On Thursday 3 April, we were thrilled to welcome the legendary British musical theatre writing duo George Stiles and Anthony Drewe to ArtsEd. As part of our Year 12 Musical Theatre assessments, students have spent the term immersing themselves in the British musical theatre canon — with a particular focus on the works of Stiles & Drewe. To have George and Anthony join us in the audience for these performances was not only an incredible honour, but also a hugely inspiring moment for our students and staff alike.

Stiles and Drewe are among the most celebrated musical theatre composers and lyricists in the UK today. Their exceptional partnership has resulted in a catalogue of critically acclaimed and widely beloved productions, including Betty Blue Eyes, Soho Cinders, HONK!, Just So, Peter Pan – A Musical Adventure, Tutankhamun, and their contributions to the world-famous Cameron Mackintosh/Disney production of Mary Poppins, for which they wrote new songs, vocal arrangements, and dance music. HONK! alone has become a global phenomenon, seen by over six million people in more than 8,000 productions across 20+ languages — and counting.

“We had a great afternoon watching not only a selection of our songs, but also those of many recent British musical theatre writers, performed by Year 12 at ArtsEd. The standard of the performers was amazing – they all seemed so self-assured and confident in their delivery, as well as maintaining their own individuality. It was hard to believe that they were all so young. We also found the sense of ‘family’, support and mutual admiration amongst the students both touching and refreshing. As we said to the performers, we look forward to meeting them again out in the big wide world of theatre.”
George Stiles and Anthony Drewe

The students have been studying material from the British Musical Theatre canon with a focus on their work for the past term and it was a very special experience to have them in the audience for the culmination of this project. Their visit was an extraordinary opportunity for our students, who not only had the chance to perform the writers’ work directly in front of them, but also benefited from their generous feedback and reflections. George and Anthony took the time to speak with students after the show, offering valuable insights and behind-the-scenes stories drawn from over 40 years of experience in the industry. Their warmth, encouragement and wisdom made a lasting impact, and served as a powerful reminder of the creativity and community that lies at the heart of musical theatre.

It was a joyful and celebratory end to an enriching term of study, and one that our Year 12 students will definitely carry with them as they continue their training and begin to carve their own paths in the industry.

“We were extremely grateful that George and Anthony made the time to come to watch our Musical Theatre students perform some of their work. They were incredibly generous with their time, feedback, stories and advice to our students, and I know that they all benefitted hugely from this experience. It was a very special afternoon celebrating our students’ achievements and the wonderful work of British Musical Theatre composers from the past 30 years.”
Giovanna Ryan, Head of Musical Theatre at Day School & Sixth Form, ArtsEd

Thank you, George and Anthony, for sharing your time, your expertise, and your love for musical theatre with us. We hope to welcome you back to ArtsEd again very soon.

We were delighted to welcome ArtsEd graduates Emily Lane (Sixth Form 2017, BA Musical Theatre 2020), Samuel Creasey (BA Acting 2020), and Kelvin Ade (MA Acting 2021) back to the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Theatre on Thursday, 27 March, at 7pm, for an inspiring evening discussing their journeys since graduating.

Hosted by Maame Atuah, Head of Short Courses & Outreach, the conversation explored each panellist’s experiences at ArtsEd—from their first audition to their final performance—and their exciting careers over the past few years.

Emily Lane reflected on her experiences performing alongside Imelda Staunton in Hello Dolly!, discussing valuable lessons she carried forward from ArtsEd into her role as Anna in Frozen, and emphasised the importance of continuous training and growth after graduation. Kelvin Ade shared fascinating insights into his current theatre debut in Three Sisters at Shakespeare’s Globe, highlighting the differences between preparing for stage roles and his on-screen experiences, such as in SAS Rogue Heroes and The Regime. Samuel Creasey provided an engaging perspective on his rehearsal process for A Winter’s Tale at Shakespeare’s Globe, where he portrayed the Young Shepherd in his native Welsh accent, and how this role reignited his passion for magic during his involvement in Derren Brown’s Unbelievable.

“It was incredibly useful for the students to get guidance from successful alumni on how they were navigating the industry and getting high quality work. The panellists were very generous with their insights, especially about the casting process, the importance of identifying with the character, and practical ways to do this.”
Jake Harders, Head of Acting at ArtsEd

The evening concluded with an interactive Q&A session, providing current students the chance to seek direct advice from the panel. The alumni generously shared valuable insights and practical wisdom, reinforcing ArtsEd’s commitment to nurturing and investing in our students’ futures.

Events like this underline ArtsEd’s dedication to celebrating and strengthening connections within our community. They inspire current students through the remarkable achievements of our alumni, fostering ongoing relationships and celebrating our graduates’ outstanding journeys in the performing arts industry.

“The In Conversation With event at ArtsEd was a truly inspiring occasion to hear wise, witty and practical advice from successful alumni. It was such a pleasure to welcome them back to the school, listen to their achievements and to learn about their strategies for striving and thriving in the industry. The current students got so much out of it and were thrilled to meet them afterwards and continue the conversation.”
George Richmond-Scott, MA Acting Course Leader at ArtsEd

“A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended this insightful evening—the first in our exciting new In Conversation With… Alumni series. Your continued support means so much, and we look forward to welcoming you to our next event very soon.”
Susie Butt, Head of Development at ArtsEd