Shaun Naidoo andMarian Lowson (Naidoo)
Shaun (CTA, 1980) married Marion Lowson (CTA, 1982). Together they set up Naidoo and Associates:
"Naidoo & Associates bring a dynamic synthesis of skills to people and people in organisations. They specialise in organisational development, research and learning using complexity and creativity together. Both Shaun and Marian have established over the yearsawealth of experience and have developed pioneering expertise in education, theatre for development, health care and health care improvement in both the UK and in other countries".
Marion had been in nursing, 1973-76, before joining Rose Bruford College. Later, in 2000, she acquired anMSc in Social Research from the University of Bath and her career has spanned both healthcare and creativity. She was a Research Fellow with the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (1998-2001) leading the redesign of services for people with dementia and published Breaking Down the Walls of Silence. From 2004-08 she was with theCare Services Improvement Partnership and was theNational Lead - Arts & Culture for Inclusion & Wellbeing(2007-09). From 2008-11 she was a visiting Research Fellow at the University of Bath conducting research building on the transformational potential of arts and creative process, and an Honorary Research Fellow at the Universiy of Bath (2012-16) working in the Faculty of Health with a focus on Dementia. From 2016-21 Marion was Services Director at Penny Brohn UK. Meantime she continued to be an Executive Director at Naidoo & Associates working with organisations and communities using creative process in order to transform and improve services.PhD thesis
Between 1975 and 2012 Naseem worked as a television/film production manager (The silent twins1986 andSunny stories 1992) and as an assistant director/location manager, including work as a floor manager on the three series ofStagestruck: gay theatre in the 20th centuryand assistant onThe hungerandLove in the afternoon. She also worked as a media training consultant, 1986-96 who, in conjunction with a broadcast journalist, devised and delivered training for senior / middle management executives to handle the media successfully (television/radio interviews, press conferences and crisis management).
A trained dramatist, writer, director and filmmaker. He was a founder member of Double Edge Theatre Company and is currently Artistic Director of Brixton Inclusive.His plays includeSongsof Songs, a historical fantasy, and a rap musical entitledVibes from the Scribes. He wrote and directed the filmThe Black Bohemians, and the short filmCircles of Fire. He also wrote the playRagamuffin which was one of the eighties most successful and ground-breaking theatrical productions and starred RB alumni Anthony Hipployte. He is a dedicated exponent of the African Ritualistic genre & a pioneer of Multi Genre interdisciplinary practice.
seealsoOur playwrights
Agraduate of the Theatre Arts course in 1991 and known for playing Jimmy Connor in The Gambling Man (1995), Eric Breeze in Breeze block (2002), Mr Humbly in55 Degrees North (2004) and Dr Mike Stamford in Sherlock (2010). He has played DI Steve Kirby in A confession (2019) and has appeared in the TV shows The Bill (2003), The Omid Djalili Show (2009), Holby City (2016), Coronation Street(2017) and Shakespeare and Hathaway (2022). He has been in the Shakespeare plays Much ado about nothing (2012) and Twelfth night(2018) and in the movies The student prince, The green-eyed monster, Ghostboat and Murder on the Victorian Railway. In addition to his film and television work he has appeared on stage in such shows as Billy Elliot, Nicholas Nickleby and most recently War Horse. His most recent theatre includesLen in Love it if we beat them at Live Theatre and soon he will be playing Daniel Blake in I, Daniel Blake at Northern Stage and English touring theatre.
Cast and Creative Team Announced for I, Daniel Blake- Theatre Weekly.
CV
Nenda, who graduated from Rose Bruford (AM, 2017),is amixed-race, Austrian actress and rapper,known forArlo Parks: Black Dog (2022), Beige(2022), andThe Rising(2022).Her songMixed feelings, a debut single in a mix of German, English and Tyrolean, addresses everyday racismin the Tyrolean mountains. It reached the top of the FM4 annual charts in 2021.
see alsoOur musical talent
A graduate of the ETA course in 2014 James was a founder (with Tom Brennan) of The Wardrobe Ensemble, and is now course leader in Theatre Making at the Bristol School of Acting. He is anactor, theatre maker, musician and facilitator. For The Wardrobe Ensemble James has performed in Winners (Theatre on the Downs), The Last of the Pelican Daughters (Royal & Derngate, Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Education, Education, Education (Edinburgh Festival Fringe, UK Tour, Trafalgar Studios) and 1972: The Future of Sex (Edinburgh Festival Fringe, UK Tour).Outside of the company, James has worked with theatre practitioners including Simon McBurneyand in 2019 he appeared as Standish Treadwell in The Unicorn’s adaptation of Sally Gardner’s Maggot Moon. As ateacher and facilitator, James’ notable projects include the Oxford North Wall’s Arts Lab, a three week intensive training programme with thirty young people aged 18-25, and the National Theatre’s Easter Space to Create.
Graduated from the Community Theatre Arts course at Rose Bruford in 1992. Along with classmates Steve Medlin and Robert Stephenson he founded Unclassified Arts, a physical theatre company concentrating on access toartsprovision in the community, particularly for those who are marginalised. Heis a drama-in-education specialist working in special needs and mainstream primary schools and since 2004 Isaac has been an Associate Artist, and since 2017 Associate Director, at Spare Tyre.
Anna Nicholas (Smith)
Anna was born in Simla, India, to a Portuguese diplomat and Scottish mother. She moved to England for her education, training at Rose Bruford (1966-69) where she met her first husband Don Dryden. After graduating Anna started a career in 1970 performing with her husband in more than 35 shows in repertory at The Swan Theatre Worcester. She made her first television appearance in Within These Walls (1976), the drama series about life in a women's prison. She then appeared in Armchair Thriller (1978), Cuba (1979), andTales of the Unexpected (1988) as well as many other shows such as Lovejoy (1991) and Casualty (2008). She was also greatly praised for her Gertrude in Hamlet. She later married Graham Smith. Anna sadly died of a stroke on February 3, 2014.
Interview in the Manchester Evening News, 2004, when playing in Humble Boy.
see alsoOur musical talent
She graduated from Rose Bruford College in 2005, where she received critical acclaim for her performance in Patrick Marber’sAfter Miss Julie.She has gone on to starin the title role of James Hawes's BBC Four adaptationFanny Hill(2007) and on stage as Cecily Cardew inThe importance of being Earnest(2007-8).She has since played a wide range of roles including Catherine Linton in ITV'sWuthering Heights, alongsideTom Hardy, Sarah Jones in theMike FiggisfilmSuspension of Disbeliefand Yvonne Moncin inMaigret, withRowan Atkinson.
A graduate of the Theatre Arts course in 1991, Anna has had a career on TV and in theatre. She has appeared in the Miss Marple TV showThe mirror crack'd (1992), The youngadventures of Indiana Jones(1995) and the TV movie Hamlet(2001). She has also appeared in the TV series Casualty, Pie in the sky, Prime suspect, Hetty Wainthrop investigates, Heartbeat, Doctors and Eastenders. Since 2005 she has been a freelance Associate with the National Youth Theatre and in 2008 became an Associate Artistic Director. She founded the NYT REP company which offers free training for actors at the NYT. Anna is also a Trustee of The Pappy Show (created by RB alumnus Kane Husbands).
Roy NorthakaRoy Stathers
A graduate of the class of 1966 Roy went on to find fame as Mr Roy, the straightman to the mischievous raconteur Basil Brush (1973-77).He had been appearing in the London West End production ofJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, when he received a call to audition to replaceDerek Fowldsas the glove puppet's companion.After leavingThe Basil Brush Show, he hosted theITVchildren's music showGet It Together (1976-82)and appeared onSeaside Specialand other shows such asLondon's burning, Bergerac,Heartbeat,Trollied, The Billand Judge John Deed.He has also appeared in the TV movieThe queen's sister(2005) and in 2004he guest starred in theDoctor Whoaudio adventure, The Axis of Insanity.
Mr Roy's Brush with fame | The Northern Echo
Andrew graduated from the Rose Bruford Directing course in 2001 (and gained an MA in Directing from the University of East Anglia, 2003) andhas since worked in theatre and film in both the UK and the USA. He is notable for his portrayal of Richard III in the Merton Abbey Mills production in 1998.His film credits include the horror filmThe Curiositydirected byTravis Beachamand the film Siamese Cop(1996),The Creeping, (2015), and inReaper(2016), directed by Nicholas Galligan.In his spare time he is also a writer.His work includes the playsNell,Adelaide, andThe Angel Being, and the science fiction novelThe Glimmering Time.
In 2019 Andrew also completed the PG Certificate at Rose Bruford.
see alsoOur Directors,Our playwrightsandOur writers
Samcompleted Acting programme at Rose Bruford College in 2004. He has appeared in TV inFoyles War, Bad girls, Doctors, Holby City, The Bill, New Tricks, Law & Order, Casualty,andEndeavour. He appeared in two epsiodes of Doctor Who in 2018, in four episodes of Witless(2016) and in five epsiodes of Strike(2017). Sam hasa passion for Shakespeare and in the Summer Season 2021 he became the first male actor to play 'Juliet' on The Globe stage since it's opening in 1997, after being called in for two shows. He has also played Banquo in the Shakespeare Globe's video ofMacbeth (2020).In addition to his acting career, is a Globe Education Practitioner at Shakespeare's Globe, on London's Southbank. He is alsoa boxing fanatic and is known to own a library of well over 400 fights. And he isa dedicated poker player. In 2009 he finished third in the prestigious GUKPT London Main Event, having only learned to play poker six months prior.It was his first tournament and he has since had several cashes and high finishes in a range of tours and tournaments.
An actress who graduated from Rose Bruford in 2016 and has appeared inHigh Life (2018),in four episodes ofGood Omens(2019) and playedHarah in the newDune(2021). In 2024 she will play Cordelia inKing Lear at the Almeida Theatre, directed by Yael Ferber.
Interview in The Stage
see alsoScience fiction and fantasy
Graduating from Rose Bruford in 1981, Bernadette originally trained as an actor and worked for many years in the theatre, touring plays and also working as a director. She was an AssociateArtist for Theatre Centre for 12 years, responsible for casting and working with writers developing new plays for young people, as well as acting and directing for the company.In 1992-94 she trained as a Voice Movement Therapist and has worked privately with clients since thenfacilitating voice and theatre projects for Theatre Centre, Heart n’ Soul, Graeae, Cardboard Citizens, and other theatre companies. She also designed and led courses and workshops for The Royal College of Music, Goldsmiths University, the Musician’s Union, and The School of Life. For 15 years she developed and taught the voice curriculum for The European Theatre Arts Course at Rose Bruford College, encouraging the creative and expressive use of the voice. She received an MA in Core Process Psychotherapy from Middlesex University in 2006 and in 2019 she completed the one year Kum Nye training at Karuna Institute. She ran aprivate psychotherapy practice for 8 years in South East London before relocating to Oxfordshire.
A graduate of the Acting course in 2008 Kieran has gone on to have an acting career appearing in the likes of the TV seriesDoctors(5 episodes, 2009), an episode ofDoctor Who(2011), a small part inCaptain America: the first avenger(2011), Bermondsey Tales: fall of the Roman Empire(2024) andA gangster's kiss(2024). In 2020, with panto season all but cancelled because of COVID,he played Captain Hook in a streamed version of The Gift musicalraising money for the NHS.
Penny O'Connor
After graduating in 1977 Penny worked with various feminist / socialist / alternative / children’s theatre companies including the Mayday Community Theatre, Cap and Bells Puppets, Half Moon Young People’s Theatre, Women’s Theatre Group, Theatre Venture, Incubus Theatre Company, Leatherhead YPT, Old Vic Youth Theatre, Brent Youth Unemployment Project, Pentabus Arts, and Uz at the Old Red Lion. Sheworked as an actor, teacher, writer, and director and later retrained in the Alexander Technique in early 90’s, having been introduced to this work by James Dodding while at Rose Bruford College. She has taught the Alexander technqiue both privately and in drama schools for over 17 years and her bookAlexander Technique for Actorswas published by Nick Hern Books in 2021. For nearly 20 years she alsoorganised summer workshops in the Alexander technique on the Greek Island of Alonnisos.
see alsoOur writers
Graduated from theactor-musician course in 2018 and has appeared as Big Daddy Brubeck in The Watermiill Theatre production of Sweet Charity, Big Mac in the RSC production of The Boy in the Dress Workshop and recently as Snug in the Regents Park Open Air Theatre production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.In film he has appeared inTemple(2019),See How They Run(2022) andNational Theatre Live: The Book of Dust - La Belle Sauvage(2022).He is also adrummer, guitarist and singer and is soon to begin filming on a new Disney picture with Sam Rockwell and Sorcha Ronan.
Watering the Musical Seed: The Musical Journey of a Black Actor-Musician (thebohemianstheatre.com)
see alsoOur musical talent
Gary Oldman(Fellow)
An actor, filmmaker, and musician, Oldman won a scholarship to attend Rose Bruford College from which he graduated with a BA in Acting in 1979. He gained his first starring film role inMeantime(1983).On stage he performed at the Royal Court Theatre and was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company until the late 1980s. He rose to prominence in British films with his portrayals of Sid Vicious inSid and Nancy(1986) and playwright Joe Orton inPrick Up Your Ears(1987), as well as those of a football firm leader inThe Firm(1989) and the titular Rosencrantz inRosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead(1990).He went on to achieve international renown as an Irish American gangster inState of Grace(1990), Lee Harvey Oswald inJFK(1991), and Count Dracula inBram Stoker's Dracula(1992) and in 1997 he wrote and directedNil by Mouth.In the 21st century he is known for his roles as Sirius Black in theHarry Potterseries, James Gordon inThe Dark Knight Trilogy, George Smiley inTinker Tailor Soldier Spy(2011), and human leader Dreyfus inDawn of the Planet of the Apes(2014). Most recently (2018)he wonthe Golden Globe Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama category, for his performance as Winston ChurchillinDarkest hour,and he won an Oscar for Best Actor in the same role. The day after his success BBC Radio 5 visited Rose Bruford college:
BBC Radio 5 Live interviewwith David Zoob and Level 3 Acting students andThe Hypocritecast members Melissa Knighton and Jake Setters. They were talking to Leslie Ashmall and Nihal in a feature about the Oscars and Gary Oldman on Afternoon Edition.The clip starts at 1:28:24 and lasts until 1:34:16.
In 2019 Gary Oldman visited Rose Bruford College: Photos on Flickr
Kenneth (ACT, 2016), of Nigerian descent,was nominated for the best actor in a play category in the inaugural The Stage Debut Awards for his role as a cheeky Cuban boy in Assata taught me.A year later, he was rehearsing for a major US and Canada tour of the National Theatre’sBarber shop chronicles. He has appeared Testament,Testament: The Parables Retold(2022) andVindication Swim.
Scarlett graduated from the American Theatre Arts programme in 2016 and has gone on to make a name for herself appearing in commercials and appeared on celebrity look-alikes as a Meghan Markle look-alike. She has also been in the films Hairy, Intertwined,Bombs and pecan pie (2021) andSasha.
An American stage, screen and television actress.Aftergraduating from Rose Bruford College she was seen as Annelle in the West End production ofSteel Magnolias.She then moved to New York City where she toured withCabaret(as Sally Bowles) and performed inUrinetown, The Spitfire GrillandThe Wild Party.She is also a seasoned concert vocalist, having sung in concerts in London, New York, and Dallas. For her best known role, she starred as stripper Mindy Riggins on the critically acclaimedFriday Night Lightsthroughout the series entire run. Later shestarred on ABC Family'sBunheadsas Truly Stone.
see alsoOur musical talent
A graduate of the ETA course in 2009, Jake's career has taken him into the world of producing. He was Creative Producer with HOME Slough, and previously Executive Producer with Le Gateau Chocolat. He joined the Nottingham Playhouse team in October 2019 following two years of producing at the new writing venue Theatre503 in London. In 2019 he launched Jake Orr Productions (JOP), as a company to bring together his freelance producing. The inaugural production wasPops by Charlotte Josephine in a co-production with HighTide and Live Theatre. He has also produced everything from festivals, site-specific circus, and national tours.
Francis graduated from the Acting class in 2008 and was awarded Best Male Actor at The Spotlight Prize awards in 2008.Prior to attending Rose Bruford Francis had lived in Cornwall for a year and worked with a theatre company called Cornish Theatre Collective. In his second year therethe Artistic Director of that company, Dominic Knutton, a Rose Bruford alumnus, encouraged him to apply to Rose Bruford, and he was duly accepted. In 2009, the year after he graduated, he played Andrea in a version of Thomas Kyd'sThe Spanish tragedywith Doublethink Theatre, in which Penny Layden (CTA, 1991) playedIsabella, mother of the murdered Horatio. On TV Francis has appeared in the TV seriesM.I.High(2010), in an episode ofDoctors(2010) and in three epsiodes ofHolby City(2009-13).
Theatre review: The Spanish Tragedy at Arcola Theatre (britishtheatreguide.info)
Interview > Francis Ortega – Fourthwall Magazine Online
Jon graduated from the BA (Hons) programme in 1988 and has since worked as an actor in theatre around the UK, Canada, the US and Greece. In the West End, he appeared in Les Miserables; Leonardo; Kiss of the Spiderwoman andFiddler on the Roof. Other theatre work has includedRope; The Elephant song; Normality; The mirror never lies; The Stationmaster; Promises Promises; Let my people come; Poppy;Uncle Vanya; The Rivals; Guys and Dolls; Wuthering Heights; Salad Days. In Canada Jon#s theatre work includesThe Chronicles of Narnia; A Christmas Carol; The 39 Steps; The woman in black; I confess I have lived; Trashman’s dilemma; Into the Woods; and Sexy laundry, and for CBC Radio the award winning series Afghanada. In the US Jon has been inThe diary of Anne Frank; Anything goes, and at New York’s Elektra Theatre, New York, New Works Theatre Festival / Trashman’s Dilemma by Bruce Gooch. Jon appeared in the filmBasilisk and, with Felicity Duncan, co-wrote and appeared in The Adventures of PG Woodlouse for BBC Radio. Other radio includesAlice in Wonderland; What she wants; Narrow roads to inner lands; Robin Hood; A right royal Christmas; and Bedtime Stories. In addition to performing Jon is also a writer and this playHard as nails wonBest New Play at theLondon Writers Competitio and was given a US premier at theMoving Arts Theatre, LA. With Barbara Worthy, he adapted It’s A Wonderful Life (Seneca Queen Theatre, Niagara Falls), Remember me to everyoneand Wonderful Town-St Kits. Jon then took some time away from the business to accept a scholarship at Texas Tech University where he studied for his MFA. He also guest lectured at the University of Toronto, Brock University, and Niagara College. Jon is one of the founders of The WestEnders, a group which hasbeen presenting musical theatre shows for over 25 years and which hasreleased three best selling albums, one of which (Valley of Song) was nominated for Cast Album of the Year by Broadway World. He was honoured to work with fellow WestEnder, Jill Nalder on her memoir Love from the Pink Palace based on her life as the inspiration behind the Channel 4 series It’s A Sin, and published by Wildfire. WestEnders continue to be advocates and allies for members of the LGBTQ community and raise money and awareness for the Terrence Higgins Trust, Sussex Beacon and at various Pride events around the UK. Most recentlyJon worked on a workshop for fellow RBC graduate Ian Elmslie’s musical play Old Boyfriends. This also saw him reunited with Director Matt Ryan with whom he had last worked when he was 23 in Les Miserables.Jon is booked for a brand new play presented by Director Jason Moore and Producer Ian Nicholas of On Book Theatre in 2025...and he is as excited by that as he was 36 years ago when he got his first job as the front half of the pantomime cow in Poppy!
An English actor who trained at Rose Bruford College. Hisscreen work includes Shadowlands,Demon wheels, and the short film The time clause (2018). On TV he played Charlie Cochran inAutopsy- The last hours of Judy Garland, as well as aguest lead on Jonathan Creek(2014). He also appeared asOgilvy the Astronomer in Jeff Wayne's musical version ofThe War of the Worlds – The New Generation. On stage he has been Cassio inOthello, Sebastian inThe tempest, and Malvolio inTwelfth nightand has appeared in productions ofDoctor Faustus, Murder in the cathedralandThe bad seed.
Showreel:Daniel Osgerby - Actor
see alsoScience fiction and fantasy
Craiggraduated from the Communtiy Theatre Arts course in 1987. He went on to be more involved in music, but later returned to study and qualified as a drama therapist. Hecurrently works in mental health but is still a singer-songwriter. LinkTree
see alsoOur musical talent
Incidentally Craig is nephew to the director, playwright and one-time RB tutor Philip Osment [Obituary].
Philip Osment's papers have been deposited in the College's Special Collections and archives:
Philip Osment archive - Rose Bruford
A graduate of the Acting course is 2000Rebekah has gone on to become an award winning entertainment, IP and immigration lawyer specialising in assisting the film, television, theatre, music, live events, media, fashion, brands and sporting industries. She representsStudios, celebrities, actors, producers, production companies, directors, writers, theatre companies, talent agents, models, animators, dancers, sportspeople, tours & musicians.Rebekah received a Juris Doctor from Bond University and the University of Southern California (USC) and a Masters of Legal Practice (Distinctions), winning the Global Entrepreneurial Award. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Theatre & Journalism) and Bachelor of Arts Hons (Professional Acting for film, TV and theatre), training at one of London's most prestigious acting institutions (Rose Bruford). Formally a professional actor, Rebekah is also an acting & dialect coach who has trained actors for 25 years.Rebekahwas appointed a Distinguished Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in London in recognition of her work with Artists and was awarded an International Business Leadership Award and nominated for NMF Women Leaders in Film. She is now Managing Director,Entertainment, IP and Immigration - Principal Lawyer with the Tribeth Group in Australia and in addition to her company’s work with creatives and businesses, Rebekah offers her services pro bono as Senior Lawyer and Co-Ordinator of Bond University’s Immigration Clinic to help the vulnerable.
Keith Owen
Keith worked as an assistant Magistrates' Clerk and hadseveral years' involvement in amateur theatrebefore attending Rose Bruford College, graduating in the class of 1971.Upon graduation he started his career at Derby Playhouse, gaining his Equity Membership under the professional name of Keith Mansell. There followed seasons with the Yorkshire Theatre Company, Midlands Arts Theatre, Birmingham Rep, Prospect Theatre Company, the Duke's Playhouse Lancaster and Chester Gateway. He was involved with the Second City Theatre Company, which performed in local venues and public spaces in Birmingham. In 1978he took a job as a salesmanin order to facilitate a mortgage application and, thinking to combine theatre with another occupation,he trained as a piano tuner/technician, qualifiying in 1983. He soon became established as a piano tuner and realized that a parallel acting career was not going to be possible when he had to turn down theatre work due to tuning commitments. His final acting engagements in the 1980s were his only television rôle, in All together nowa play about a brass band, for which he had to learn the Eb tuba in a month, and his only radio play, Troupers,about a concert party visiting factories during the Second World War. He served as President of the Pianoforte Tuners' Association from 2010 to 2013.
A graduate from the class of 1964, John has had a long career in television starting with an appearance in the TV seriesPardon the expressionin 1966. Other appearances includeThe further adventures of the musketeers, Oh! what a lovely war, Doctor at large, The rivals of Sherlock Holmes and Please, sir! He was in three episodes ofDr Who(1971) and a couple of episodes ofZ cars(1968, 1972). He has been inWhatever happened to the likely lads, Special branch, Nicholas Nickleby, and The Dick Emery show. He played Tom in Sense and sensibility (1981) and Mr Pilgrim inHannah (1980). H appeared in Shoestring, The professionals, The young ones, Reilly: ace of spies, The Lenny Henry show, Open all hours, Mapp and Lucia, The monocled mutineer, Terry and June, Hale and Pace, Keeping up appearances, and Lovejoy. He was in 22 epsiodes of The two Ronnies (1971-87). He then appeared inFrom Hell(2001),Spooks(2002),Doctors(2003),Marple(2004) andThe wolfman(2010). He was in several episodes ofWorld without end(2012) and inElementary(2013). Cuttings file
A Theatre Arts graduate from Rose Bruford College in 1985 and later from the Central School of Speech and Drama, Gary is now the Director of the Bristol Acting Academy. Hehas been teaching for the last 30 years. He teaches Voice, Accents & Dialects and Acting and has taught in most of the top London Drama Schools, at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, the Children's Theatre in Minneapolis and is currently the Senior Voice & Dialect Tutor at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Graduated in 1968 and has appeared on stage inLorna Doone(Rotherham, 1969),There's a girl in my soup(Croydon, 1973), and inThe dresserwith the Royal Exchange Theatre company, 1980-91.In April 1977 he appeared in the cast of Joseph and the amazing technicolour dreamcoatat the Gordon CraigTheatre in Stevenage. On TV he has beeninCoronation Street(1973),Crown court(1973),Armchair Cinema(1973) andThe Mrs Bradley Mysteries(1998). He hasalso appeared inNew Scotland Yard,Six Days of Justice,Softly Softly: Task Force,Public Eye,Jubilee,My Son, My Son,All Creatures Great and Small,Ladykillers,Shine on Harvey Moon,Never The Twain,Baby, It's Cold OutsideandThe Curse of Steptoe.
Sam Palladio(Fellow)
Graduating in actor-musicianship from Rose Bruford College in 2008 Sam staredas Gunnar Scott in the ABC musical drama series Nashville (2012-18)and has a recurring role onEpisodes(2012-15), and the science fiction seriesHumans(2015-18)His film credits include7 Lives (2011) and Runner, Runner(2013) and the voice of Roland inStrange magic, a 2015 American 3D computer-animated family musical action fantasy-comedy. He appears as prince Edward inThe Princess Switch(2018), andThe Princess Switch: Switched Again(2020). In 2019 he portrayed Alexander Vasilchikov in HBO’s mini-seriesCatherine the Greatopposite Helen Mirren. He was also lead singer in a band calledSalt Water Thief. In 2023 he will appear as Curly in the National Theatre's production ofOklahoma!Sam was invested as a Fellow of the College in 2023.
see alsoOur musical talent
Born in Wales in 1938, he is an actor and director, known for One Step Beyond(1959),The Mind Benders(1963) and R3(1964). Edward Gordon Craig "befriended Richard Ainley the actor/director and inspired Terry Palmer the finest Shakespearean director of his generation."
Rosalind started life as a dancer and went on to train as a professional actress at Rose Bruford College. Since graduating in 2000, she has enjoyed a multifaceted career as an actress, physical theatre performer, movement director and playwright. As the founder and director of The Bedlam Bunch Children’s Theatre (2007 – 2024) and Outburst Theatre (2010 – 2019), she has produced many stage and site-specific plays. She has also produced three one-woman shows, trained with Gecko Theatre and Frantic Assembly and is a member of the movement specialists’ collective Shapes in Motion.
An actor who has appeared as Count Roland in several episodes ofVikings(2013),Killing Eve(2018) andClose(2019) and later played the role of Giuseppe Renzo in the U.K. tour ofThe Mirror Crack'd. He is also one of the Artistic Directors ofChaskis Theatre.
Since 2014 Huw has been a voiceover artist with Hobson's International and since 2015 he has been a freelance acting tutor at Rose Bruford. In 2023 he has been engaged as an actor with the National Theatre to appear inThe motive and the cue.
Extracts from Vikings onVimeo
After graduating from the Community Theatre Arts course in 1988 Lizi became Edcation Officer with Polka Theatre (1993-95), then Project Director at All Change Arts (1995-97) and then Director of Education withYtouring Theatre Company (1997-99). In 1999 Lizi was co-founder and Artistic Director ofRaised Eyebrow Theatre Company (1999-2006). In 2006 Lizi's career took an new direction and she worked as an Animateur withC&T : Computers & Theatre (2006-10). Then in 2012 Lizi was appointedArtistic Director for the Young People’s Theatre withLeeds Heritage Theatres, with responsibility for theoverall strategic and creative planning of the Youth Theatre and Leeds Actors in Training’s artistic vision, delivery of the masterclasses, directing all shows and producing performances. Alongside this Lizi has also been a freelance writer with BBC Radio 4 (2014-16), and was guest writer on two series of Brief Lives. She has also been a freelance playwright, writingDown to zeroand writer, producer and actor ofPunching the sky,and was dramaturg onI'm Muslamic, don't panik. Since 2020 Lizi has been working as an artist working in mainly abstract, gestural and expressionist work.
Leeds Heritage Theatres appoints Lizi Patch as Artistic Director Young People’s Theatre
Exclusive interview with Lizi Patch on Punching the Sky (femalefirst.co.uk)
I’m Muslamic – Don’t Panik review – a warm-hearted, gently political journey | Edinburgh festival 2023 | The Guardian
Alexandra Pavlidou-Guerth/Αλεξάνδρα Παυλίδου
A graduate from the Theatre Arts course in 1988 Alexandra has made a name for herself in Greece where she currently lives. She had appeared on TV before her course at Rose Bruford, and after graduating appeared in about 19 episodes of the Greek TV seriesTmima Ithon(1992-93). Amongst her many other TV appearances she played Julia Lebesi in 34 epsiodes ofDada gia oles tis douleies(1998-99). As well as being an actress Alexandra is also adirector, teacher, and voice over talent at Ελευθερο Σχημα.
Alexandra Pavlidou | LinkedIn
An English television and stage actor described as a "veteran star of TV dramas" and "a familiar face on television for the past 40 years". His television roles include Pieterzoon inShogun(1980) and police officers in ongoing episodes of bothJuliet Bravo(1983–1985) and Cracker(1993–1995). He played two different roles inEmmerdale Farm(Tom Merrick: 1981-1982,Tony Cairns: 1997-1998) and played Kane, the main villain in theDoctor WhoserialDragonfire(1987). From 2000 to 2001, Edward appeared regularly in the prime-time ITV dramaseriesLondon's Burningas John Coleman.He has acted in the filmsO Lucky Man!(1973),Force 10 from Navarone (1978), Britannia Hospital(1982) andLassiter(1984) and on stage inA midsummer night's dream, Anne Boleyn,Troilus and CressidaandThe Winter's tale.
see alsoScience fiction and fantasy
A graduate of the Theatre Arts course in 1990 Chris startedout as an actor (1990-97) and while successful felt it wasn't for him.He moved to the Not For Profit sector, managing grant programmes in the UK and the developing world. He was Senior Awards Officer for the Community Fund (1999-2000) and International Programme Manager for The Health Foundation (2001-03). Again, whileit was fulfilling work he felt something was still missing. He retrained as a vocal coach and is now working with groups and individuals delivering communication skills training and vocal coaching. As well as his Theatre Arts degree Chris hasan MA in Voice Studies from the Central School of Speech and Drama (2003-04) and isalsoTEFL qualified andan accredited Action Learning Sets facilitator. He was a tutor with Startek London Drama School (2004-05), a Facilitator with Actors in Industry (2005-09) and with Quietroom (2007-09). He was aSenior Learning and Development Consultant atThe Management Centre (2009-13), a Tutor and Coach at RADA (2015+), a Lecturer and Voice Co-ordinator with Rose Bruford College in Wigan (2020-23) and from 2023 a Lecturer in Voice for Leeds Conservatoire. In 2019 he founded and became Managing Director of the coaching business ConfidentNOW.
A graduate from the Actor-Musician course in 2015 William is a working Actor and Musician with numerous credits in the Westend, regional theatres and international theatres. He played Captain Scott in theEuropean Premiere of Peter and the Starcatcherat the Royal and Derngate theatre, Northampton (2016-17). He has also played Ben Gunn inTreasure Islandat the New Vic Theatre (2018-18), Ariel inThe Tempeston the UK and European tour with the Lord Chamberlain's Men (2018) and the Ghost of Christmas past inA Christmas carolat the Northern Stage, Newcastle (2018-19). He was inSwallows and Amazonsat York Theatre Royal (2019) and in Much ado about nothingwith the New English Shakespeare Company (2019). In 2024 he is playing Stubb inMoby Dickat Wilton's Music Hall.
Clare studied at Rose Bruford College 1983-85. She started working in many theatre-in-education companies including Theatre Centre, Watford Palace TIE, Theatre Foundry, London Bubble and The Women's Theatre Group. Shehas appeared on stage in many theatres, such as theRoyal Court, the Young Vic, theNational TheatreandSoho Theatre. On TV her first role was asOpal in the 1991film Hallelujah Anyhow. Shehas aso appeared inFamily Affairs,All in the Game,Big Women and Clapham Junction as well as in series such asGrange Hill, The Bill,Doctors, Holby City, Casualty,Men Behaving Badly and Death in Paradise.She was inPig Heart Boy which wona Children's BAFTA for Best Drama. She played series regular Ava Hartman inEastenders(2012-13)and was one of the stars of the TV comedy-dramaThe Outlaws (2021). Her film credits includeJill in thePalme d'Or-winningLadybird, Ladybird(Ken Loach),Secrets & Lies(Mike Leigh) and7 Lives. In 2004Clare played Beverly in the acclaimed filmBullet Boyandshe won Best Actress for this role at theScreen Nation Awards. In 2011 she turned to performing in many radio dramas forRadio 4 and she has been a member of theBBC Radio Drama Companywhere she played the character of Mel for 8 years in theWorld ServicesoapWestway.Since 2021 she has played Denise Metcalf, a veterinary nurse, in the long-running soap operaThe Archers. In 2019 Clare was in two West End productions,EmiliaandSweat and thereforeat one point her face was on the front of two West End theatres simultaneously for a month;it is believed that she is the only actress to achieve this. In 2021 she played the main role ofKerene Nagashi in the Amazon fantasy seriesThe Wheel of Time, and in the same year appeared in the horror filmCensor. As of 2023 Clare appears in two films awaiting release, namelyEmbers and Medusa Deluxe, and is in streaming programmesSilo(for Apple TV) andSuspicion, Outlaws(due for release in 2024).
Tom attended Rose Bruford as Peter Thomas and graduated in 1996. He has had an extensive stage career appearing in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (UK tour),Ugly Lies the Bone,The Motherf**ker with the Hat,Strange Interlude,Scenes from an Execution, The London Cuckolds and Ivanov at the National Theatre, Travelling Light (National Theatre Live), Present laughter(National Theatre Live) and in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in London’s West End. Other theatre includes Girl from the North Country, The Crucible and Dancing at Lughnasa for the Old Vic;Sheppey at the Orange Tree; Macbeth at Court Theatre, New Zealand; Four Cities at the Fortune, New Zealand; Treasure Island at the New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme; The Alchemist at the Belgrade, Coventry;Forever House at The Drum, Plymouth; A View from the Bridge at Liverpool Playhouse; The Winter’s Talefor Riding Lights;The Taming of the Shrew,The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Romeo and Juliet for Guildford Shakespeare Company; Dick Whittington and Aladdin at Salisbury Playhouse; Jack and the Beanstalk, Mother Goose, Aladdin, Dick Whittington and The BFG at Harrogate; The Crampons of Fear for Eastern Angles; Hamlet and 27 for Fecund; A Doll’s House at New End;Gallows Song and Dark Tales at the Bridewell; Antony and Cleopatra, Tales from King James, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, Macbeth, Robin Hood, The Oxford Passion and Shakespeare’s Saint and Sinners for Creation. In 2021 he appeared as Pontius Pilate in the film Breaking day.
A British actor working in theatre, film and television who graduated from Rose Bruford in 1996.He performed in numerous theatrical productions before taking to the screen. Some of his theatrical roles include Othellodirected by Sam Walters, Tybalt inRomeo & Julietand the Young Vic produciton ofGenerations of the Deadat the Young Vic. On screenhis numerous roles have included Prince Ivar/Mystic Knight of Water inSaban'sMystic Knights of Tir Na Nog, Mike in the BBC series Attachments and Detective Sergeant Dave Summers in the ITV seriesBurnside. He also appeared in two episodes of Footballer's wives: extra time (2006),alongside fellow RB alumniElaine Glover and David Schaal,and he appeared in Guillermo del Toro'sHellboy II: The Golden Army (2008).Justin is currentlyHead of Acting & Joint Head of Third Year at Arts Educational Schools (where fellow RB alumna Kim Vithana is Director of the School of Acting).
A graduate of the class of 1978(where he met and married Elva Makins),Jack has worked as an actor, musician and voiceover artist in theatre, TV, film and radio for forty-five years. TV appearances include Brookside, Bergerac, Gossip from the Forest and The Bill. Latterly, Jack’s career has focused almost entirely on voice acting for which he is a multi-award winner. He won Best Male TV Documentary Voiceover at the OneVoice Awards in 2020 and was winner of the BestMale Demo Reel at theOne Voice Awards in 2022.His voice has featured in TV commercials, corporate videos and in computer games and he is especially known for his compelling narration on the documentary series Stories From Hidden Worlds,and the charming animation for the Sponsor a PuppyXmas Guide Dog TV commercial.
EnigmaVoices.com on SoundCloud
see alsoOur musical talent
Robin is a graduate of the class of 1989 and has extensive theatre credits which include productions at the Birmingham Rep, the Exeter Northcott, the Bolton Octagon, the Cheltenham Everyman, the New Vic in Stoke, the National Theatre, the Oxford Stage Company, the West End’s Arts Theatre, Harrogate Theatre Royal, the Watford Palace and Bath Theatre Royal. TV includes2.4 Children (1993),The Real McCoy (1993-94),The Bill(1993 and 1996),Dalziel & Pascoe (1999),Peak Practice (1999),Wire in the blood (2005)andPrimeval(2008). In 2014 Robin joinedThe ArchersasSam Batton,the newly appointed herdsman.
Joins The Archers
AWelshtelevisionactress, best known for playing the character of Diane Ashurst in the Welshsoap operaPobol y Cwm(1998-2020)and Mary inThe Duchess of Duke Street (1976-7). She also played WPC Beck inZ-Cars (1978), and has appeared in The district nurse (1984), andThe Bill (1993). She was inY Palmant Aur(1996-1997)and inBelonging(2006),and she played Phebe in the1978 BBC videoversionofAs You Like It.
Known forOtherworld,Custom,Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) and Doctor Who (2015). Alongside his work on film and TV, he has performed in numerous theatre productions in the UK appearing on the West End and with the Royal Shakespeare Company. In 2019 he was in Claudio Tolcachir'sThe Omission of the Family Coleman, at the Royal Theatre in Bath. Then in 2021 he was playing Antipholus of Ephesus in The comedy of errors. Other RSC credits includeThe Hypocrite(RSC/Hull Truck), Shakespearein Love(Theatre Royal Bath),Cockamamy(Hope Theatre, Islington),Desert Rats(Arts Theatre) and Another Country (Trafalgar Studios). In 2022 he appeared in the TV seriesDoctors, and in 2023 in the TV seriesFather Brown.In 2024 hetakes on the role of the ambitious young directorMichael Reeves in John Logan'sDouble featureat Hampstead Theatre.
Iris PotterakaDr. Iris MacGregor Bannerman
Iris graduated from Rose Bruford College in 1960. Upon leaving College she joined the Royal Shakespeare Theatre Company where she changed her last name to a family name MacGregor. A veteran performer with numerous roles on stage, film, televison and radio she moved to Canada in 1971 where she joined the National Theatre School in Montreal as the Head of Voice and Speech. Incidentally itwaswhen she married in Canada thatshe added her husband's name Bannerman to her own. She went on to become the Director of the Acting programme at Ryerson University in Toronto where she wrote the highly acclaimed curriculum for the Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. She was later made Professor Emeritus of Ryerson University, Toronto. In 1995she earned an MEd and PhD from the University of Toronto. After moving west she wasa faculty member of theCanadian College of Performing Arts, in Victoria (Canada) and has worked as a voice coach with theBlue Bridge Repertory Theatre in Victoria (Canada), the Railtown Actors Studio inVancouver (Canada) and theAmerican College in Dublin (Ireland). She is the author ofThink Breathe Speak: A Workbook for Actors (2014).
Billy in the making: meet voice coach Iris MacGregor BannermanVideo | Facebook(2020).
ReadingHouses of Holbein (July 2020):
Donna is a comedy writer performer hailing from Yorkshire and trained at the Rose Bruford College where she gained her BA (Acting) in 2009.She has recently been seen on the big screen with roles inFantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald(2018),The Hitman's Bodyguard(2017) andJudwaa 2(2017). Her strong vocal talents have also been demonstrated in musical theatre with roles as Mrs Bumble inOliver!and as the Lion inThe Wizard of Ozat The Grand Opera House York.In Spring 2019 she will appear on BBC3 in the new scripted comedy showFully Blown.
see also
Fred graduated from Rose Bruford in 1967. He was an aspiring theatre director and in 1968, co-founded the Soho Theatre Company with his wife, the writer Verity Bargate. Known at the time as the Soho Poly Theatre, it had a policy of offering new and little-known work at low prices, and it soon won wide acclaim for its production of cutting-edge plays, establishing itself as a home of good acting and arresting texts. He was artistic director with the company for many years - initially at the Soho Theatre, 6a, New Compton Street, then for two seasons of plays at the King's Head, 199 Upper Street and thereafter at the Soho Poly in Riding House Street. The Soho Poly was the starting point for many of our best-known actors, writers, designers and directors still working today. It was especially important in the showcasing of women in the theatre. He continued directing at such venues asthe Ludlow Festival, Greenwich Theatre and the Yvonne Arnaud. He returned to the Riding House space when it was revived by the University of Westminster helping with the restoration and giving poetry readings and talks. In 2018 he directed a staged reading of Friedrich Durrenmatt’s play One Autumn Evening starring Peter Marinker, Paul Alexander, James Sanderson and Poppy Abbott to mark exactly 50 years since the Soho Theatre was founded This play was the first ever production by the company, performed at the Open Space in 1968. He puts his verse speaking skills to good use on his YouTube channel (Fred Proud@Caspar33). He is now retired and divides his time between London and Minas Gerais in Brazil.
Source:Morrison, M. (2017). The Soho Theatre, 1968-1981. London: The Society for Theatre Research.
Soho Poly Restoration project - YouTube
see alsoOur Directors
A Welsh film and television actor, graduating from Rose Bruford College in 1976. He appeared as Harold Wilson in the 2005 Channel 4 dramaLongfordand as Hermann Göring in the 2006 BBC drama-documentaryNuremberg: Nazis on Trial. In 2007, he co-starred in the ITV1 dramaThe Time of Your Life.He has also had roles inThe Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain(1995) as Williams the Petroleum,Master and Commander: the far side of the world(2003) as John Allen,Kinky Boots(2005) as Harold Price andKingdom of Heaven(2005) as Godfrey's elder brother. In 2011 he became Judge Patrick Coburn inJusticeand the following year he joinedHBO'sGame of Thronesin the recurring role ofCraster.In 2013 he portrayed Baron Rivers inThe White Queenandplayed Jack Reynolds inDoctor Foster (2015),and in 2016 joined the cast ofMr Selfridgeas Lord Wynstay, another Welsh character. He is also the narrator ofThe repair shop(from 2018 to the present).
see alsoScience fiction and fantasy
Elaine Pyke(Fellow)
Elaine Pyke started her career in the industry as an actress on The Bill. She moved on to script editing and producing, then was hired as the Head of Drama at Sky and promoted to Director of Sky Atlantic in 2011.In 2014, Elaine joined New Pictures as an Executive Producer forIndian Summers(Channel 4) and was the lead Exec onThe Innocentsfor Netflix. She was promoted to Creative Director in May 2020.
Elaine Pyke said,“The future is very bright for New Pictures with an incredibly exciting slate of shows both in development and on the path to production. It has been an extraordinary seven years working with Willow and Charlie and I know that the next seven will be even more so as New Pictures continues to confirm itself as a leading international scripted production company.”
In Conversation with Elaine Pyke | Screen and Film School
see alsocuttings file - Laurence Olivier Award 1992
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