The Stage

Burns gives filmmaking hopefuls wings

Published Tuesday 7 September 2010 at 13:09

One dragon (no disrespect intended) who has been investing in a good cause - Tabard hears - is the indefatigable Nica Burns, Society of London Theatre president, chief executive of the Nimax Theatres group, creator of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, etc.

Burns has a reputation for being something of a fairy godmother to budding West End producers and performers. And so it proved again recently, when she dipped into her pockets to sponsor a group of actors who worked as ushers in one of her theatres - the Apollo.

The group had made a short film - using the bar in the Apollo to rehearse - which they had written, directed and starred in. They then entered the film, called White Buffalo, into the Rhode Island Film Festival, but, after being accepted, discovered they couldn’t afford the airfare.

Which is where Burns came in. So, these Cinderellas did indeed get to go to the ball, and - the icing on the cake - they walked away with the Rhode Island International Film Festival First Prize for International Discovery 2010.

A story that warms even the cold cockles of Tabard’s heart.