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.”

Summer Season MA shows, Machinal and Andorra are dedicated to the memory of Andrew Stainthorpe, who attended the ArtsEd MA Acting course in 2017. Andrew was loved by everyone, and sadly passed away last year.  

All of Andrew’s friends and colleagues at ArtsEd were deeply saddened to lose such an extraordinary person, colleague and friend and wanted to share some of their special memories of him around how he impacted their lives.

Jenn Kays:

“In September Andrew officiated at my Wedding. It was the loveliest ceremony, that he had written. It was sincere but not filled with sentimentality and so many people commented to me on how affected they had been by such a pure and light service filled with love. It is strangely cyclical that I find myself reading at his service now, and hope to do him justice by reading in the same vein.

Our year at Arts Ed were a tight knit group and so it's not fair for me to talk to you solely about my time with Andrew. He was close to very many of us and so I asked some of his closest friends to share any special memories they would like me to pass on. We spent a year in glorious isolation learning, growing and struggling together but I know that a great many of you here enabled Andrew to get to drama school by supporting him emotionally and financially. So, we would like to share with you some of our experiences with Andrew during that time.

Andrew, Kezi and I were in a secret gang that everybody knew about. We were called Janzi and we would meet at my house and moan about the course and our tutors while drinking red wine.

For Kezi, Andrew was the person who would have a serious debate whilst making phallic shapes out of her lunch. They’d always maintain that they were dead inside because they’d never show emotion but in reality Kezi found Andrew to be one of the most loving people: Always there to offer sound realistic optimist on anything from whether to have another slice of cake (always) to what one thing will you do to advance your career today. I know that Kezi is so proud to be able to say that Andrew was one of her closest friends and that for her he was the most interesting, unique and captivating person.

He once hugged Amber and said 'Is that a Tempest in your pants or are you just happy to see me?’ cleverly combining Shakespeare with sexual innuendo.

Emma insisted on buying him a Christmas present and after initially refusing he eventually conceded and said she could buy him the latest Tom Ford perfume. This perfume is EXTREMELY expensive.”

Many people, including Hannah and Kaigan talked about his warmth, positivity and drive.

“During a particular rehearsal with Skevy, Sophie and Freddie for Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Andrew was so hilarious as he gradually turned the name Miss Feletti into Miss Fa-fa-farfalle that the company were left in stitches.

During the same production he had a false hand and a false moustache that kept falling off. You can imagine how he milked that.

As a year group we performed a spoken word evening. In his piece Andrew posed the important questions ‘What is Kardash-i-an?’ and ‘What is Kan-ye?’

This next part comes from Andrew's old housemate and friend Annie. These are her words:

“I moved into a big house in West Acton with Andrew, Sophie and Mikey shortly after graduating. We were all feeling a bit down and depressed about acting and where to start and how difficult it was. Andrew however was planning his showreel, his voice reel and had his actual 5 and 10 year plans mapped out.

“One morning, a quote on a piece of paper was stuck on the fridge. It said, ‘The greatest danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark.’ Andrew had put it there.

“Maybe to some it just seems like a cheesy quote. But we kept it there all year. I still think about it when I'm struggling. But more importantly I think it's an accurate representation of where Andrew was when we met him, and even after his diagnosis when he was still traveling to London to do voiceover classes and working with The Castle Players up here, I'm not sure if I know anyone as strong and determined as him.

The Andrew we all knew was brave and warm, he could be vain and had a justly deserved high self-worth. He set his aim high.”

The final comment came from Adil:

“He went through so much. But he lived. And he lived large. He was a two Belgian buns kinda guy.”

Further commemorative comments for Andrew include:

Rosie Hague – “Andrew was one of the most amazing people I had the honour of knowing. He was my fight partner and my screen partner, and we had the most wonderful time doing that and I will never forget it, but most importantly he was a wonderful and dear friend and someone who I admired and loved so much. I am just so grateful that he was brought into our lives and gave our year group, teachers and the entire school so much joy and laughter. We miss him every day.”

Annie Hammond – '”Andrew was a great friend to me. He was a very kind person, who had time for everyone. He treated everything with an incredible sense of humor. Even when faced with immense obstacles, he spent his time making those around him laugh. I am lucky to have got to know him, it was a privilege to be his friend. It's difficult to express his loss, I just know that we will all miss him greatly.'”

Emma –  “Andrew talked about writing a letter to all of his friends for them to read after his final curtain call. In the end things moved faster than we had hoped they would and he never did get around to putting pen to paper. We will never know what he would have said but it is quite likely to have included anecdotes about life as an actor, a draft pre nup for The Future Mrs Stainthorpe (aka Taylor Swift), notes on how to make sure you get your own spotlight in every show you do and much more. One thing I do know is that Andrew did not want his friends to wallow for too long. I mean, he would have expected a few weeks of crying and outbursts (whilst playing Taylor Swift on full volume) and for every bloody theatre in the West End to stop everything and acknowledge him in a standing ovation….but then he would want everyone to remember the laughter, the joy and the sheer talent that he was able to share with us all. I guess this quote may be more in line with what Andrew would have shared with us if he had been given a little more time;

“When I have moved beyond you in the adventure of life,

Gather in some pleasant place and there remember me

With spoken words, old and new.

Let a tear if you will, but let a smile come quickly

For I have loved the laughter of life.”

Arnold Crompton – “RIP lovely”
 

Davinia Hamilton – “The world is a little less bright for having lost Andrew. He was immensely talented and wickedly funny. Just one quirk of his eyebrow could have me in fits of laughter. At drama school he was a dedicated student, and it was a real privilege to be able to train with him and witness his joy and hard work. When he informed us that he was ill, it was a real shock, but he embraced life so fully – even in his final months. Andrew was a real spark and I will miss him; I am so grateful to have known him, even if it was only for a short time.”

Sophie Milnes – “Andrew Stainthorpe, it was truly a pleasure. I will keep your inimitable razor sharp wit (after all ‘What is Kardashian?’), intelligence, sass and refined taste in my memories for life. Your glorious presence can never be replaced.”

Kieren Faulkner – “When you're training with people for such and intense amount of time day in day out its essential that the people you're with are great. Andrew was absolutely no exception. He was one of the absolute easiest people to get along with and to work with. He was kind, caring and immensely thoughtful. Seeing him bloom during our training was very special. His comic timing and wit were unparalleled and he was a joy to watch as well as work with. From faulty moustaches to Kanye West themed spoken word to his fantastic performance in Applause he never failed to have us all in fits of laughter. It's an absolute travesty that we'll never see him perform again. Another thing about being in someones company for an intense period of time is that you tend to take them for granted, you fool yourself into thinking the time you spend with them will never end or there always be a next time. Even when Andrew was diagnosed I was confident that he'd pull through. Reality is harsher though and I'd wish I'd spent more time with him after that. My last memory is of him giving a beautiful speech/having the best time at Jen's wedding. Even though his passing hit very hard I'll always remember Andrew for the happiest times I and we spent with him, which were all of them.”

Join us in celebrating Andrew's life and come along to dedicated performances of Machinal and Andorra over the next two weeks. Book your tickets here.

We chatted to Torben Betts, writer of exciting new play, It Never Happened (or State Terror in Eight Easy Stages) which will be performed by graduating BA Acting students at ArtsEd, from 14-18 May.

The play text opens with a section from Harold Pinter’s speech, stating: “It never happened. Nothing ever happened. Even while it was happening, it wasn't happening. It didn't matter. It was of no interest.” What made you choose that specific speech?  

TB: After I’d finished writing, and was scrabbling around for a title, somehow this speech just pinged into my head. Pinter was talking about how our compliant media gloss over the crimes of our government and those of our allies and present US/UK power as essentially benign and well intentioned. This is clearly a fallacy. The eight plays that make up It Never Happened explore how state terrorism has always been with us and how most of it, unless it’s committed by our official enemies, tends to be airbrushed from history.

It Never Happened presents a number of scenarios over a span of history, showcasing power struggles, manipulation and human weakness. How did you go about choosing these moments in history?

TB: In terms of how I chose these specific moments…like most writers I read a lot. And in every book I read there is always an event described that jumps out at me as a possible starting point for something. Most of these short plays were ideas I was thinking of developing into full-length plays but which, I believed, could also stand alone and be part of a series.

It's clear that the play is showing how our behaviour as a society and as individuals is unchanged over time. Which elements of our current climate influenced your work?

TB: Well, I’d certainly say the idea of human progress is a bit of myth. I don’t mean technological progress, progress in healthcare etc. I’m talking more about the humanist/Christian idea of the perfectibility of the species. We are essentially the same bewildered ape we’ve been since the agricultural revolution 12000 years ago, when, I contend, we started to lose our way a bit. Or when we stated losing our relationship with Nature and booted ourselves out of the Garden of Eden, so to speak. I guess the only play that “our current climate influenced” is the first one: THE FREE LIBERAL MEDIA. A lot of the characters in these plays are forced to make hard choices: hold onto your moral integrity or survive financially is one of the recurring ones. In this play an idealistic young journalist who works for a liberal media outlet wants to report truthfully on a massacre a client state of her government has just committed. Her bosses, not as free as they maintain, block her from doing this and are more interested in her covering a big royal wedding that’s about to happen. That was inspired by a current event. Or an event from 2018 anyway.

What was your process towards writing a piece for a large cast, and how did our BA Acting students influence your decisions?

TB: I think it’s a great idea that drama schools have started to commission writers to come up with plays for their students’ graduation shows. In my day (I trained as an actor) you might do a pre-existing play and some would get good parts and others would be the butler or the maid. The sole purpose of this graduation show is to put yourself in the shop window and get a decent agent, this can make the difference between a good career and one that isn’t so glittering. Luck and timing play a massive part in this profession. To write a play so that 15 or 16 actors all have enough to do is very challenging, which is why I chose to write eight short plays, giving all of the actors at least two very different parts. The students themselves didn’t really influence my decisions, although before the writing process began I held a few sessions to see if they’d be able to handle the language and style of my more theatrical work (I generally trade in dark social realism) and they could more or less and so I proceeded.

Do you believe that one of the functions of theatre is to educate, and if so, what do you think an audience will take away from this play?

TB: I never seek intentionally to educate in my writing. My starting point is “What do I know anyway? Let’s jump into this madness and find out something.” So much of our theatre seems to be messages from the so-called enlightened individuals (the writer and director and actor) to the so-called unenlightened masses. “It would be better for society if you all were aware of this.” Kind of thing. I’ve been guilty of this myself. Like all of us I have my own politics but I am well aware these are just mental positions that need a good shaking like everyone else’s. There was a certain amount of pressure on me to make these eight plays form a narrative whole which I resisted. They are all linked thematically and talk to each other on a certain level but that’s all. I am hoping they will stand on their own two feet as individual works. Some of them people will like, some of them people won’t. So rather than tell a standard narrative, where people want to come back in after the interval to find out how the story ends, I’m hoping the audience finds something in “the accumulation of moments”, as Howard Barker describes it. What I’m mainly hoping is that an agent or two might “take away” a young actor or two!

Finally, what advice would you have given to your younger self starting out in the arts?

TB: If I could travel back to the early 1990s, I’d probably find myself in some London pub, drunkenly cursing my fate along with a group of other failing actors. I’d whisper in my youthful ear: “Follow your vocation with courage and with dignity but, for God’s sake, don’t forget to live your life. Live in the now. Be patient. Go vegan. Don’t compare yourself with others. And, oh yes, ease up on the booze and narcotics.” I would no doubt tell myself to fuck off.

Book your tickets for It Never Happened now! Running from 14-18 May, 7:30pm with HALF PRICE tickets on Wednesday! 
 

BOOK NOW!

Neon leg warmers were dusted off on Friday 15 March for ArtsEd’s Teacher and Parent Association 80’s Party Fundraiser, raising money for the hardship fund and new pianos for the Day School and Sixth Form.

ArtsEd parents and teachers gathered at Soho House in White City in their 80’s glad-rags, prepared for some big wins at the auction and casino, topped off with some shape-throwing on the dance floor. Amongst shrills of ‘Material Girl’ and bopping to ‘Wake Me Up Before you Go Go’, there was a perpetual feeling of camaraderie and support for the cause.

And of course, there was an array of brilliant 80’s fancy-dress, on show:

Overall, TAP raised a whopping £7434 for ArtsEd, so we would like to take the opportunity to say a massive THANK YOU to TAP for organising this wonderful event and for their generous donations.

TAP aren’t stopping there though. Raffle tickets will be sold at the Dance Show next week: 5 for £10 or 2 for £5. If you would like to buy directly from the school, please speak to Chris Reynolds: creynolds@artsed.co.uk.

Prizes include:

Two tickets to Everyman Cinema
A signed book by Steven Berkoff
Signed Poldark DVD
30 Day membership to YogaWest
Dinner at White City House

Tickets for the Dance Show are limited, so book them quick!

BOOK DANCE SHOW TICKETS