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Winnie Southgate wins 2017 Lilian Baylis Award

ALRA would like to congratulate Winnie Southgate, current 2nd year student at ALRA North, on receiving the 2017 Lilian Baylis Award, presented by renowned actor and CBE David Suchet who gave the winners lots of advice and encouragement.

Every year, the Lilian Baylis Awards are granted to students from each of the eleven accredited London Drama Schools, to assist them through the completion of their course by reducing financial stress.

The awards are dedicated to the memory of Lilian Baylis (1874-1937) who ran The Old Vic Theatre from 1912 until her death. She committed herself to ensuring that The Old Vic productions, most famously of Shakespeare, were of the highest quality and that the doors were open to many who could not afford the more established theatres.

Lilian Baylis was an important figure in developing several theatres that are very much still prominent and popular today, namely The Old Vic National Theatre, Sadler’s Wells Opera, which became the English National Opera, Sadler’s Wells Ballet, which became Birmingham Royal Ballet, and the Royal Ballet School.

The nominated student is required to fulfil all three of the following criteria:

  • Promise: The student shows promise which suggests the potential to make a significant contribution to the development of theatre.
  • Hardship: The completion of the student’s course is in jeopardy without additional finance.
  • Study: Students should have completed two years of a three-year course, or one year of a two-year course.

Last year, ALRA South student Lucinda Jarvis attended the event and, the year before, recent graduate Bethany Reilly won this award.

For more information on the Lilian Baylis Awards, please visit the Royal Victoria Hall Foundation's website.