Hurtwood House School

 Having attended a Hurtwood Shakespeare Drama Summer School, Vanessa Kirby  has ended up with the lead role in Middleton's 'Women Beware Women' at the National Theatre. In the meantime she is finishing her stint playing three leading female roles to die for at The Bolton Octagon.  Her leads in Ibsen's 'Ghosts,' Miller's 'All my Son's' and as Helena in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' have already won her The Manchester Evening News' Best Newcomer' award and consideration for the much coveted Iain Charleson award.  What's next we wonder? Could it be Hollywood? All this has happened barely a year out of university when she came to Andy Johnson, Hurtwood House's  Director in Residence, for some help in getting in to Drama School.  Her talent was spotted and we tipped off an agent.  And all the rest.... Is history.

Hurtwood student Tor Richards has won 2nd prize in the ACT One-Act Playwriting Competition with her play "Bathroom Sincerities".This follows the success of Dan Walker who won last year's competition with his play "Tapping" The play will be performed at The Arthur Cotterell Theatre on Thursday 25th February at 7pm. Tor also wins £250 for her efforts!

Luke has won the role of Matt in a brand new production of the classic musical, The Fantasticks which opens in London on May 24th at The Duchess Theatre.

Hurtwood has just heard that Olly Murray has landed a plum job presenting Nickelodeon's new teen show, Teenick, airing every day between 5pm and 7pm. Check it out!

Ex-student Daisy Boulton has just landed the role of Juliette in the Almedia's coming production of Measure for Measure alongside Rory Kinnear, Anna Maxwell Martin and Ben Miles. The show is directed by Michael Attenborough and runs from February to April 2010. Well done Daisy.
(edited 29/10/09)