Martin Bowley Outdoor Theatre unveiled at Rose Bruford College

Rose Bruford College has unveiled the Martin Bowley Outdoor Theatre at its Sidcup campus, naming the refurbished space in honour of Martin Bowley KC and his longstanding support for students and the performing arts.

The existing outdoor theatre has been refurbished with support from the Martin Bowley Charitable Trust. Used for outdoor events, including live music performances, it is a much-loved space for students and the wider College community.

Through the Trust, Martin has also supported young people facing financial hardship while training for careers in the performing arts. Naming the theatre recognises his commitment to the next generation of performers and theatre-makers.

Professor Randall Whittaker, Principal and CEO of Rose Bruford College, said:

“Martin has shown a real commitment to supporting our students and helping them realise their potential. From easing the financial pressures of training to creating opportunities for students to share their work, his generosity has made a meaningful difference. It is particularly fitting that our Outdoor Theatre bears his name, given his own early experiences on stage, and stands as a lasting recognition of his support for the College and its students.”

Martin Bowley KC added:

“Theatre has been a huge part of my life since I was very young, and I want others to have the chance to find their own place in it. That’s why I support Rose Bruford. I believe students should be able to develop their talent, whatever their financial circumstances. I hope they’ll use this theatre to try out ideas, learn from one another, and enjoy making theatre together. It means a great deal to me to know that these experiences help them as they begin their professional lives.”

Martin Bowley KC built a distinguished career as a criminal barrister and is a former Treasurer of the General Council of the Bar of England and Wales. He sat as a Crown Court Recorder from 1979 until 1988, when he had to stand down after a national newspaper outed him. He went on to campaign for gay rights within the legal profession and beyond, and was an early supporter of Stonewall. From 1999 to 2000 he sat on the Home Office steering group that reviewed sexual offences law in England and Wales, whose report helped shape the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

His own interest in theatre began at school, where he took leading roles in productions. In 1959 Martin played Ezekiel Edgworth in Ben Jonson’s Bartholomew Fair, staged by the Oxford University Experimental Theatre Club at the University Open Air Theatre Festival in Avonbank Gardens, Stratford-upon-Avon. Ken Loach co-directed and appeared in the production, and Dudley Moore wrote the music.

The theatre forms part of Rose Bruford’s specialist performing arts facilities at its Sidcup campus. Across the College, students work on more than 200 productions and events each academic year. These projects bring performers together with designers, stage managers, and technical teams, helping students apply their specialist skills and gain experience of making work for an audience.

 

For press enquiries and further information: Please contact Aimée McAvoy, Head of Communications, at [email protected].

Support Rose Bruford College

A big thank you to everyone who supports Rose Bruford College through donations and partnerships. Your generosity and collaboration make an invaluable difference to current and future generations of performance and production creatives.

To find out more about supporting the College through a donation or exploring partnership opportunities, please contact us at the email address above.