A person wearing a loose red shirt sits at the edge of a clean, modern pool, facing away from the camera. The pool features an integrated square hot tub, and a yellow inflatable duck floats in the background, while white patio chairs and tables are arranged neatly nearby.

Still from Signs of Life, written and directed by Joseph Millson. Director of Photography: Elliot Millson

If you have a project or update to share, you can connect via the Alumni Facebook group or contact [email protected]

Awards

Rose Bruford College has been nominated for the Lecturers and Teaching Quality Award at the annual Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs). Now in its 12th year, the WUSCAs remain the only UK higher education awards judged entirely by students. Find out more.

Signs of Life, written and directed by Rose Bruford College alumnus and Fellow Joseph Millson, was named Best UK Feature at the London Independent Film Festival. The film, which also features alumnus Oliver Jackson, had previously been awarded Best Feature Film at the 2025 Berlin Indie Film Festival.

The Olivier Awards took place on Sunday 6 April. The winner of Best New Musical was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, featuring performances by Actor Musicianship BA (Hons) alumni Anna Fordham (2016), Elliot Mackenzie (2018), and Damien James (2020). Best Revival went to Fiddler on the Roof, which featured David Freedman (Acting, 1972) as The Rabbi. Alumni were also involved behind the scenes at the ceremony: Ben Cracknell (Lighting Design, 2001) served as Lighting Designer; Cy Dodimead (Lighting Design, 2000) worked as Lighting Gaffer and Adam Hodgson (Creative Lighting Control, 2014) managed the lighting systems and network. Read the full list of alumni nominated for this year’s awards.

Zoe West, (Actor Musicianship BA (Hons), 2017) was named Best Villain at the UK Pantomime Association’s Pantomime Awards.

Events

Heneliis Notton, a graduate of Queer Performance MA/MFA, led the central project management and curation for Baltic Take Over 2025 performing arts festival, which took place on 10–12 April in Turku, Finland. They also recently published their writing in Bebe.

26th April was World Shakespeare Day – find out how we have celebrated, performed and reimagined the work of William Shakespeare throughout our history.

Productions

A man in a cowboy hat and fringed suede jacket stands under a large, illuminated, rectangular panel in the dark, with rain falling dramatically around him. His arms are crossed as he gazes upward, creating a moody, cinematic scene suggestive of introspection or defiance.

Midnight Cowboy- A New Musical – set and light design by Rose Bruford College graduate Andrew Exeter. Photo: Pamela Raith

Here are some of the productions and shows which arrived in April:

Ray Fearon (President of Rose Bruford College)

Jessica Hung Han Yun (Lighting Design BA, 2014)

  • Lighting designer on Speed at the Bush Theatre (until 17th May)

Gary Oldman (Acting, 1979)

David Freedman (1972)

  • Playing Pooh Bah in The Mikado at The Tabard Theatre (until 24th May)

Matthew Devlin (Acting BA, 2023)

  • Played Kevin Keegan in Red or Dead, which ran at Liverpool’s Royal Court

Joshie Harriette (Light in Performance MA, 2023)

Abi Turner (Lighting Design BA, 2020)

Julia Grogan (Acting BA, 2018)

  • Writer of Playfight, which ran at Soho Theatre.

Kimberley Sykes (Directing, 2010)

  • Director of Piaf at the Watermill Theatre (until 17th April)

Yarit Dor (Theatre Practice and Fellow, 2008)

  • Intimacy director on Unicorn, which ran at the Garrick Theatre.

Ben Cracknell (Lighting Design and Fellow, 2001)

Matt Betteridge (Acting, 2001)

In the Mouth of the Wolf – Barn Theatre, Cirencester (until 10th May)

  • Ella Wahlström (Performance Sound, 2013), Composer and sound designer
  • Jan Haydn Rowles (Community Theatre Arts, 1989), Accent and dialect coach

Midnight Cowboy – Southwark Playhouse (until 17th May)

  • Andrew Exeter (Lighting Design BA (Hons), 2020), Set and lighting designer
  • Ryan Dunnett (Creative Lighting Control BA (Hons), 2024), Lighting programmer

Hadestown – Lyric Theatre (until September 2025)

  • Lucinda Buckley (Actor Musicianship BA (Hons), 2022), Cast member
  • Tarek Merchant (Actor Musicianship BA (Hons), 2008), Musical director

A Matter of Life and Death – New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme

  • Caroline Hetherington (Acting, 1988), Vocal Coach.
  • Morgan Burgess (Actor Musicianship BA (Hons), 2021), Playing Abraham Farlan (and guitar)
  • Luke Thornton (Actor Musicianship BA (Hons), 2015), Playing Universe (and double bass)
  • Lucy Wells (Actor Musicianship BA (Hons), 2014), Playing Shirley (and saxophone)
  • Alexander Bean (Actor Musicianship BA (Hons), 2015), Playing Judge (and drums)
  • Jessica Jolleys (Actor Musicianship BA (Hons), 2013), Playing Chief Recorder (and saxophone)