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ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE
James Adkins
2005 – 2010
‘When I was at Teddies, The North Wall
staged a vast array of performances and
events in many different styles and layouts.
Having such a professional facility on
school grounds enabled me to learn new
skills alongside industry experts. It was a
safe environment always at the forefront
of technology and art. My experiences
in the technical aspects of theatre in
The North Wall gave me an enormous
head start when I set out to enter the
industry after school. I’m currently out
with the Pet Shop Boys on a world tour –
programming, and operating and installing
the video. Since leaving university, I’ve
worked with Sarah Brightman, Queen,
The Pet Shop Boys, The Human League
and at various music festivals around
the world. My career highlight so far
is probably bringing in the New Year
with Queen and Adam Lambert as they
‘Rocked Big Ben’ live on BBC1.’
Florence Pugh
2009 – 2014
Flossie Pugh’s career continues to go from
strength to strength. Following a world
première in Toronto, her recent film,
Lady
Macbeth
, was awarded top prize by the
International Federation of Film Critics at
the prestigious San Sebastian Film Festival
Pippa Bennett-Warner
2001 – 2006
Pippa Bennett-Warner trained at RADA
after St Edward’s. She launched her career
by beating 3,000 people to be cast in the
musical version of
The Lion King
with music
by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice. Since
then she has starred as Cordelia alongside
Derek Jacobi’s
King Lear
, appeared at the
Lyceum, National and Donmar theatres –
and featured in
Dr Who
.
‘I was very keen on singing and music
when I was young – Teddies is where I fell
in love with ‘straight’ acting. I had originally
planned on going to Cambridge to read
Medicine and save people’s lives - I had
the whole thing mapped out! One of my
first jobs after RADA was a two-hander
with Sinead Cusack written by Frank
McGuiness. It was such a lovely job and I
learnt a huge amount. We played at the
Riverside Studios and then performed
it live on Sky Arts; in a word: terrifying!
Other highlights are: Queen Isabel to
Eddie Redmayne’s Richard II at the
Donmar;
The Witness
at the Royal Court;
and
The Swan
at the National. I recently
recorded the audiobook for Zadie Smith’s
book
Swing Time
; I’m such a fan of hers
so it was lovely to bring one of her books
to life.’
in 2016. Flossie’s latest film,
The Commuter
,
an action thriller starring Liam Neeson, is due
to be released in October 2017. Flossie left
St Edward’s in 2014 having secured her first
role (in Carol Morley’s film,
The Falling
)
whilst still at School. She recently won a
BAFTA Breakthrough Brit 2016 (18 talented
newcomers from film and television).
Florence Pugh in
The Falling
Pippa Bennett-Warner meets HM The Queen at a RADA reception at Buckingham Palace
James Adkins