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A Lasting Legacy at LAMDA
Theatre Projects and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) have always enjoyed a fruitful collaborative relationship, but they have now further cemented this relationship with the renewal of The Robert Stanton - Theatre Projects Bursary Fund for LAMDA students.
Conceived as an acknowledgement of Bob's founding of the innovative Two Year Stage Management & Technical Theatre Course at LAMDA in 1965, the bursary was originally launched as a celebration of Bob's 85th birthday. Bob was a legendary British stage manager and Honorary LAMDA fellow who was instrumental in helping Theatre Projects' founder and chairman emeritus, Richard Pilbrow, to start up his early career and then establish Theatre Projects. Bob became a consultant to Theatre Projects and was the original director of the pioneering Two Year Stage Management & Technical Theatre Course, which became the model for other drama schools across the country. Sadly, he passed away on 14 February 2007, so Theatre Projects decided to extend the bursary in Bob's honour as a tribute to his support for Theatre Projects and his enormous contribution to the theatre industry.
The bursary was set up to give financial assistance to students who might otherwise find it difficult to complete the two-year course at the London Academy. 2007 bursary recipient, Helen Stone explains the huge difference that it has made to her studies: "Having already completed a BA (Hons) degree, many of the usual funding options were not open to me. I was overjoyed to get a place on LAMDA's prestigious Two Year Stage Management & Technical Theatre Course but, having worked out the budget I would need for fees, rent etc, I knew that I would be in straitened circumstances. Winning the Robert Stanton - Theatre Projects Bursary has enabled me to commit the maximum time, effort and energy to making the most of my time at LAMDA and pursuing this exciting career. I am honoured to have received an award named after such a renowned theatre professional and well-liked man".
Theatre Projects has guaranteed the bursary will continue for at least another three years. Andrew De Rosa, general manager of Theatre Projects and former student of Bob's at LAMDA, comments: "Theatre Projects has always had a great relationship with LAMDA and we are honoured to be able to give something back to the Academy and honour Bob in this way. We hope that this bursary will make a real difference to the next generation of theatre technicians during their training and formative years in the theatre world."
As well as this generous contribution to help LAMDA students cope with the financial pressures during their studies, Theatre Projects continues to be involved in the development of the Academy. LAMDA celebrated the 40th anniversary of its prestigious Two Year Stage Management & Technical Theatre Course in 2005, at which several representatives from Theatre Projects (past and present) were invited to participate in the celebrations.
In picture: Former production stage manager for Theatre Projects, David Chivers, Honorary LAMDA Fellow and original Stage Management & Technical Theatre Course Director, the late Bob Stanton, and Theatre Projects' founder and chairman emeritus, Richard Pilbrow.
Photograph by Richard H. Smith, 2005, courtesy of LAMDA
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