First night gifts can be anything from a box of brownies to an elaborate bouquet.  After the wildly successful press night of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at The London Palladium, producer Michael Harrison presented a gift for lead and ArtsEd graduate, Jac Yarrow, worth considerably more than an Interflora order!

Passionate about supporting the pipeline of young talent at ArtsEd, Harrison has gifted a full scholarship for a student on the three year degree course in musical theatre. “The idea is to put the scholarship in Jac’s name,” Harrison said, “it seems fitting that we found Jac at ArtsEd, and through him we’ll help someone else.” The Yarrow Scholarship will not only covers training fees, but lodging, food and travel expenses.

Jac was absolutely blown away by the gesture: “Making this gift –  and making it in my name – is amazing. It’s out of this world.”

ArtsEd Principal, Chris Hocking declared: “That’s the most amazing opening night present you could ever get!” And revealed that the recipient of Harrison’s generous scholarship would be Ben Culleton, who took his A Levels at Tring Park and is described by Hocking as a “quadruple threat, because he’s a really charming young man.”

Overwhelmed and thrilled, Ben Culleton said: “I am really looking forward to joining this amazing school! Being around such inspiring students and teachers day in and day out will be very testing, but exciting at the same time! I can’t wait to carry on with this amazing journey.”

Kevin McGrath DL OBE, businessman and philanthropist, has been appointed as the new Chair to the Board at ArtsEd, the UK’s most academically successful performing arts school.

Kevin is the Founder and Chair of the McGrath Charitable Trust, the Chair of UNITED in Hammersmith and Fulham Charity, Trustee of The Old Vic Theatre, Vice Chair and co-founder of The Clink Prison Restaurant Charity – the first and only public restaurant to be built inside working British prisons, and Vice Chair of the QPR Sport in the Community Trust.

In 2016, Kevin was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for Services to Charities. He was also The High Sheriff of the County of Greater London in 2014-15 and is the Representative Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Kevin was awarded an Honorary Degree award of the Doctor of the University from the University of Surrey in 2017 in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the arts.

Kevin was Chair of The Lyric Theatre Hammersmith and oversaw a very successful £20million building extension. He was also a Board Governor of the Guildford School of Acting where he oversaw the merger with the University of Surrey and the creation of the new GSA faculty building on the University Estate. Kevin is Chair of the Property Restoration Committee at The Old Vic Theatre Charity which is just about top complete a £3million building upgrade and to start work on a new £12m building extension.

Kevin McGrath is a Chartered Surveyor who has worked in the property industry for 35 years. He is Founder and Executive Chairman of M&M Asset Management and Non-Executive Chairman of Regional REIT Plc.

Kevin McGrath OBE said:

“My passion lies in supporting programmes which provide young people with the opportunity to enhance their life chances and flourish. So, I am delighted to be joining the Board at ArtsEd and helping this diverse and outstanding organisation continue to deliver their world-class performing arts training across the UK and internationally. I am particularly keen to see through the £20million renewal of the ArtsEd building to provide world-leading accommodation for our students and the local community”

Chris Hocking said:

“We are immensely proud of having Kevin join the Board at ArtsEd. His track record of success and outstanding contribution to the arts is extraordinary, as is his passion for transforming the lives of those who are underprivileged.

“Kevin’s leadership across the Board will be integral in maintaining our reputation as the highest-ranking performing arts school in the United Kingdom – and consistently sitting in the top five schools and colleges for creative education in the UK.”