Theatre alumni Gala Performance in partnership with Royal Bank of Canada

Theatre alumni star in Machinal – a Theatre Department Common Ground Gala Performance in partnership with Royal Bank of Canada

Celebrating 30 Years of The BRIT School and 20 years of Common Ground Theatre season, recognisable and successful alumni from theatre, tv and film performed in a once in a lifetime rehearsed reading of Machinal by  Sophie Treadwell in the BRIT Theatre at The BRIT School in Croydon. 

The Theatre Department’s annual season called Common Ground is a repertoire of plays performed by final year students about to springboard into the industry. This season, supported by Royal Bank of Canada, presented Wuthering Heights and A Matter of Life and Death.

The Common Ground season culminated in a very special Gala performance on Tuesday 17th May 7pm in The BRIT Theatre. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to see inspiring acting and directing alumni working across  theatre, TV and film who will rehearse for only 48 hours and take to the stage in ‘Machinal’ by Sophie Treadwell.

BAFTA nominated Actor and BRIT School Trustee Cush Jumbo OBE was joined by theatre alumni including Jordan Peters (Pirates (2021), Gangs of London (2020)), Laura Dockrill (author and performance poet), Rob Emms (Chernobyl, Tuwaine Barratt, Blake Harrison (The Inbetweeners), Ashley Thomas (24:The Legacy), Ruby Stokes (Bridgerton, Rocks (2019)), Harrison Osterfield and Archie Madekwe (Midsommar 2019). The opening also featured current year 14 students training on the Theatre Bridge Course. 

The production was produced and directed by alumni over an ambitious 48 hours rehearsal period- with the company coming together in their alma mater for an open dress rehearsal exclusively for current students ahead of the Gala in the evening.

Photography by Ian Hippolyte