We are proud to share that Jamal Nyamangunda, a second-year student from our School of Acting, has been named one of the ten recipients of this year’s Lilian Baylis Awards. Jamal received the award at the Old Vic, presented by Olivier Award-Winning actor Indira Varma.

Now in their 41st year, the Lilian Baylis Awards are presented by the Royal Victoria Hall Foundation to acting students who demonstrate exceptional promise. The awards provide grants to support recipients during their final year of training.

Jake Harders, Interim Head of the School of Acting, said of the award:

“Jamal is an exceptional emerging talent and he well deserves this award. He is a credit to the BA Acting course at ArtsEd and we’re all looking forward to seeing what he achieves in his third year!”

These highly respected awards honour the legacy of Lilian Baylis, the pioneering manager of London’s Old Vic from 1912 to 1937. For Jamal, receiving this award was an astounding experience. He said:

“It is truly an incredible honour to receive the Lilian Baylis Award. I am beyond grateful for the investment the trustees have made in us drama school students. The history behind this award is nothing short of extraordinary and inspiring, and I am so blessed to be part of the few lucky enough to receive this honour. The money will really put my mind at ease, being able to focus all my time and energy on my training.”

ArtsEd Principal, Professor Louise Jackson, said:

“We are delighted for Jamal on receiving this prestigious award from the Royal Victoria Hall Foundation in memory of Lilian Baylis. We continue to be proud of our students and the outcomes we see at ArtsEd, and this is a huge testament to the work happening in the School of Acting and to Jamal’s dedication to his craft. Congratulations, Jamal.”