GSA-developed show wins three Olivier Awards including Best Musical
The Guildford School of Acting (GSA) has played a major role in the development of this year’s winner of the Olivier Award for Best New Musical.
Five years ago GSA created a partnership with Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), the biggest theatre owner and producer in the UK and with operations on Broadway, across the USA and Europe. This partnership gives GSA students the opportunity to workshop new musicals that ATG are developing.
At least once a year students take part in week-long extra-curricular workshops of new musicals, working with experienced professionals. The experience gives students a fascinating practical insight into how new musicals are developed and provides them professional credits whilst still in training.
Among the 14 shows workshopped, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button has had three GSA workshops, one of which specifically used the BA Actor Musician students. In November it opened in the West End at the Ambassador Theatre, featuring GSA alumna Katy Ellis in the cast and, on 6 April 2025, it won three Olivier Awards at the ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall. In addition to John Dagleish winning Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in the title role, composer and arranger Darren Clark won Outstanding Contribution to Music and the entire show won Best New Musical. The photo shows Darren Clark, John Dalgleish and Jethro Compton with their Olivier awards.
Over the last five years, ATG has distributed £50,000 in scholarships to students on BA Musical Theatre, Actor Musician and Theatre Production programmes.
Richard Darbourne, Senior Producer ATG Production and Director of Content, Europe said:
“Working with the staff and students at GSA is not only hugely useful for any show’s life cycle but also deeply enriching. The students give their all in each session and their talent breathes life to work in early-stage development, which is such a helpful tool to writing teams. Their generosity of spirit and willingness to engage is thrilling and all professionals engaged in the process feel revitalised and reconnected to their art and the artistic process.”
Prof Julian Woolford, Head of Musical Theatre at GSA, commented:
“Our scheme with ATG allows students to work on projects that they later see realised professionally, giving them valuable experience in working with experienced production teams. The University of Surrey is the perfect setting to explore new musical writing, stimulating the students’ curiosity and allowing the creative teams access to skilled performers with enquiring minds. The success of Benjamin Button, and other shows that we have developed in the scheme, demonstrates the value of this work to all parties. “
Last month, current students began workshops for three new musicals under this scheme. We will see where these journeys take us.