Central re-launches Pivot Club in New York

Michael Grandage, President of Central School of Speech & Drama, hosted Central's inaugural annual alumni & supporters event at the famous "Coffee House Club" in New York. 

Grandage, artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse, London, is currently directing Don Giovanni at the Met Opera House, New York. In his opening remarks, he shared that he "owed his career to Central."

Over 70 guests attended in total, including Central attendees Principal Gavin Henderson, the fundraising team - Victoria Okotie and Meg Ryan, Musical Theatre course leader Wendy Gadian, and Central Board of Governors member and advisor to alumnus Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Peter Roberts.  Guests included 25 New York-based Central alumni and a host of industry connections including theatre investors, theatre and set designers, playwrights, casting directors, producers, and directors. 

The evening celebrated the unique university conservatoire training that Central provides for the creative industries as well as the re-launch of The Pivot Club, an exclusive members club which was initiated by Lord Laurence Olivier and Dame Peggy Ashcroft in the 1920s to raise money for talented students without means.  Today the club has been launched to raise money for scholarships to Central. 

Central returns to the US in February for a run of auditions and interviews in New York and San Francisco.  US students account for 49% of all of Central's international recruits.