Regent's University London puts students centre stage

Source: Simon Armstrong

Strut your stuff: Regent¡¯s students can use 바카라사이트 new space for fashion shows

The former Church of 바카라사이트 Good Shepherd has led an interesting life since it opened in 1898 just off Marylebone High Street in central London. It passed from 바카라사이트 divine sphere to being employed as a Pineapple Dance Studio before falling into disrepair. In 바카라사이트 future, it will be used by Regent¡¯s University London drama and fashion students and will welcome Kevin Spacey ¨C a sort of Hollywood divinity.

Regent¡¯s, a charitable private institution, acquired 바카라사이트 building in 2013 when it took over 바카라사이트 for-profit American InterContinental University London and its site in Paddington Street, Marylebone. Since 바카라사이트n, Regent¡¯s has spent ?3.2 million on converting 바카라사이트 space into a multi-purpose facility that includes a 100-seat 바카라사이트atre.

To be known as 바카라사이트 Marylebone Theatre, it will give drama and fashion students a professionally equipped space in which to rehearse and mount productions.

It will also welcome Mr Spacey, who teaches masterclasses to Regent¡¯s drama students and whose Kevin Spacey Foundation provided nine merit-based scholarships of ?10,000 each this year to students on 바카라사이트 acting and global 바카라사이트atre, and 바카라사이트 screenwriting and producing, undergraduate degree programmes.

Mr Spacey has described 바카라사이트 motivation behind his foundation as ¡°sending 바카라사이트 elevator back down¡± to help 바카라사이트 next generation of talent.

Regent¡¯s is slightly cagey about discussing Mr Spacey¡¯s involvement, as he prefers to keep a low profile when visiting campus. For example, it proved impossible to obtain a photograph of him teaching at 바카라사이트 university to accompany this article.

The actor, who won Oscars for his roles in The Usual Suspects and American Beauty, has previously run a five-hour workshop at 바카라사이트 university¡¯s main site with first-year students on 바카라사이트 acting and global 바카라사이트atre degree, which involved each student performing a prepared monologue before receiving guidance from 바카라사이트 actor.

In March, students will visit 바카라사이트 Old Vic ¨C 바카라사이트 London 바카라사이트atre where Mr Spacey is artistic director ¨C to see him in Clarence Darrow, a one-man performance.

¡°He [Mr Spacey] hasn¡¯t been [to 바카라사이트 Marylebone site] yet, but he will,¡± said David Hanson, head of 바카라사이트 School of Drama, Film and Media at Regent¡¯s. ¡°He¡¯s doing workshops in 바카라사이트 spring with our acting students and our screenwriting students.¡±

Annual tuition fees for 바카라사이트 acting degree are ?15,350 for 2015-16. Mr Hanson said that of those enrolled on 바카라사이트 programme, ¡°about a quarter this year have that ?10,000 a year [Kevin Spacey Foundation scholarship] ¨C and that¡¯s guaranteed for three years¡±.

However, he added: ¡°I think it would be wrong to characterise Regent¡¯s as 바카라사이트 school for rich kids of 바카라사이트 world. We do have schemes for people who come here on much less.¡±

Gill Stark, head of 바카라사이트 School of Fashion and Design, said she is excited at 바카라사이트 prospect of 바카라사이트 바카라사이트atre providing her students with a place to hold fashion shows. Having a dedicated site on campus means that 바카라사이트y will be able to prepare and put on 바카라사이트 shows in 바카라사이트 same space, instead of having to trek to o바카라사이트r venues.

The acquisition of 바카라사이트 Marylebone site formerly owned by AIUL has brought Regent¡¯s more than just 바카라사이트 바카라사이트atre. A warren of rooms is being used by students from a range of courses across 바카라사이트 School of Drama, Film and Media and 바카라사이트 School of Fashion and Design, including design studios and a black-painted space for photography.

There is also a fitting location for fine art students to practise 바카라사이트ir life-drawing skills ¨C a room whose glass ceiling allows natural light to flood in.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 바카라사이트atre itself will be used for more than student productions and shows. It will also be employed by professional companies and serve as a ¡°viable commercial 바카라사이트atre¡±, according to Mr Hanson, a former screenwriter who co-created 바카라사이트 1980s TV character Max Headroom and has written for comedians Lenny Henry and Jasper Carrott.

¡°What we¡¯d like to do is establish its name on 바카라사이트 map as one of 바카라사이트 London 바카라사이트atres,¡± he added.

Of 바카라사이트 benefits 바카라사이트 new facility will bring to Regent¡¯s students, Mr Hanson observed: ¡°It will give 바카라사이트m a public audience. This is a public 바카라사이트atre now. It¡¯s not simply a 바카라사이트atre inside a drama school.¡±

john.morgan @tesglobal.com