us? 

To make a donation or to join The Pivot Club please complete and return the enclosed 

feedback/donation form. For further information about supporting Central, visit 

www.ccsd.ac.uk/giving/pivot-club or contact Meg Ryan on +44(0)20 7449 1636 or at 

meg.ryan@cssd.ac.uk 

The verA sArGeNT AwArd 

In the last edition of the 

newsletter we reported on 

our wish to set up an award in 

memory of Vera Sargent (or 

‘Sarge’ as she was known to 

many), who passed away on 15 

January 2011 at the age of 102. 

Vera was an inimitable figure in Central’s 

history and her generosity of spirit had an effect 

on many of the students who passed through 

Central’s doors during her 40 years as registrar 

and school secretary. 

Since the last issue, we are delighted to 

announce that we have received over £500 in 

donations from alumni who were moved to 

support Central in Vera’s honour. Our sincere 

thanks go to those who have contributed so far. 

It is our hope that the fund will reach £1,000, 

enabling us to create a number of small awards, 

our pAsT meeTs our fuTure 

Pieter Hofman. Photograph courtesy of Eugene Swartz. 

Alumnus Pieter Hofman (SM 67) explains 

why he made the decision to pledge his 

support to the School and help ensure that 

exceptional students can benefit from the 

Central experience. 

“In 2010, it became quite clear that, given the 

changes in government funding, it would be 

of great help if alumni were able to lend their 

support to talented students in financial need. 

which can be presented to Central students of 

merit, helping us to keep Vera’s memory alive 

and support as many students as possible. 

If you have not yet made a donation but would 

like to, then simply complete and return the 

enclosed form, indicating that your gift is for the 

Vera Sargent Scholarship Fund. Whether a large 

or smaller gift, please consider lending your 

support to help us reach our target and ensure 

that talented students can benefit from these 

special awards. 

If you have any questions about the fund, 

or would like discuss making a significant 

contribution to allow these awards to be 

given on an annual basis, please contact 

Meg Ryan on +44 (0)20 7449 1636 or at 

meg.ryan@cssd.ac.uk 

Central also hosted a memorial reception to 

commemorate the life of Vera Sargent on 

26 October 2011. Read more about 

it on page 28. 

Different ways to donate were suggested by 

Central at the time. 

Although being quite happy to do as suggested I 

felt I would rather aim for something on a more 

permanent basis and still be able to enjoy the 

result. Since then, I have decided to donate an 

annual amount to the School over the next 15 

years. Although I was afraid that my donation 

might be just a drop in the ocean, I have already 

been proven wrong. Over the past two years, my 

contributions have assisted one talented student 

with that little extra support that he needed, 

enabling him to finish what he set out to do – to 

make the best possible start in our profession. 

Donating to Central makes me reminisce about 

the great time I had there, which formed the 

start to a wonderful career. At the same time it is 

thrilling to play a role in the development of future 

talent. No doubt a “win-win” situation. So please 

do join me and let’s help the next generation of 

industry professionals!” 

Jeremy Brett (courtesy Granada/ITV) 

AlumNus Jeremy breTT 

hoNoured wiTh A 

NAmed sCholArship 

On the anniversary of one of the UK’s most 

celebrated actors’ deaths, an Italian donor and fan 

of alumnus Jeremy Brett (S 54) (who starred 

most famously as Sherlock Holmes in the ITV/ 

Granada show of the same name from 1984- 

1994) has come forward as a founder member of 

The Pivot Club to establish a named scholarship 

programme in his honour, for Central students 

needing financial support. 

To commemorate Jeremy’s contribution to acting 

and his mental health advocacy work, as well as his 

dream to found a school for unemployed actors, 

Ms Pia Trona of Perugia, Italy, has generously 

given Central the funds to establish a scholarship 

programme covering fees for up to five students 

in 2011-12, with further awards to be granted in 

2012-13 and 2013-14. 

Ms Trona said, “Jeremy Brett is an inspiration 

to me, and I wanted to be able to find a way to 

help him to be remembered amongst the next 

generation of Central students so that his legacy 

might continue. I couldn’t fund a whole school the 

way he dreamt of doing, but I hope that by making 

this gift I can help in some way make a difference 

in the life of a hard-working, talented student.” 

With the increase in student fees in 2012, the 

need for student financial support has never 

been greater. As well as providing financial aid to 

scholars, scholarships which support students 

thus help enable the dramatic arts to flourish in 

the future. 

These scholarships are an integral part of the 

wider fundraising programme at Central and 

we hope that other donors will support these 

awards or alternatively create and develop other 

scholarships, encouraging the next generation 

of students to pursue their vocation, just as 

Jeremy Brett did.


AlumNi in the building 

Alumni are warmly welcomed back to Central as visiting speakers, to collaborate on student projects, to 

attend events, to mentor and to encourage and guide current students in wide variety of ways. If you are 

planning a visit, please let us know by contacting the Alumni Office at alumni@cssd.ac.uk 

David Horovitch 

David Horovitch (S 66) returned to Central 

on 8 November 2011 to do a Q&A with the 

MA Acting for Screen students, who were in 

the middle of a project studying Mike Leigh 

films. David spoke about how he constructs 

characters and his experience of working with 

Mike Leigh on Grief at the National Theatre. 

Speaking to the Alumni Office, David said, “It 

was a pleasure to talk to the students and to 

field their intelligent and perceptive questions. 

Warmest wishes to them all in their careers!” 

Sara Clark (BA TP 11) has been working as 

Graduate Assistant on the Puppetry strand of 

the BA Theatre Practice course. 

Kelly Vassie (BA TP 05) and Abby Berridge 

(BA TP 10) were Designer and Production 

Manager, respectively, on two projects by 

second year students on Central’s BA DATE 

course. Both plays were inspired by Chekhov’s 

Three Sisters and were directed by Lynne 

Kendrick (Lecturer in Drama) and Gareth 

White (Lecturer in Applied Theatre). 

Vicky Araico Casas (MA MS 09), Anna 

Healey (MA MS 09), Ita O’Brien (MA MS 

07) and Maria Clarke (MA MS 05) all taught 

on the BA Acting, MA Acting and MA Acting 

for Screen courses in the autumn term. 

Kate Sagovsky (MA MS 07) returned to talk 

to MA Movement Studies students about her 

experiences as a placement movement 

director at the RSC. 

iN CoNversATioN wiTh NoNso ANoZie ANd JAmes eArl JoNes 

On Thursday 17 November 2011, 

Central’s Senior Lecturer in Voice, 

Claudette Williams, hosted an ‘in 

conversation’ with alumnus Nonso 

Anozie (BA A 02) and multi awardwinning 

actor James Earl Jones. 

Image opposite: Central students and alumni with Nonso Anozie 

and James Earl Jones (photo by Ken Mizutani) 

The event was organised by the newly formed 

Black and Asian Alumni Network (BAAN), 

whose mission is to keep BME graduates 

of Central in contact with one another 

after completing their studies. The group is 

dedicated to documenting and celebrating the 

range of international artists, academics and 

practitioners who have studied at the School. 

BAAN’s objective is to develop a strong and 

supportive network of Black and Asian alumni 

to address pertinent issues and to enhance 

the current students’ learning experience by 

inviting leading actors, writers, academics and 

others to Central to give talks and workshops. 

Nonso, who won the award for Male 

Performance in TV at the 2011 Screen Nation 

Awards and was most recently seen in Game 

of Thrones, asked James Earl about his 

experience as a black actor in the industry, his 

Amit Gupta (MA ATP 97) re-visited Central 

on 28 November 2011 to do a Q&A with MA 

Advanced Theatre Practice students. As a 

writer, Amit contributed to The Great Game 

at the Tricycle Theatre – a themed collection 

of plays nominated for a 2010 Laurence 

Olivier Award. He most recently directed the 

acclaimed feature film, Resistance. 

Victoria Aitken (MA MT 09), who most 

recently played Jason Costello in Hollyoaks (the 

first transsexual teen in a UK soap opera) was 

a guest at the Gendered Intelligence Holiday 

Party and Silent Art Auction, which Central 

hosted on Friday 9 December 2011. She donated 

an original piece of artwork from the Hollyoaks 

set to the Art Auction. My Transsexual 

Summer contributors, Ralph Francis Fox 

and Maxwell Zachs also attended the event. 

Gendered Intelligence is a Community Interest 

Company (www.genderedintelligence.co.uk), 

whose co-Directors are Jay Stewart (Visiting 

Professional at Central) and Dr. Catherine 

McNamara (Deputy Dean of Studies, PGCE 

D 98) 

James Purefoy (S 88), Scott Handy (S 93), 

Andrew Garfield (BA A 04) and Cicely 

Berry (T 46) are just a handful of the other 

alumni who have returned to Central in the past 

12 months to work with students or assist on 

productions. 

most memorable roles and how it felt to win an 

honorary Academy Award a few days earlier. 

James Earl gave an inspiring insight into a 

career spanning over five decades and offered 

invaluable advice to the actors in the room. 

He had graciously taken time out from his 

busy schedule during a run at the Wyndhams 

Theatre, where he was performing alongside 

Central alumna Vanessa Redgrave (S 57) in 

Driving Miss Daisy. 

Central was delighted to welcome back Nonso 

and a number of other alumni, including; 

Alisha Bailey (BA A 09), Shenae Anderson 

(BA A 10), Leemore M Junior (BA A 09) and 

Ashley Hunter (BA A 11). 

For further information about BAAN group, 

please contact Claudette Williams at 

claudette.williams@cssd.ac.uk 

spoTliGhT oN pArroT 

{iN The} TANK 

Parrot {in the} Tank is a company 

made up Central alumni Anisha 

Field, Joe Connor, Sam Bailey, 

Eva Liparova, Sam Smith, Tom 

Gibbons, Jay Mobbs-Beal and 

Gabriella Gerdelics (all BA TP 08). 

Since graduating, Parrot {in the} Tank 

has been busy learning names of over 200 

students from Central, as their education 

programmes have seen them return to 

the building to teach; devising workshops 

with BA Performance Arts, mentoring BA 

Theatre Practice students, and developing 

the brand new Creative Producing MA with 

the Principal Lecturer of the course, Jessica 

Bowles. 

First returning to Central in 2009 as Visiting 

Lecturers, the company members have been 

frequent faces at the school. Eva Liparova, 

Producer and Co-Director of the company 

said, “It’s been a fantastic experience. Central 

students are lively, clever and have a natural 

ability to innovate. We hope we’ve passed on 

some useful navigation techniques. Teaching 

so early after graduating has given us an 

opportunity to reflect on what we do and 

why we do it.” 

The company formed in 2006 whilst studying 

at Central, with members having come 

Parrot {in the} Tank’s production of Champagne Breakfast (photo by Joe Connor) 

from six different strands of BA Theatre 

Practice. Creating work in which lighting 

and sound act as storytellers alongside 

performers, the company was formed from 

a desire to tell everyday stories through 

visually stunning design – an ethos which 

has seen members of the company work with 

the likes of Punchdrunk, Complicite and 

dreamthinkspeak. 

Eva adds, “We work in collaboration, as if 

each craft was a directing tool. We have roles 

in the process, but the fun of making lies in 

the discovery of new ideas, the sharing of the 

‘light-bulb moment’ together.” 

Having created work for the Roundhouse, 

the ICA & the artsdepot, Parrot {in the} 

Tank became the Artistic Associates at 

artsdepot in 2009 and have enjoyed working 

within the building since. They developed 

a new show called Champagne Breakfast in 

association with artsdepot, with the help of 

the Arts Council England and mentorship of 

Inspector Sands. 

They hope to further develop the project 

in 2012 and come back with yet more 

experiences to share with Central students in 

the future.


Alumni Abroad 

Central alumni are spread far and wide, making their mark across the globe. 

AusTrAliA 

After graduating, Lisa Apostolides (T 88) 

returned to Central in 1990 as a Teaching 

Practice tutor, as well as to run some workshops 

with B.Ed.Hons students and Advance Voice 

students. Since then she has held teaching 

positions in drama, theatre and media studies in 

the UK, Hungary, Solomon Islands and Australia, 

and has been involved in the film industry on 

both sides of the camera. She now currently 

runs the Byron Bay Youth Theatre in New South 

Wales, Australia and has re-registered as a drama 

teacher in the area. 

CubA 

In October 2011, Susan Wooldridge (S 71) and 

a small group of actors went to Cuba to present 

excerpts from plays, poems and prose by Nobel 

Prize winning playwright and Central alumnus 

Harold Pinter (S 51). The show, entitled Harold 

Pinter in Cuba, was part of the International 

Theatre Festival in Havana, and was developed 

following Lady Antonia Fraser’s acceptance of 

Cuba’s International Medal of Friendship in 

2008, on behalf of her late husband. 

The shows were sold out, even though Havana 

audiences were unfamiliar with Harold Pinter’s 

work. Despite daily struggles against poverty 

caused by the American embargo, books in Cuba 

are treasured and culture remains at the heart 

of everyday life. Remarking that the high point 

came with the world premiere of Harold Pinter’s 

recently-discovered sketch, Umbrellas, Susan 

said, “It was a marvellous present to take; the 

Cubans never expecting to be deemed worthy by 

the world-at-large of being given anything first. I 

think Harold would have heartily approved!” 

frANCe 

Mike-Lee Gentle (BA DATE 10) directed 

a musical for the 7th UNESCO (The United 

Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural 

Organization) Youth Forum, which took place 

in October 2011 at the UNESCO Headquarters 

in Paris. It addressed the theme “How youth 

drive change” and examined the concrete 

ways in which youth constructively contribute 

towards building a culture of peace, supporting 

good governance and promoting economic 

opportunity. The musical opened the conference 

and featured current BA DATE students as 

well as Central alumni Chris Johnson (BA 

DATE 10), Daniel Harries (BA DATE 11) and 

Candice La Touché (BA DATE 10). 

iTAly 

Alicia Harris (MA DMT 10) was selected 

to attend the European Consortium for Arts 

Therapies (ECARTE) in Lucca, Italy as a 

researcher and representative for the Sesame 

Institute. In response to the conference Alicia 

wrote a report, which was published in the 

autumn 2011 issue of the Sesame Journal. 

Most recently, Alicia is delighted to have been 

invited to become a Trustee for the Sesame 

Institute and looks forward to fulfilling her role. 

Alicia is currently working for Roundabout, in 

association with the National Autistic Society, 

and is very much enjoying her work as a drama 

therapist. 

usA 

Stephen Pucci (MA CA 09) made his Broadway 

debut in autumn 2011 at the Longacre Theatre 

in Chinglish – the latest work from Tony Awardwinning 

playwright David Henry Hwang 

(M. Butterfly). The play, directed by Obie and 

Drama Desk Award-winning director Leigh 

Silverman, received its world premiere at the 

Goodman Theatre in Chicago in July. After a 

critically-acclaimed extended run, producers 

announced the imminent move to New York. 

Chinglish follows an American businessman, 

Daniel Cavanaugh, into provincial China as 

he desperately seeks to score a lucrative, if 

somewhat elusive, contract for his family’s 

sign-making firm. To facilitate the deal, he 

hires British expat Peter Timms (Pucci) – a 

Mandarin-speaking business consultant, who 

has the knowledge and skills to open doors for 

Daniel. Variety notes Pucci’s performance as 

one… “played with great comic verve,” whilst 

The New Yorker calls Stephen “a real star in 

the making.” 

Tim Crouch and Hannah Ringham (MA 

ATP) performed in Tim Crouch’s awardwinning 

England at the Skirball Cultural Centre 

in Los Angeles from 9 – 13 November 2011. 

Rajha Shakiry (MA S 11) performed as 

part of the Skills Ensemble in Philip Glass’ 

Satyagraha at the Metropolitan Opera, New 

Left to right: Central alumni and 

students at UNESCO (photo courtesy 

of Mike-Lee Gentle), Susan Wooldridge 

(fourth from right) and the cast of 

Harold Pinter in Cuba (photo courtesy 

of Susan Wooldridge), Stephen Pucci, 

The ECARTE conference in Italy 

(courtesy ECARTE/Sesame Institute). 

York. The production is based on Mahatma 

Gandhi’s early years in South Africa and 

explores how the spiritual and political leader 

developed non-violent protest into a powerful 

force for change. Using projection, aerialist 

work and puppetry, the story of Gandhi’s 

struggle is told. A performance on Saturday 

19th November 2011 was screened live around 

the globe, as part of the Met Opera. 

The NeTherlANds 

Phoebe Allies (BA TP 09) is working as 

Assistant Tailor for De Nederlandse Opera at 

Het Muziektheater Amsterdam. Her career as 

a freelance theatrical tailor was also featured in 

the Working Life section of the Guardian back in 

August 2011. 

iNTerNATioNAl Tours 

Sinéad Rushe (MA ATP 98 and Lecturer in 

Acting and Movement) directed a dance-theatre 

show, Out of Time, which toured the USA, 

Brazil, Ireland and France from October 2011 – 

February 2012. 

stay connected 

wherever you are! 

Alumni facebook groups 

Whether you are based abroad permanently or 

find yourself visiting a particular area, joining 

one of our international alumni groups will 

ensure that you’re kept up-to-date with news 

and developments in your region: 

> USA West coast network (search for 

’Central Alumni – USA West Coast’) 

> USA East coast network (search for 

‘Central Alumni – USA East Coast’). Meet 

our US East Coast alumni rep on page 28. 

> Australian network (search for ‘Central 

Alumni – Australia) 

> East Asian network (search for ‘CSSD 

Alumni – East Asia’) 

> German network (search for Central 

Alumni – Germany’) 

> Dutch network (contact the Alumni 

Office who will put you in touch with Pieter 

Hofman, group representative) 

Don’t forget to also join our main alumni group 

(search for ‘CSSD Alumni News – Official 

Site’). 

The aim of these networks is to allow members 

to make new contacts with people whom share 

a common history, provide expertise and advice 

in a range of areas, support each other with 

business and career advancement opportunities 

and knowledge sharing and promote their work. 

It is hoped that the groups will develop beyond 

the online environment and allow graduates to 

meet and network in the real world too, as well 

as providing a forum for current and prospective 

students to seek advice from alumni. 

If you live, or spend significant amounts of time 

working in any of the above mentioned areas, 

please do join the groups and help us to spread 

news of them on Facebook. 

If you’re interested in becoming an 

international representative for an 

overseas group, please do contact us. 

We are also looking for 10 Facebook 

Ambassadors to help us build our alumni 

community. If you have your finger on the 

pulse of the Arts industry and love social 

media, please contact the Alumni Office 

for more information about how you can 

help on +44 (0)20 7559 3991 or 

at alumni@cssd.ac.uk


school-wide news 

Performance in the SU bar as part of Black History Month at Central (photo by Rajai Denbrook) 

News from The sTudeNT uNioN 

Student Union President, Ben 

Giddins (BA TP 11) gives an 

insight into current activities 

and developments within the 

SU at Central. 

“The Students’ Union at Central is here to 

support and represent all students beyond 

their academic courses. I strongly believe that 

the student experience should extend beyond 

your academic course and that the SU is there 

to provide this through a wealth of activities, 

events and support to all students. 

The Union operates on four different levels. 

Firstly, it gives general support and welfare 

advice for all students at Central; be it support 

for academic problems, money advice, sexual 

health guidance or housing advice. We also 

work extensively to provide all students 

with a wealth of activities, societies and 

entertainments for a chance to relax, blow off 

steam and engage with other students from 

Central. All events and activities are open to all 

students and include: Glee Club, Music Society 

and Post Graduate Performance Society as 

well as Quiz, Cabaret and Burlesque and Friday 

Club Nights in the SU Bar. 

The SU also has variety of officers devoted 

to supporting diversity and equality in the 

student body. Their work ranges from raising 

awareness of LGBT campaigns to supporting 

international students and running events 

to bring other cultures to the student body. 

We ran a very successful series of events for 

Black History Month in October 2011, which 

culminated in a night of live performance from 

black and ethnic minority musicians, spoken 

word and rap artists. 

And finally, we actively engage in charitable, 

political and social issues that affect students 

or issues that the students feel are important to 

them. Last term we supported Breast Cancer 

Care, Children In Need, Movember, Dementia 

UK and Children’s HIV Association. We also 

participated in the Student Demonstration 

on 9 November 2011, being the only specialist 

drama school present on the march and 

bringing our own creative style to positive and 

peaceful protest. Central could be seen on all 

major news channels and pictures and quotes 

from our students have featured on many of the 

online newspapers in particular the Guardian 

and Channel 4 News.” 

Nicholas Wood, Course Leader MA Advanced Theatre Practice 

La Fille à la Mode by dANTE OR dIE. Copyright Ludovic Des Cognets and National Theatre. 

programme spotlight: 

mA AdvANCed TheATre prACTiCe – CoNTiNuiTy ANd ChANGe 

Nicholas Wood, Senior Lecturer in 

Dramaturgy and Course Leader of 

Advanced Theatre Practice, talks 

about the growth of the MA ATP 

course and how its graduates have 

impacted upon the industry. 

“Central’s MA Advanced Theatre Practice has 

now been running for nearly 20 years – long 

enough for its alumni to establish themselves 

outside the School and have a significant 

impact on the way we make and experience 

theatre today. 

The Shunt Performance Collective (1998), for 

example, have now had the time to undergo a 

whole cycle of development – first creating a 

series of ground-breaking site-specific shows; 

then becoming part of the National Theatre’s 

programme of events at London Bridge; next 

finding an entirely new audience with their 

invention of the Shunt Lounge; and finally 

becoming the centre of number of a number 

of new activities and satellite groups. We find 

Hannah Ringham (98), for example, touring 

with Tim Crouch (94) on his gallery-based 

work England; Gemma Brockis (98) making 

work with Rotozaza: and the brilliant new 

partnership of designer Lizzie Clachan (98) 

with director Katie Mitchell on Wastwater at the 

Royal Court. 

Another sign of the relative longevity of the 

course are the alumni who have had the time 

to climb difficult and testing career ladders. 

Amit Gupta (97), for example, who wrote his 

first short script on the MA Advanced Theatre 

Practice course, has moved through the Royal 

Court Writers programme, received an Olivier 

Award nomination for The Great Game: 

Afghanistan at the Tricycle Theatre; and with 

Resistance, recently directed his first featurelength 

film. And it’s encouraging to find Amit is 

still working with the same costume designer 

Nigel Egerton (96) whom he first started 

working with on the MA ATP course. 

Collaboration has always been a key feature 

of the course, and graduates have not only 

been successful in forming partnerships and 

companies during their time at Central, but also 

in creating new companies after they leave. The 

ground-breaking Peut-être, for example, recently 

invited to Washington by the British Council, is 

led by a group of MAATP alumnae – including 

director Daphna Attias (04), writer/dramaturg 

Rachel Barnett (04) and performer Maya 

Politaki (05). dANTE or dIE, recently at the 

National Theatre with La Fille à la Mode, is led by 

a similar grouping, with Terry O’Donovan (04) 

as Associate Director. 

Initiative and resourcefulness has always been 

encouraged on the course, and wherever there is 

new work being made, there are often MA ATP 

alumni there to make it happen. David Jubb 

(98), Artistic Director of the Battersea Arts 

Centre runs a power-house for the development 

and presentation of new companies; Matt 

Ball (03) assisted by Freya Elliott (07) was 

recently doing the same job at the Camden 

People’s Theatre, before moving to the National 

Theatre of Wales; Ben Harrison (96) is Artistic 

Director of Grid Iron; Hannah Barker (03) 

is Co-Artistic Director and Ric Watts (98) 

Producer of Analogue; Clare Lizzimore (02) is 

an Associate Director at the Hampstead Theatre 

developing New Writing; while Kyu Choi (04), 

founder of AsiaNow, is presenting innovative 

theatre around the world. 

Another reflection of the relative maturity of 

the course is the regular appearance of MA 

ATP alumni among the annual theatre prizes 

and awards. Numerous alumni appeared in the 

long-list for the 2011 Evening Standard Theatre 

Awards (see page 4); while Bijan Sheibani (01), 

together with Orla O’Loughlin (01) (recently 

appointed as Artistic Director of the Traverse 

Theatre, Edinburgh) and Caroline Steinbeis 

(03) have all in different years won the prestigious 

James Menzies-Kitchen Young Director Award. 

Continuing to develop in line with changes in our 

field, the course has recently been redesigned, 

and so far the signs are good that a new generation 

of MA ATP makers-and-shakers is emerging. 

Rob Drummer (10) for example, has been 

appointed as Literary Manger with High Tide to 

develop new writing; Like Enemies of the State, 

written and directed by Tommy Lexen (11) was 

recently performed at the Pleasance; while two 

companies from the most recently graduating 

year group – Stella* (Abigail Copeland, 

Alicia Radage and Sarah Grange) and In 

Transit (Valeria Escandon, Claire Thill 

and Nell Ranney) – were selected to take part 

in the Branching Out Festival at the Rosemary 

Branch Theatre. Present Attempt – James 

Bush, Alex Eisenberg and James Pinder 

(all 07) organised Showtime – a programme of 

new performance work at Riverside Studios. 

Meanwhile Lizzie West and Lauren Irving 

(both 10) are involved in planning and designing a 

completely new performance festival concept to 

take place in Devon in summer 2012. 

As the course gathers momentum, different 

generations of MA ATP alumni are now able 

to guide and support each other. Some like 

Sinéad Rushe (98) and Gregg Fisher (01), 

for example, hold appointments at Central; 

while others, such as Elyssa Livergant (03), 

Andy Purves (05), Alex Eisenberg (07) 

Joseph Mercier (08), Douglas O’Connell 

(03), Mischa Twitchin (03), Mark Down 

(96) and Amie Shilan (07) are regular visiting 

lecturers. Many of those undertaking Research 

Degrees at Central are MA Advanced Theatre 

Practice alumni; including the first two at 

Central – Dr. Broderick Chow (06) and 

Dr. Nando Messias (05). 

Building on this network of flexible individuals 

sharing a common experience and goals, I believe 

the MA Advanced Theatre Practice community 

is well placed to sustain itself into the future, 

constantly renewing itself and adapting to the 

many changes which occur.” 

For more information about the course 

please visit www.cssd.ac.uk/study


research at Central 

dr Aneta mancewicz 

Dr Aneta Mancewicz, a Marie 

Curie Research Fellow funded 

by the European Union (EU), 

has recently joined the 

Research Team. Her research 

is on ‘Intermedial Shakespeare 

on European Stages (ISES)’. 

“I am working on a two-year project exploring 

the uses of new media in performances of 

Shakespeare’s plays in six European countries 

over the last twenty years and aims to identify 

new tendencies in: contemporary theatre, 

Shakespearean interpretation, as well as 

European artistic and cultural production. 

The outcomes of the project will include: 

a book and conference papers, articles and 

theatre reviews, public talks and a oneday 

symposium involving researchers and 

practitioners. 

dr Joshua edelman 

Dr Joshua Edelman has also 

recently joined Central as 

Research and Enterprise Fellow. 

Dr Joshua Edelman 

I chose Central because it is a high-profile, 

specialist school, combining cutting-edge 

research on theatre and performance with 

vocational training and stage production. As 

such, it is an excellent institution for hosting a 

project which merges academia with theatre 

industry. Central is also ideal for research on 

stage production, since it has the largest staff 

grouping of academics working on theatre and 

the performing arts in Europe. 

As a fellow at Central I will work with 

Professor Robin Nelson, a specialist on 

intermediality and performance, and I will be 

a part of a vibrant community of academics, 

practitioners and students. Finally, my choice 

owes to the fact that Central is committed to 

fostering international cooperation and has 

experience of collaboration with partners 

across diverse areas of activity. 

The academic and administrative staff have 

extensive experience in applying, preparing 

and managing large, international grants, 

which is crucial for Marie-Curie fellowships 

funded by the EU.” 

“As the new Fellow in Research and Enterprise, 

I have the pleasure of working with Central’s 

excellent academic staff to support and 

assist in their research. It’s a very exciting 

job, and it gives me a chance to engage with 

the full breadth of research that Central 

does – from developments in technology and 

intermediality, to work with transgendered 

teenagers, to the latest techniques of 

Top to bottom: Dr Aneta Mancewicz, Intermedial Shakespeare on 

European Stages project (photo by Patrycja Stefanek) 

dramatherapy. It’s a dizzying list, and another 

part of my job is to make sure that the breadth 

and impact of that work is properly presented 

to funding bodies and the cultural industries. 

I came to Central from the Samuel Beckett 

Centre at Trinity College, Dublin, where I 

received my PhD in 2010. As a researcher, I’m 

interested in theatre as a living and critical 

social practice. 

I work in two main areas. The first is the policy 

and politics of theatre in contemporary Europe. 

With colleagues from around Europe, I’ve 

written on theatre politics in Ireland, and I’m 

currently working on a book about theatrical 

autonomy: what is it that makes theatre a 

distinctive and independent entity, and what 

effects does that independence have? 

The second area is the overlap between 

theatrical and religious performance, 

especially in the modern West. I am the 

co-convener of the Performance and Religion 

Working Group of the International Federation 

for Theatre Research, and I have given papers 

about Irish commemorations of the Easter 

Rising, contemporary Jewish liturgical music, 

and American street preaching. I’m currently 

co-editing a book on the performance of 

religion in the public sphere, and working on 

an article about the reception history of the 

famous Oberammergau Passion Play.” 

Rachel Cockburn 

phd student profile 

Rachel Cockburn, PhD 

student, tells us about her 

research and why she came to 

Central to study. 

“Having initially trained in physical theatre, 

I began my professional career working on a 

range of independent projects in Paris, London 

and South Korea. Returning to London in 

2006, I choose to further develop my practice 

and research profile by undertaking the MA 

in Performance Practices and Research here 

at Central. It was during this period at Central 

that I become engaged in practice as research 

and as a methodology and it is encouraging 

to see how the field has grown over the 

intervening years until now. 

I decided to return to Central to undertake the 

PhD in 2010. I am now entering my second 

year of the full-time PhD programme on 

the Elsie Fogerty Studentship. My research 

project focuses on issues surrounding 

autobiographical performance, in particular 

the notion of the bios – the life story. Where 

does it come from? Who shapes it? What 

does it mean to leave it out? The research is 

developing an autobiographical performance 

practice which looks at de-stabilising the 

notion of the bios, in turn raising questions 

about contemporary political and ethical 

agency. Having an interdisciplinary practice 

– media, sound, physical theatre and fine 

art – Central was my first choice due to its 

practice as research scope, and its vibrant mix 

of research staff and students. The School has 

also provided the opportunity to build up my 

teaching profile; this term I am leading the 

film text unit with second year BA students – a 

great challenge and experience.” 

reCeNT publiCATioNs by CeNTrAl sTAff 

Stephen Poliakoff: On Stage 

and Screen by Robin Nelson 

An overview of the theatre, film and 

television work of award-winning dramatist 

Stephen Poliakoff. 

The first book of its kind to examine 

Poliakoff’s entire oeuvre, this book is 

invaluable to students of theatre, film and 

television studies. While it has a critical 

frame, the book is accessibly written and, for 

the general reader, a particular attraction 

is the fascinating backstory of the Poliakoff 

family woven through the work. 

To a student audience, the book’s main appeal 

is likely to be the coverage for ‘the second 

starburst,’ – Poliakoff’s work for television 

between 1999 and 2009. 

Robin Nelson is Director of Research at 

Central and also Emeritus Professor at 

Manchester Metropolitan University where 

he was Professor of Theatre and Television 

Drama until 2010. His other publications 

include State of Play: contemporary ‘highend,’ 

TV Drama and the co-edited Mapping 

Intermediality in Performance. 

Theatre Noise: The Sound of 

Performance edited by Lynne 

Kendrick and David Roesner 

Theatre provides a unique habitat for noise. 

It is a place where friction can be thematised, 

explored playfully, even indulged in: friction 

between signal and receiver, sound and 

meaning, eye and ear, silence and utterance, 

hearing and listening. ‘Theatre noise’ captures 

a contemporary, agitatory acoustic aesthetic. 

It expresses the innate theatricality of 

sound design and performance, articulates 

the reach of auditory spaces, the art of 

vocality, the complexity of acts of audience, 

and the political in produced noises. This 

book presents a wide range of notions of 

and approaches to ‘noise’ – by no means 

an exhaustive list of possible readings and 

understandings, but a starting point from 

which scholarship, like sound, could travel 

in many directions. 

Lynne Kendrick is a lecturer in Drama at 

Central. Her research focuses on theatre 

practices and processes of performance, 

including actor training and applied 

performance. Recent publications include 

‘A Paidic Aesthetic’ in Theatre, Dance and 

Performance Training Vol 2, Routledge 2011. 

Lynne also works as a director and producer.


school of professional and Community devel opment News 

The School of Professional and Community Development (SPCD), an outward-facing department of Central, 

is committed to high quality enhancement and the application of knowledge about theatre and performance 

techniques within local, national and international communities. 

more drAmA 

Students from the Acting Diploma 2011 

cohort, one of SPCD’s short courses, staged 

two performances in the Webber Douglas 

studio to an audience of friends and family. 

The pieces were directed by Ben Buratta 

(MA ATC 07) and Dominic Rouse 

(BA A 02). 

The students have had great success, with 

many alumni now working professionally 

or going in to full time training in accredited 

drama schools including Central’s BA and 

MA programmes. 

The Musical Theatre Diploma performed 

a showcase of musical theatre pieces in 

August. They were visited by members 

of the West End cast of Chicago and were 

choreographed by Flik Swan (original 

member of Chicago and various West End 

shows) and directed by Stuart Sweeting. 

Students from Central’s Acting Diploma (photo by William Walsh) Musical Theatre Diploma students perform Chicago.(photo by William Walsh) 

rAiNbow power oN sTAGe 

The Front Room (photo by Bronwen Sharp) 

A group of young gay, lesbian and bisexual 

people will take to the stage in April 2012 

for the third time to offer their audience 

what promises to be another brilliant 

performance. 

Since proudly announcing in December 

2010 that the Big Lottery Fund awarded 

£60,000 for ‘Outbox’, an all Lesbian, Gay 

and Bisexual (LGB) project looking to 

create inter-generational work with LGB 

people for three years, the theatre company 

has created a truly funny and charming 

production. Ben Buratta, Project Leader 

and Director of Outbox, directed The Front 

Room. The play was a great triumph and 

had three sold out shows at The Drill Hall, 

London and a further success at MAC, 

Birmingham. 

The next performance is due to take place 

in April 2012 with participants engaging in 

the planning process from now onwards. 

For more information on forthcoming 

productions please contact Ben Buratta, 

Community Drama Officer, SPCD on +44 

(0)20 7512 4448 or ben.buratta@cssd.ac.uk 

CeNTrAl Goes 

dowN uNder 

Whilst most of us here at Central have had to 

brave the cold and dark every day to go to work, 

one member of staff had the joy of teaching a 

workshop in sunny Australia. 

Ben Buratta (MA ATC 07), Central’s 

Community Drama Officer, continued SPCD’s 

relationship with Melbourne Methodist 

Ladies College in December 2011. 

So besides getting a nice tan, Ben delivered 

Continuing Professional Development for 

their Performing Arts department. He worked 

with the teachers on how to incorporate 

contemporary acting practices into their 

curriculum and talked about the work that 

Central does. 

Alumni Nickolas Grace and Christopher Eccleston at the Stage Your Business event. Photo by Craig Sugden 

sTAGe your busiNess – TheATre 

produCTioN booTCAmp 

Although they may not have been breaking 

a sweat doing star jumps and crunches, over 

50 budding entrepreneurs were still put 

through their paces in Central’s Stage Your 

Business – Theatre Production Bootcamp. 

During this unique and innovative 

programme, which was taught over six 

intensive workshops with a line-up of 

star specialists and sector experts, the 

boot campers were trained in invaluable 

arts business skills. The course provided 

talented artists with effective business, 

marketing and funding strategies including 

legal and structural responsibilities. 

“The Bootcamp was hugely motivating and 

has given me the impetus and focus to get 

my new theatre company up and running. 

It was also very valuable to meet others in 

the same boat, compare notes and share 

knowledge and ideas,” said John Clark, 

Bootcamp participant. 

Stage Your Business, which is run by SPCD 

in partnership with the Roundhouse 

Theatre, and the enhancing and developing 

Cultural Camden initiative, was so 

successful that it is due to run again in May 

– June 2012. 

Amongst the experts, Stage Your Business 

welcomed Christopher Eccleston (S 86); 

Marcus Davey, Chief Executive and Artistic 

Director of the Roundhouse; Nickolas 

Grace (S 69); Scott Ambler, Choreographer 

and Associate Director of New Adventures; 

Doug Buist, Marketing Manager of 

Shakespeare’s Globe; Kumiko Mendle, 

Artistic Director of Yellow Earth; and John 

Spindler, CEO of Capital Enterprise. 

The programme was mentored by Central 

alumna Clara Giraud (MA TP 08), an 

independent creative producer. Clara 

provided a perspective from a current 

practitioner – how to overcome barriers 

in the current climate, as well ensuring 

personal development. 

Nickolas Grace explained that the industry 

throws unique challenges at budding 

businesses, particularly in these times of 

funding cuts. “At this time of economic 

recession, these courses are invaluable, to 

encourage us all to create our own work 

and try to inspire others to share that 

experience with us,” he said. 

The project is part-funded by the Royal 

Bank of Scotland Group, Inspiring 

Open Innovation Teams, EU Interreg 

programme, Capital Enterprise, 

Westminster Business School, and the 

Mayor of London’s Office in a scheme 

to provide specialist business training. 

Thanks to this generous funding, 

participants only had to pay £170 for six 

evening sessions. 

To be updated about, or to reserve a place in 

the next bootcamp starting in spring 2012, 

please contact Lizzie Yirrell on +44(0)20 

7559 3954 or email lizzie.yirrell@cssd.ac.uk


event round-up 

royAl AlberT hAll reuNioN ANd verA sArGeNT remembrANCe ediNburGh fesTivAl GATheriNG 

On Wednesday 26 October 2011, Central paid 

homage to the late Vera Sargent by hosting 

a memorial reception in her honour. The 

event coincided with the annual Royal Albert 

Hall Reunion and was a chance for alumni to 

reminisce about their time at the school and 

to raise a glass to Central’s former registrar 

and school secretary. Here, Beryl King (T 50) 

and Shirley Jaffe (S 54) recall their time at 

Central and share their memories of Vera. 

“It’s been 57 years since I left Central, but the 

years dropped away as I met old friends who 

shared the Behind the Iron Curtain trip to 

Bucharest and Warsaw, or remember while 

toasting her, how Miss Sargent (never Sarge to 

her face) terrified us all, or how Stephen Joseph 

directed Purcell’s King Arthur for the Coronation 

year. So many of my contemporaries have died, 

and it was fascinating to hear other people’s 

memories of them. We talked a lot about Jeremy 

Brett (née Huggins) and how Central now has 

a scholarship in his name. I was the first of the 

many girls he went out with in our three years. 

He bought me a cream cake for my 17th birthday 

when going to see South Pacific in the gallery 

of Drury Lane, and to see Gloriana at Covent 

Garden, and we met again in rep. In those days, 

the gentlemen – even students – paid!” 

Shirley Jaffe (S 54) 

CeNTrAl iN New yorK 

“‘Sarge’ was a remarkable woman who 

devoted the whole of her working life to the 

Central School. She steered it through the 

difficult financial times after the war, the very 

successful move to the Embassy Theatre, the 

negotiations for recognition and validation and 

much else. The fact that the School has become 

the revered institution it is today is due, in no 

small part, to her powers of administration 

and persuasion. 

I first knew her in 1944 when, at the age of 16, I 

became secretary to the Registrar and Principal 

of the School. My desk, with its huge, old 

typewriter, was in the corner of her office next 

to the theatre on the balcony floor of the Albert 

Hall. To students who only met her in an official 

capacity she may have seemed a formidable 

character, but she was, in fact, kind, generous 

and wise. When she and Thurbie (Gwynnth 

Thurburn), her life-long partner at work and 

at home, retired to their country cottage, Sarge 

turned her powers of organisation to the village 

fete, which quickly became one of the best in 

Suffolk!” 

Beryl King (T 50) 

Guests at Central’s New York event (photos by Mia Hanson). Clockwise from top left: Eliza Ventura, Wendy Gadian and Frank 

Ventura; Abby Eletz; Harprit Sekhon and Lynn Hover; Michael Grandage. 

Royal Albert Hall Reunion/Vera Sargent Remembrance Vera Sargent 

US East Coast Alumni 

Representative, Abby Eletz (BA 

A 11), reports on a special Central 

event that took place in New York 

on Monday 26 September 2011. 

“It was on a warm September evening in midtown 

Manhattan that the school’s President Michael 

Grandage told me that he owed his career success 

to his Central training. Well, actually, he told me – 

and a room full of 80 other US alumni and friends 

of the School. 

Michael was hosting a party in New York City 

to celebrate Central and the achievements of its 

graduates and colleagues both overseas and, ever 

increasingly, right here in the US. The party gave 

me the opportunity to meet graduates of technical 

theatre courses, fellow acting alums and teaching 

graduates, as well as Governors and American 

supporters of the school. Some alumni had 

graduated many years ago, and others had just left 

Eton Avenue this past summer (like me). It was 

lovely to be amongst so many ‘Centralites’ on the 

other side of the pond. I never realised that there 

was such a large number of us in New York! 

The celebration was also an important fundraiser 

to raise scholarships via membership of Central’s 

Pivot Club. The Club, first launched by Central 

alumni Sir Laurence Olivier and Dame Peggy 

Ashcroft in the 1920’s, is being re-launched to 

continue in the tradition of its founders and raise 

money for talented students without financial 

means (see page 16). Thank you to the alumni 

and friends who signed up to support this worthy 

cause during the gathering. The chance to study at 

Central is a life-changing one, and with your help 

we are on our way to giving that chance to many 

who would otherwise not be so lucky. Hopefully 

we can create many more American alumni along 

the way! 

After Michael’s party I volunteered to be the US 

East Coast Alumni Rep! This means that I am 

your contact if you’re a graduate visiting New 

York, if you’re a US alumnus living here or in the 

surrounding area, or if you’re just passing through. 

It’s my job to help organise occasions for alums to 

get together around the East Coast and to make 

sure we stay in contact and support each other in 

our careers. If you’d like to be kept up to date with 

news and opportunities, join the Central Alumni 

- USA East Coast Facebook group. You can also 

contact me at abbyeletz@gmail.com.” 

See page 21 for details on how you can 

become an overseas Alumni Rep. 

Edinburgh Festival Gathering 2011 

For the second year running, 

Central friends and alumni 

gathered together during the 

Edinburgh Fringe to celebrate 

Central’s contribution to the 

festival and to enjoy the home 

away from home atmosphere. 

The Edinburgh Festival is always an exciting 

time of year, with many Central students, 

alumni and friends performing in and 

visiting the city. Central graduates proudly 

contributed over 30 fantastic shows at this 

year’s line-up of performances. 

Professor Gavin Henderson, Principal of 

Central, explained, “The Edinburgh Fringe 

Festival is a pivotal date in the dramatic arts 

events calendar. In 2011, Central had a stellar 

representation and firmly left its stamp on 

the City!” 

Over 50 alumni and students joined Central 

staff for the alumni reunion in The Library 

Bar of The Gilded Balloon and met hosts 

Gavin Henderson (Principal), Sally Mackey 

(Deputy Dean of Studies), Nick Wood 

(Senior Lecturer, Dramaturgy and Course 

Leader, Advanced Theatre Practice) and Zoe 

Haddock (Alumni Relations Manager). 

It was wonderful to see so many Central 

faces gathered together so far from London. 

As an extra treat we were also joined by cast 

(in costume!) and crew from The Captain of 

Köpenick and SOLD – both performances 

which originated at Central. Our thanks 

go out to all who joined us for the event 

including special guests, Marcus Davey 

(Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the 

Roundhouse) and Joseph Seelig (Director of 

the London International Mime Festival). 

During the festival Central also held a free 

workshop and panel discussion for those 

interested in advancing their theatrical 

practice skill set. The workshop was 

particularly aimed at those interested in 

pursuing the MA Advanced Theatre Practice 

and course alumnus Mark Down (MA ATP 

96), Artistic Director of Blind Summit, joined 

the workshop panel. 

Congratulations go to those alumni whose 

theatre companies scooped awards at the 

festival, including; Analogue, Blind Summit, 

SOLD and Milk Presents, to name just a few. 

We hope you all enjoyed the Festival as much 

as we did, and that you will join us again this 

year on Monday 13 August. Full details will 

be confirmed closer to the time but in the 

meantime please save the date and spread 

the news.


iNTerNATioNAl CeNTre for voiCe 

ICV workshop led by Annie Ruth (copyright: UNESCO ITI) 

Jane Boston (Ad Dip 87), Senior Lecturer, 

Voice and Head of the International 

Centre for Voice talks about ICV highlights 

in 2011 and exciting news for 2012. 

“Over the past year, the International Centre for 

Voice has developed a programme in keeping 

with its long history, that speaks to graduates 

of Central and to practitioners and researchers 

who are collectively able to take advantage of 

Central’s unique position both within education 

and in bridging to the industry. 

Leading alumni in the voice industries have 

recently returned to Central, both to share 

their experiences and provide mentorship for 

up and coming practitioners, and importantly, 

to offer views, hunches and schema for future 

voice work in the field as voice researchers and 

practitioners. 

Notable dates included the State of Voice 

Discussion in December 2010; an alumni 

gathering at which over 80 past and present MA 

VS students attended keynotes by Barbara 

Houseman (T 79), John Wild (PG Dip VS 

94) and Jane Boston (Ad Dip 87). February 

2011 saw the launch of the Spoken Voice Choir 

under the tutelage of voice lecturer Sarah 

James (MA VS 10) for the Research Centre. 

This was followed with an Accent and Dialect 

Symposium in spring 2011, at which industry 

specialists (many of whom are graduates 

of Central), students and PHD researchers 

discussed aspects of working with this subject 

in the theatre and film industries today. 

Participants attended a range of specialist 

workshops in the afternoon and heard keynotes 

from Penny Dyer (T 79), Jan Haydn-Rowles 

(PG Dip VS 91), Neil Swain (MA VS 98) and 

Jeanette Nelson (AD Dip VS 88), all chaired 

by Elspeth Morrison (MA VS 00). The ICV 

will soon be formally announcing a follow on 

from this day in conjunction with the Royal 

Conservatoire for Scotland on 29 June 2012. 

May 2011 saw a return visit to the ICV by leading 

voice specialist Annie Morrison (Ad Dip 90), 

with her work on the teaching of articulation, 

as well as much welcomed representation from 

distinguished voice practitioner Catherine 

Fitzmaurice (T 58). 

The internationally acclaimed voice 

practitioner, Kristin Linklater, finished her 

pioneering two-year teaching accreditation 

programme at Central earlier this year and new 

connections were fostered with the Arthur 

Lessac Master Voice Teachers, through the 

work of Barry Kur, and the pioneering work 

of Annie Ruth, ex director of the leading New 

Zealand drama school, Toi Whakaari, on 

bi-culturalism, theatre structures and voice. 

Looking to the future, a key date for all alumni’s 

diary will be an evening to celebrate the work of 

Cicely Berry (T 46), in the Embassy Theatre 

on Friday 21 September 2012. The evening, 

hosted by the ICV, will allow the theatre industry 

and graduates of Central’s performance related 

degrees, to give thanks to, extend gratitude 

towards and most of all to celebrate, Cicely 

Berry. As one of the most distinguished of all 

Central’s graduates, who has contributed so 

much towards raising the profile of the subject 

voice to its current significant position in 

contemporary cultural life, it is timely that her 

work should be celebrated in this way.” 

Top to bottom: Gavin Henderson and Bette Bourne, Debbie Reynolds 

and Carrie Fisher (photos by Patrick Baldwin) 

Congratulations To 

The CeNTrAl GrAduATes 

of 2011 

On Monday 12 December, 

Central’s annual Graduation 

Ceremony took place at London’s 

Royal Festival Hall. 

Congratulations to 431 graduates from the Class 

of 2011 and a warm welcome into the alumni 

community. This year, we were delighted to 

also see four Honorary Fellowships presented 

alongside our graduating cohort, including: Carrie 

Fisher (S 77), who was introduced by her mother 

Debbie Reynolds; and Bette Bourne (S61). 

Alumna and Vice-President Carrie Fisher has 

been a compelling force in the industry since her 

feature film debut in the 1975 hit Shampoo, and 

became a cultural icon when she played Princess 

Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy. Alumnus 

Bette, born Peter Bourne, is an actor, drag queen 

and equal rights activist. After graduating, he 

went on to act on stage and television throughout 

the 1960s, appearing in TV series such as The 

Avengers and The Prisoner. 

Also receiving Honorary Fellowships were 

Joseph Seelig and Helen Lannaghan from 

the London International Mime Festival (the 

annual season of contemporary visual theatre) 

as the Festival’s founder/co-director and 

Festival Director, respectively. 

Video clips of the ceremony will shortly be 

available on YouTube. 

reseArCh eveNT News 

The following Research events 

and seminars took place at 

Central during the summer 

and autumn terms. 

Performing In Intermedial Spaces: 

Challenges and Opportunities 

Presented by Robin Nelson, Director of Research 

at Central, Matt Adams of Blast Theory and 

Julian Maynard Smith of Station House Opera 

and Creative Research Fellow at Central, this 

seminar mapped some of the key research 

questions in the field, placing particular 

emphasis on the impacts of intermedial 

practices and the claims made about them. 

Lessac Voice Workshop 

With Barry Kur 

A one-day workshop to introduce or refresh 

the basic concepts of Lessac Voice Training. 

This work was developed by the late Arthur 

Lessac, author of The Use and Training of the 

Human Voice. 

The Rituals of the NZ Maori: A Conduit 

for Theatre Practitioners in the Search 

for Immediacy and Efficacy 

Annie Ruth explained how the social 

improvisatory framework of encounters on the 

marae (Maori meeting place) can teach theatre 

practitioners a great deal about meeting and 

connecting with audiences. The combination of 

structure and improvisation, aligned to clarity 

around role and purpose, can shift the paradigm 

of the encounter. 

Introducing the Annual 

25 Year Reunion! 

Calling the Class of 1987 

Saturday 23 June, time tbc 

Join us for an informal reunion with the 

chance to re-visit the School and reminisce 

with your fellow classmates. Invitations 

will be sent to 1987 graduates from all 

courses in due course, but please save the 

date in the meantime and spread the word 

amongst your fellow classmates. 

Viewpoints: A conduit to theatrical 

‘Alive-Li-Ness’ that combines structure 

and spontaneity 

Workshops with Annie Ruth 

The workshops introduced participants to 

the structure and practice of Viewpoints 

improvisations, including the Vocal Viewpoints 

and incorporated a demonstration of their 

application in constructing performance. 

Conversation with an Umbrella 

By Nenagh Watson 

This performance was part of the SUSPENSE 

Festival of Puppetry for Adults and was created 

from spending three days in a studio with a 

collection of black umbrellas. Discovering and 

celebrating their functional movement, these 

were then utilised by Kaffe Matthews, a sound 

artist, who collaborated on the project and 

recorded their sounds. 

Concertina for the Gods 

By Nenagh Watson 

Inspired by writer Dennis Silk, this performance 

was also part of the SUSPENSE Festival and 

followed an erratic narrative about the travels 

of an umbrella. The piece utilised the spirit 

of Ephemeral Animation to interrogate the 

functionality of the objects used to conjure the 

narrative. 

Toy Theatre Workshop 

Again part of the SUSPENSE Festival, the 

Great Small Works company led a workshop 

in the 19th-century form of popular home 

entertainment known as Toy Theater. 

Originally a means of staging dramatic 

spectacles in the Victorian parlour, Toy Theater 

allowed enthusiastic theatre-goers to perform 

To be added to the Research Events mailing list, please email your details to cett@cssd.ac.uk 

forthcoming events 

Research Roundtable 

At risk: the performance of care when 

working with ‘vulnerable’ people 

Tuesday 7 February, 5.30–7.30 pm 

Over recent years, definitions of ‘risk’ and who 

is considered ‘risky’ by whom has been the 

source of much political and social debate. In 

this interdisciplinary roundtable discussion we 

will be asking theatre practitioners, theorists, 

clinicians and researchers to reflect on what 

it means to care for those ‘at risk’ and how the 

performance of caring in the context of ‘risk’ 

and ‘risky’ behaviour informs their approach to 

working with young people. 

their favourite plays in their homes for family 

and guests. 

On Embodiment 

Presented by John Rothwell, Dick McCaw 

and Steffi Sachsenmaier, this research 

seminar brought together three people with a 

common interest – movement. The question of 

embodiment is one much asked in the field of 

performance, but not in Neurophysiology where 

there is nothing but the bodily organism and 

therefore nothing ‘else’ to be embodied. 

Dance on Film: Smoke by Mats Ek 

This event focused on Swedish choreographer 

Mats Ek’s dance film, Smoke, made for and 

performed by Sylvie Guillem and Ek’s actordancer 

brother Niklas Ek. Originally made for 

Swedish Television in 1996, Smoke is considered 

one of the most admirable examples of the 

meeting between classical and contemporary 

dance. Exploring the turbulent contradictions 

within the life of a couple and set to music by 

Arvo Pärt, it’s a dramatic, funny and moving film. 

Rosemary Lee discussed the film with Sinead 

Rushe and Helen Heaslip. 

The Caring Practitioner 

This was an interdisciplinary workshop for 

nurses, social workers, professional carers 

and applied theatre practitioners at Central, 

facilitated by Amanda Stuart Fisher and Sue 

Mayo (Associate Artist, Magic Me). 

Remembering the Holocaust 

Travels with Zdenka: a performance lecture by 

Amanda Stuart Fisher and Tony Fisher, which 

was followed by a question and answer discussion 

with Zdenka Fantlova. 

Introduction to Mindfulness Workshop 

Saturday 25 February, 10.00am – 3.00pm 

A one-day experiential session led by David 

Petherbridge, Head of Student Support Services. 

This introductory workshop is open exclusively 

to Central alumni who have graduated since 

2004 and is aimed at people, from any discipline, 

interested in learning more about the techniques 

of mindfulness. Full details will be distributed 

via email to the relevant alumni groups.

32 | CeNTrAl AlumNi NewsleTTer 

International Auditions 

Saturday 24 March, Friday 30 March and 

Tuesday 3 April 

Central will be hosting international 

auditions in New York on 24 March, Sydney 

on 30 March and in Singapore on 3 April. 

If you know of anyone interested in attending, 

please ask them to register by contacting 

admissions@cssd.ac.uk 

The Accidental Festival 

31 May – 3 June 2012 

The Accidental Festival returns to the 

Roundhouse from 31 May - 3 June 2012 

as a hybrid event of emerging talents and 

established artists. The festival is entirely 

produced by the second year students of BA 

Theatre Practice: Performance Arts. Since 

its conception in 2005, it has welcomed over 

200 international guests including Katie 

Mitchell, Simon McBurney, Liz LeCompte 

and Richard Schechner. Building on last 

summer’s successful shows of School 

of Comedy, Seven Sisters, and Forced 

Entertainment, in 2012 the Accidental 

Festival continues to grow as it enters its 

seventh year. 

The festival provides a platform to present 

provoking, engaging and entertaining work, 

encouraging artists from a range of disciplines 

to take risks, create and collaborate. 

It looks to initiate and support relationships 

between artists and audiences, that will help 

to ensure the future of the arts, and strives 

to nurture exchanges between diverse 

communities and individuals by uniting them 

through an evolving community programme. 

The Accidental Festival team invite you to 

join them in celebrating a generation that 

pushes boundaries and seeks excitement in the 

coming age of theatre. 

For further details please visit 

www.accidentalfestival.co.uk 

Open Days 

Are you or someone you know interested in 

studying at Central? Then join us at one of 

our informative open days and learn more, 

taking place from May 2012. 

See www.cssd.ac.uk/study/opendays 

MA Scenography, BA Design and 

BA Crafts Exhibition 

Wednesday 27 – Friday 29 June 

The MA scenography, BA Design and BA Crafts 

exhibition main event will take place at Central 

on Wednesday 27 June from 6.30-9.30pm. 

The exhibition will also be open for view on 

Thursday 28 June from 11.00am-9.30pm and 

on Friday 29 June from 10.00-11.30. Please 

see the website for further details. 

Student Public Productions 

Central students will present a variety of 

public productions during the spring term. 

The shows will include Princess Ivona, City 

of Angels and Motortown and will run from 

27 February – 19 April. Please check the 

website for full show details. 

Edinburgh Festival Gathering 2012 

Monday 13 August 

Are you planning to visit the Edinburgh 

Fringe, as a visitor or performer, this year? If 

so, please do join us for an informal Central 

get together on Monday 13 August. Venue and 

times will be confirmed as soon as possible 

and emailed to all alumni. 

Cicely Berry: A Celebration 

Friday 21 September 

Join us at a special event to celebrate the 

work of alumna and world-renowned voice 

and text coach Cicely Berry (T 46). The 

evening will be hosted by the ICV and held in 

the Embassy Theatre. Invitations will follow 

by email but in the meantime, please save the 

date and spread the word with your alumni 

friends who may not be registered on our 

email contact database. 

Event details were correct at the time 

of going to print. Please check our 

website www.cssd.ac.uk for full event 

lists, updated information and 

booking details. 

contact 

Can we reach you? 

We have over 1,900 alumni contacts 

with no registered email address. 

Help us to keep costs down by 

registering your email today. Please 

either complete and return the 

enclosed feedback form or drop us an 

email to alumni@cssd.ac.uk. 

Email: alumni@cssd.ac.uk 

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7559 3991 

Post: Alumni Office, Central School of Speech 

& Drama, Eton Avenue, London NW3 3HY, UK 

Website: www.cssd.ac.uk (click on the 

‘alumni’ link at the top of the page). 

You can also join our official 

Facebook group: ‘CSSD Alumni 

News - official site’. The Facebook 

group is designed to let you network 

with other alumni and to publicise 

your work. 

Follow us on Twitter 

@CSSDLondon 

Share your news with the Central 

community and learn all the latest 

news from the School. 

Find us on YouTube at 

www.youtube.com/user/ 

CSSDLondon 

Thanks and best wishes from the Alumni 

Relations Team: Zoe Haddock, Louise Jones 

and Meg Ryan 

where are 

they now...? 

Well… they are now on the 

Central website! 

Over the last few years the volume of news we 

receive from our alumni has grown significantly. 

In order to save space in the newsletter the 

‘Where are they?’ section has been moved to the 

alumni pages of the Central website. Please visit 

www.cssd.ac.uk and click on the ‘alumni’ link to 

read all the latest news. 

Throughout this publication course names 

have been abbreviated for space saving 

purposes. Full course keys can be found at 

www.cssd.ac.uk/alumni/where-are-they-now 

Central School of Speech & Drama, Embassy Theatre, Eton Avenue, London NW3 3HY. Tel +44 (0)20 7722 8183 

Fax +44 (0)20 7722 4132 www.cssd.ac.uk Alumni Office: Tel +44 (0)20 7559 3991 Email alumni@cssd.ac.uk 

This newsletter is written for alumni using information from alumni. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the staff or the governors of Central School of Speech & 

Drama. This newsletter is printed on environmentally friendly paper from managed sustainable forests. Central School of Speech & Drama is registered as a Company Limited 

by Guarantee, with exempt charitable status, in England and Wales under Company No. 203645. Its registered office is as above. VAT No. GB 672 6982 88.

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