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Celebrating verse-speaking: Sir Jonathan Pryce judges the David Rowe-Beddoe Shakespeare Prize
RWCMD’s annual David Rowe-Beddoe Shakespeare Prize celebrates speaking verse as an essential element of modern drama training.
Our annual David Rowe-Beddoe Shakespeare Prize celebrates the fundamentals of verse speaking and appreciation of language.
This year’s £5000 prize was awarded to second year actor Rachel Doherty by head judge and RWCMD Fellow Sir Jonathan Pryce. The invited audience included Lady Rowe-Beddoe and family, friends, graduates and special guests from the theatre world at London’s Royal Court Theatre.
The naming of the David Rowe-Beddoe Shakespeare Prize, after the College’s late Chairman Laureate, was announced by Sir Ian McKellen at a memorial celebration at RWCMD last year.
Sir Jonathan Pryce chose the six finalists when he came to Cardiff to work with all the second-year acting students in the autumn term.
‘Winning this prize was such an honour and I can wholeheartedly say it has changed the course of my acting journey.
If you had told me two years ago that I was going to be performing Shakespeare on stage at the Royal Court in London I would’ve laughed!
Shakespeare is something I hold very close to my heart. But I didn’t always love it, and actually disliked it when I was first introduced to it.
But since studying it at the Royal Welsh College, it’s become something I always want to do. I believe Shakespeare encapsulates the human experience perfectly, the good, the bad and the ugly. Yes, his plays may take place in a context far from us today, but the human experience remains the same; the utter heartbreak, joy, jealousy, hatred, elation, love…it’s timeless in my opinion.
I’ve discovered a new passion and I owe it all my teachers and the school for the opportunity.’Rachel DohertyWinner of the David Rowe-Beddoe Shakespeare Prize 2025
Shakespeare: A foundation in acting
‘Learning the technique behind the writing has been invaluable, and I’m able to apply it to every piece of text now, no matter what style,' continued Rachel. 'The complexity of the writing can make it difficult to understand, so I’ve learnt that using the technique married with connection to the character enables you to communicate with the audience, which is vital for an actor.
It very much feels like the foundation in acting, which is why I think it’s such a gift to be able to train in it.’
Congratulations to Rachel Doherty and to finalists, Georgia Booker, Alex Dunne, Daniel Hickey Leonardo Tataei and Lucian Zanes.
‘Our Shakespeare prize acknowledges just how important working on this language is in terms of actor training and learning essential craft.
The finalists all delivered on the key points the judges were looking for. The judges praised the students for their generosity in sharing the space together, and the intelligence, wit and passion they all brought to their chosen speeches.'Jonathan MunbyDirector of Drama Performance
Joining Sir Jonathan on the judging panel were RWCMD Fellow Rakie Ayola, Charlotte Sutton Head of Casting at the Royal Shakespeare Company, RWCMD Director of Drama Performance, Jonathan Munby, and Head of Voice, Alice White.
Showcasing the music and drama training at the College, guests were entertained by last year's Shakespeare Prize winner Meg Basham, music students of the College performing as The Vita Quartet, and graduate guitarist Luke Bartlett.
Recent acting graduates also came back to support their fellow RWCMD actors.
Lady Rowe-Beddoe and her family were delighted to celebrate the prize in Lord Rowe-Beddoe's name, with such a happy gathering of close friends and supporters.
