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Sir Ian McKellen announces the naming of RWCMD’s David Rowe-Beddoe Shakespeare Prize
At a concert to honour Lord David Rowe-Beddoe, RWCMD’s late Chairman Laureate, world-renowned actor Sir Ian McKellen, announced the naming of the College’s Shakespeare Prize in his memory.
In memory of our Chairman Laureate
In front of RWCMD’s packed Dora Stoutzker Hall and an audience which included David’s wife, daughters and his family and friends, including Sir Derek Jacobi, Sir Ian paid tribute to his friend, with whom he and Sir Derek had acted at Cambridge. He talked about the appropriateness of this prestigious prize now being named for someone who cared so deeply about the College, its students and acting training.
'It was a huge privilege for us to host this very special concert, given by our students to honour David Rowe-Beddoe and to remember him in the presence of his friends and so many members of his family. Naming this important prize for him feels very fitting and gives us hope for the future, even while we still feel the sorrow of his loss a year ago.’Helena GauntPrincipal
The David Rowe-Beddoe Shakespeare Prize
Launched in 2023 the RWCMD Shakespeare Prize of £5000 celebrates actors’ technical ability with verse, and connection with character and situation. Ian McKellen was a judge in 2023 and gave individual masterclasses to the finalists.
'The Shakespeare Prize encourages students to engage and work with language in a way that is natural, personal and truthful. RWCMD’s Acting training aims to graduate actors into the profession that are robust, ethically-minded artists with strong individual voices, comfortable working within the classical repertoire as much as on new work, and ready to create their own.'Jonathan MunbyDirector of Drama Performance
A concert in Lord Rowe-Beddoe's honour
In his youth, David was not only an actor but an exceptional music scholar, and so it was fitting that the concert celebrated his love of music through pieces such as William Mathias’ ‘Shakespeare Songs’ and John Taverner’s ‘Song for Athene’.
Over 240 students from across the College came together to form the choir for the concert, the largest number of students who have ever performed together on the Dora Stoutzker stage.
‘Over the several decades of his close association with the College, Lord Rowe-Beddoe championed many generations of students, passionate for the individual future success of each of them and always loving to see their work and their performances. That is why the Students' Union was so happy to support this concert’.Antigone BlackwellStudents' Union President
Donating in Memory of David Rowe-Beddoe
The concert also saw people making gifts to the College in memory of David which went towards our 75th Birthday Appeal for Bursaries. We would like to give our heartfelt thanks to all who have made a contribution.
With the naming of the David Rowe-Beddoe Shakespeare Prize, future donations will now go towards supporting this and other Shakespeare initiatives. If you haven't made a donation but would like to give in David’s memory please contact development@rwcmd.ac.uk.
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