Stars return to acting school for grand opening

Friday 23 April 2010

The BAFTA-award winning actress attended the official opening of the new home to the Guildford School of Acting (GSA) alongside the actress Penelope Keith, CBE, who attended the event in her role as pro-Chancellor of the University.

Brenda said "I was at the school in the mid-70s. It was a great school then and the new facilities are just wonderful. It teaches a good acting discipline and there is a great camaraderie. The actors here get the very best training."

The new purpose-built GSA facility was formally opened by the University’s Chancellor HRH the Duke of Kent. The GSA has built an international reputation for excellence in training for actors and technicians in all areas of theatre and the recorded media. Its new base at the University of Surrey sits at the gateway to the University’s Stag Hill campus and houses 15 acting and dance studios, ten tutor/practice rooms, a café and IT facilities.

The University of Surrey has a great reputation for innovation and achievement in the performing arts and pioneered the innovative and renowned Music and Sound Recording Tonmeister degree course in 1970. It was also the first UK University to introduce specialist academic degrees in Dance at all levels. The GSA offers high-quality vocational training in acting, musical theatre, production and stage management. It is the first choice for students wishing to train for the performing arts industry in the UK, and its graduates are currently performing in the West End, the Royal National Theatre and the RSC, as well as in television and film.

Peter Barlow, Director Guildford School of Acting, said: “When we first planned this new building, I knew I wanted to create a lively vibrant modern building which had a heart and reflected the nature of the school and the community we try to create at GSA. The architects have done a first class job of allowing light in and keeping sound out while preserving the warmth we had in our old studios. It is a tremendous achievement. GSA students now have facilities that are worthy of their talent and determination.”

Media enquiries: Howard Wheeler, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: 01483 686141 or E-mail: h.wheeler@surrey.ac.uk

Notes to Editors:
The Guildford School of Acting grew out of the Grant-Bellairs School of Dance and Drama which was founded in London in 1935. It moved to Guildford at the beginning of World War II. In 1964, the Guildford School of Acting was constituted as a private charitable company whose objectives were to provide vocational training for actors and stage managers. From January 2010 the GSA became part of the University and is now based at the Stag Hill campus.

Editors' Notes

The University of Surrey is one of the UK’s leading professional, scientific and technological universities with a world class research profile and a reputation for excellence in teaching and research. Ground-breaking research at the University is bringing direct benefit to all spheres of life – helping industry to maintain its competitive edge and creating improvements in the areas of health, medicine, space science, the environment, communications, defence and social policy. Programmes in science and technology have gained widespread recognition and it also boasts flourishing programmes in dance and music, social sciences, management and languages and law. In addition to the campus on 150 hectares just outside Guildford, Surrey, the University also owns and runs the Surrey Research Park, which provides facilities for 140 companies employing 2,700 staff.

The Sunday Times names Surrey as ‘The University for Jobs' which underlines the university’s growing reputation for providing high quality, relevant degrees.

Surrey is a member of the 1994 Group of 19 leading research-intensive universities. The Group was established in 1994 to promote excellence in university research and teaching. Each member undertakes diverse and high-quality research, while ensuring excellent levels of teaching and student experience.
www.1994group.ac.uk

Media Enquiries

Howard Wheeler, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 686141, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk