Keep Creating Gala

Central's Keep Creating Gala

Central’s Keep Creating Gala premiered on Sunday 16 May 2021

Honorary Co-Chairs: Sonia Friedman OBE and Gareth Neame OBE

#CSSDKeepCreating

  • Gala programme

    Welcome

    Riz Ahmed

    Central alumnus and Honorary Fellow

    Introduction

    Michael Grandage CBE

    Central President and alumnus

    A day in the life

    Central students of MA Acting (Classical), BA Acting, BA Acting (Musical Theatre) and BA Theatre Practice

    Filmed within COVID restrictions in our rehearsal rooms and Embassy Theatre

    Introduction

    Josette Bushell-Mingo OBE

    Incoming Principal of The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

    Excerpt of One Day

    QianEr Jin

    Class of 2019

    Monologue from Misty by Arinzé Kene

    Stefan Chanyaem

    Class of 2020

    Introduction

    Toby Olié

    Central alumnus, director, designer and puppetry performer

    The Wolves in the Walls

    by Toby Olié

    Based on the graphic novel by Neil Gaiman, Illustrated by Dave McKean

    Introduction

    Dame Judi Dench DBE

    Central alumna, Honorary Fellow and Former President

    Scenes from Nell Gwynn

    By Jessica Swale

    Alumni cast of Tracy Ifeachor, Cecilia Noble, Issie Riley (Class of 2020), Linus Roache and Danny Sapani.

    Directed by Central alumnus Jonathan Kent

    Introduction

    Jason Isaacs

    Central alumnus

    Applied Theatre in the Community 

    Lama Amine

    Shereen Jasmin Phillips

    Lara McIvor

    Senior Arts Manager, Seenaryo, Lebanon

    Director of Taking Party, Young Vic Theatre, London

    Country Director, Seenaryo, Jordan

    Introduction

    Joy of Creating competition winner Matthew Allen

    Third Year BA (Hons) Acting (Collaborative and Devised Theatre)

    Once Upon a Showcase

    Written, composed and performed by Matthew Allen

    Introduction

    Sonia Friedman OBE

    Central alumna and Honorary Fellow

    Finale song: Hold the Light

    Written by Paul Thompson, performed by Becky Coote (Class of 2021) and Will Thompson (Class of 2020)

    Featuring a wide range of Central alumni and current students and staff

    Hold the Light features:

    • Current BA (Hons) CDT student, Prince Gandifere
    • Actress, comedian and writer, Catherine Tate
    • Head Flyman of The National Theatre’s Lyttelton Theatre, Suresh Chawla
    • Movement director, choreographer and teacher, Ingrid Mackinnon
    • Actor Martins Imhangbe, who can be seen most recently performing in Netflix’s Bridgerton.
    • Actress, comedian and voice coach Rebecca Root, whose credits include Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit, film The Danish Girl, and BBC’s Boy Meets Girl
    • Actor, comedian, author, and presenter Sir Tony Robinson
    • Costume designer Nina Ayres known for her work on Game of Thrones and Outlander
    • Writer Vinay Patel, currently part of the writing team for BBC’s Doctor Who
    • Oscar and BAFTA Award-winning playwright and screenwriter, Rebecca Lenkiewicz
    • Actor Jack Loxton, who can currently be seen starring in the West End’s Dear Evan Hansen
    • Actress Millicent Wong, who will next appear in The National Theatre’s production of Jack Thorne’s After Life
    • Current MA Creative Producing student and Producing Assistant for the Keep Creating Gala, Gregor Weir
    • Amy Ball, Casting director at the Royal Court Theatre and many Sonia Friedman Productions, such as Jerusalem and Uncle Vanya
    • Movement director and intimacy co-ordinator Ita O’Brien, whose recent credits include BBC’s Normal People and I May Destroy You, and Netflix’s Sex Education

The Keep Creating Gala raised vital funds for Bursaries to support those of our students who are facing financial hardship in the current climate, due to loss of part-time work, and for the Student Centre which supports student health and wellbeing. 

More than ever, the world needs stories; Central students are the future storytellers. Help them to realise that future. 

You can still make a donation towards our Keep Creating Fund, please follow the link below.

Donate via Text

Text CENTRAL 10 to 70700 to donate £10            

Text CENTRAL 20 to 70700 to donate £20                        

Text CENTRAL 30 to 70700 to donate £30

Text messages are charged one message at the standard rate. The Royal Central School of Speech & Drama will receive 100% of your donation. Always get bill payers permission. 16 years and over only.  

Gifts of any size would be greatly appreciated. We thank you in advance for your generosity.

  • Honorary Committee

    Sonia Friedman OBE and Gareth Neame OBE 

    • James Bierman
    • Josette Bushell-Mingo OBE
    • Professor George Caird
    • Caroline Clark
    • Dame Judi Dench DBE
    • Andrew Galloway
    • Michael Grandage CBE
    • Alan Haigh

    • Paige Nelson

    • Jane Reid
    • Khalil Somji
    • Patricia Storace
    • Hilary and Stuart Williams

  • Contributors to the programme

    • Riz Ahmed
    • Lama Amine
    • Matthew Allen
    • Nina Ayres
    • Amy Ball
    • Aaron Brotherhood
    • Jordan Bryan
    • Josette Bushell-Mingo
    • Stefan Chanyaem
    • Suresh Chawla
    • Susie Collins
    • Becky Coote
    • Judi Dench
    • Elsie Fogerty (in spirit)
    • Sonia Friedman
    • Prince Gandifere
    • Michael Grandage 
    • Tracy Ifeachor
    • Martins Imhangbe
    • Jason Isaacs
    • Shereen Jasmin Phillips
    • QianEr Jin
    • Jonathan Kent
    • Rebecca Lenkiewicz
    • Jack Loxton
    • Ingrid Mackinnon
    • Lara McIvor
    • Cecilia Noble
    • Ita O’Brien
    • Toby Olié
    • Vinay Patel
    • Issie Riley
    • Linus Roache
    • Tony Robinson
    • Rebecca Root
    • Danny Sapani
    • Martin Juul Sorensen
    • Jessica Swale
    • Catherine Tate
    • Will Thompson
    • Gregor Weir
    • Sara Wiener
    • Millicent Wong

  • Gala Supporters

    • Williams Charitable Trust
    • Katharina Heigl
    • The Andy Stewart Charitable Foundation
    • In memory of Kay Frosdick
    • The Gareth Neame Foundation

  • Gala Patrons

    • Professor George Caird
    • Caroline and Simon Clark
    • Ros and Alan Haigh
    • Lyon Family Charitable Trust
    • John Peach
    • Marquee TV
    • Anonymous
    • Christopher Barron OBE
    • Dame Pippa Harris DBE
    • Madeleine Hodgkin
    • Rebecca Lenkiewicz
    • Julia and Julian Markson
    • Nicholas Murphy
    • Murray Rosenthal
    • Sue and Tony Rosner
    • Patricia Storace