Rose Bruford College is delighted to celebrate the success of alumnus Tom Edden, who has won Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for Paddington: The Musical at the Olivier Awards 2026, one of the most prestigious events in the global theatre calendar.
We also extend our warmest congratulations to fellow alumni Katie Brayben, nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for Into the Woods, Joshua Pharo, nominated for Best Lighting Design for his work on Kenrex, and Hayley Squires, nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical for All My Sons. Their recognition reflects the breadth of talent emerging from the College and making a significant impact across the industry.
Speaking on Tom’s win, Randall Whittaker, Principal and CEO of Rose Bruford College, said:
“Huge congratulations to Tom Edden on this outstanding achievement. We’re incredibly proud to see our alumni recognised at the highest level of the industry. We also warmly congratulate Katie Brayben, Hayley Squires and Joshua Pharo on their nominations. It is inspiring to see such a strong representation of Rose Bruford alumni across the awards, reflecting the creativity and excellence within our community.”
Tom’s career has been defined by standout performances across stage and screen. His breakthrough role came as Alfie in One Man, Two Guvnors, earning him a Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a Featured Role and a Tony Award nomination. He also received an Olivier Award nomination in 2025 for his role in the West End revival of Waiting for Godot. His film credits include Mr. Turner, Cinderella, and Star Wars.
This year, Paddington: The Musical was a major success at the Olivier Awards, securing seven awards in total, including the Cunard Best New Musical. Tom graduated from Rose Bruford College in 2000 with a BA (Hons) in Acting.
Katie Brayben has built a distinguished career across theatre, television, and music, also performing as a singer-songwriter. A two-time Olivier Award winner, this year marks her third nomination. She won Best Actress in a Musical in 2015 for her portrayal of Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and again in 2023 for her performance in Tammy Faye. Katie graduated from Rose Bruford College in 2003 with a BA (Hons) in Actor Musicianship. She was made a Fellow of the College in 2023.
Joshua Pharo has worked as a lighting and projection designer across theatre, dance, opera, music, film and art installation. He was named Young Lighting Designer to Watch by The Stage in 2017 and won Outstanding Year in Theatre at The Profile Awards in 2025 for an impressive body of work including true crime thriller Kenrex at Sheffield Theatre, The House Party at Chichester Festival Theatre and Leeds Playhouse, A Raisin in the Sun at Nottingham Playhouse and Lyric Hammersmith, and The Hot Wing King in the Dorfman Theatre, National Theatre. Joshua graduated from Rose Bruford College in 2010 with a BA (Hons) in Lighting Design.
Hayley Squires has earned widespread acclaim for her work across screen and stage. Her recent television credits include The Night Manager, Great Expectations, and The Essex Serpent. In film, she is best known for her performance in I, Daniel Blake, for which she received a 2016 BAFTA nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and was named Most Promising Newcomer at BIFA. Her role in All My Sons at Wyndham Theatre marked her first stage role since 2018. Hayley graduated from Rose Bruford College in 2010 with a BA (Hons) in Acting.
The Olivier Awards recognise excellence in professional theatre in London and are widely regarded as the highest honour in British theatre. This year’s success places Rose Bruford alumni firmly at the forefront of the industry, shaping some of the most exciting and innovative work on stage today.
Read our interview with Katie Brayben.
Learn more about our BA (Hons) Acting.