Michael Charlesworth (1964 – 2016)
Actor and psychotherapist, Michael Charlesworth taught on the American Theatre Arts (ATA) programme, from its inception through to last year when illness prevented him from taking up his annual residency. His classes were central to the ATA's Professional Preparation module and over the years helped more than two hundred students develop and hone their presentational skills. I know that many ATA graduates will recall vividly his sessions; his patience, kindness and exceptionally dry sense of humour. With his business partner, fellow actor Serena Evans, Mike developed an internationally-renown workshop series entitled 'Speaking with Authenticity'; and together they were professional advisers to the ATA programme in its infancy. Mike's combination of passion and level-headedness directly shaped the course it is today. I trained at Goldsmiths with Michael in the early 1980s, and have lost not just a colleague, but my oldest friend. He leaves behind his wife, Nicola and two beautiful children, Sebastian and Belle. To say he will be missed is a understatement, but then Michael always was a master of the understated, but devastating, observation.
Steven Dykes
Programme Director, BA (Hons) American Theatre Arts