History of the Actors Centre
The Actors centre was founded in 1978, by a group of actors including, Sheila Hancock and Clive Swift. From its modest beginnings it has since grown to occupy a unique place in the performing arts in this country.
In 1994 it moved to its current building in the heart of the West End . A former industrial building, the space was transformed into a creative hub serving a growing community of actors. The Actors Centre will be 30 years old in 2008 and there is much to celebrate. The centre now has over 2300 members, with access to over 1500 workshops a year. The centre incorporates a 70 seat theatre, presenting a year round programme of new and experimental work. It also has five studios including; a fully equipped media studio with edit suite, a vocal studio, a dance studio, and rehearsal studio.
We are fortunate that over the years The Actors Centre’s vision has been shared by many leading figures from the British stage and screen. The late Sir Alan Bates was Patron of the Actors Centre, following in the footsteps of its Founding Patron, Lord Olivier, and Sir Alec Guinness. Alan Bates was an outstanding Patron, who passionately cared about the quality of acting. His passion and commitment to the acting profession is echoed by our current Patron, Julie Walters.
The Actors Centre is also fortunate to benefit from the support of its Advisory Board and a body of Vice-Presidents that includes a vast array of the leading lights of the acting profession.
David Brierley, Eleanor Bron, Faith Brook, Selina Cadell, Neil Calver, Sir Richard Eyre, Michael Ferguson, Sir Peter Hall, Sheila Hancock, Nicholas Hytner, Sir Jeremy Isaacs, David Liddiment, Gillian Lynne CBE, Michael O’Sullivan, Ian Plenderleith CBE, Lord Puttnam, Caroline Quentin, Prunella Scales, Maureen Scott , Ben Seale, Mark Stephens (Chair), Clive Swift, John Tydeman, John Whitney, Richard Wilson OBE.
Cicely Berry OBE, Jean Boht, Simon Callow CBE, Julian Glover, Nickolas Grace, Pamela Lady Harlech, Josephine Hart, Gayle Hunnicutt, Celia Imrie, Sir Derek Jacobi, Barbara Jefford OBE, Denis Lawson, Bill Paterson, Rachel Pickup, Tim Pigott-Smith, Corin Redgrave, Alan Rickman, Juliet Stevenson, David Swift, Cathy Tyson, Harriet Walter, Zoe Wanamaker CBE, Paula Wilcox
To find out how you can support the Actors Centre click here and to see our existing supporters click here. To read about our 30th Birthday click here
