Milton Court is a new Theatre
and Concert Hall development in the Barbican built as a much needed extension
of facilities at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama - my alma mater.
Its state of the art performance areas will do much to assist the educational
aspects in the Arts in which Guildhall excels.
The
City Livery Companies have done much to support the development financially and
has included a City Livery Companies Bar. Supporting livery companies
have their names on display by the bar - including our own company.
I went
to Guildhall in 1967 straight from school as an eighteen year old. It was
then situated in John Carpenter Street very close to St Bride's and the
Bridewell Institute in which we performed our ballet and dance. I
graduated in July 1969 playing the lead in Antigone - a tragedy by Jean Anouilh
inspired by Greek mythology. The morning after my final curtain call I got
married which I recall necessitated a rapid transformation in character.
I went off to Salisbury Playhouse as one of my first professional
theatrical engagements and still maintain a deep love for the theatre. I
am still a full member of the Actors Union Equity. An Equity Card used to
be an essential pre-requisite in order to work in the professional theatre.
Whilst
the facilities available to drama and music students today have no comparison
to the rudimentary arrangements in the 1960's, I was obliged to remind a fellow
Master that students today have to pay considerable sums of money for their
tuition - in my day it was not only free but we got a Grant from the local
authority on which to live!
 |
| With a Master in the Alumni we just had to be seen as a livery company sponsor! |
 |
| Centre Stage again after 45 years on a stage at the GSM&D |
 |
| A Livery Bar with a large coffee machine and no alcohol? |
 |
| Receiving a briefing on the modern technology for raising lighting and scenery - all by computer |
No comments:
Post a Comment