Central to Host the Keep Creating Gala
On Sunday 16 May, Central is excited to host the virtual Keep Creating Gala, an online celebration showcasing talent from across the Central community. The Gala will help raise funds for Bursaries to support current students facing financial difficulties as a result of COVID-19, as well for Central’s Student Centre which supports student health and wellbeing.
Premiering on Central’s YouTube channel and introduced by Central’s President, alumnus Michael Grandage, the programme will feature performances, immersive animation, a glimpse into our rehearsal rooms, and guest appearances from some well-known faces. We are thrilled that Central alumna Sonia Friedman and long-time supporter Gareth Neame have agreed to be Honorary Co-Chairs of the Gala.
Central students and recent graduates have been heavily involved in preparations for the event and will feature in the short film A Day in the Life, a snapshot of the activities taking place in Central’s rehearsal rooms, classrooms and Embassy Theatre over the course of one day this April.
In the lead up to the event, Central students were also invited to take part in The Joy of Creating competition, and to submit a filmed performance, animation or video of another creative project. The winning entry received a £250 prize, mentorship from a Central graduate working in the industry and a featured place in the Keep Creating Gala programme.
Submissions for this competition were judged by Central alumnus James Bierman of Empire Street Productions. James said that the winning entry by BA (Hons) CDT student, Matthew Allen, was “brilliant in its innovation and use of so many different elements”. Of Matthew and second placed Chiara Scoglio, he commented that they “both show huge talent and unique voices which are to be commended”.
“I am honoured to have won the Joy of Creating competition and that my piece will be part of the Keep Creating gala. Lockdown has been tough for everyone in many different ways which makes generating new work even more challenging. I am very grateful for the Acting CDT Staff and fellow classmates for supporting me so well and inspiring me to Keep Creating!”
Matthew Allen, BA (Hons) Acting Collaborative and Devised Theatre
Recent graduates and alumni will also take part in the gala, with a puppetry performance from director, designer and puppetry performer Toby Olié, immersive animation from Class of 2019 graduate QianEr Jin and a monologue performance from Class of 2020 graduate Stefan Chanyaem. And in recognition of the work Central graduates undertake in community settings across the country and around the world, the Applied Theatre in the Community film will feature the testimonials of alumni from the Applied Theatre courses discussing their work.
A highlight of the evening will be a specially commissioned excerpt from alumna Jessica Swale’s production of Nell Gwynn, directed by alumnus Jonathan Kent and featuring several well-known graduates including: Danny Sapani as Charles II, Linus Roache as Arlington, Tracy Ifeachor as Rose, Honorary Fellow Cecilia Noble as Ma Gwynn and Class of 2020 graduate Issie Riley in the titular role of Nell.
To find out more about Keep Creating, including details about registering to attend the Gala and how you can make a donation to Central’s Keep Creating Appeal in support of our students, please visit the dedicated event page.