The Stage

Lilian Baylis awards

Published Tuesday 15 June 2004 at 13:35 by Ruth Gillespie

Recipients of the Lilian Baylis Awards for the most promising second-year drama students in London have been announced by the Royal Victoria Hall Foundation during a ceremony at the Old Vic Theatre.

The awards of £1,400 each were presented by Brian Daniels, foundation trustee and artistic director of the New End, Hampstead. Winners (pictured from left to right) are Emmanuella Cole from Central, Guildhall’s Sophie Roberts, Jonathan Warde of LAMDA, ALRA’s Vicky Mills, Paul Rhodes from RADA, Janine Edwards of The Arts Educational Schools, Simon Morris from Italia Conti, foundation trustee Brian Daniels, Claire Bocking of Rose Bruford, Ansu Kabia from Drama Centre London, Rose Romain of East 15, James Bye from Webber Douglas and Hannah Lee of Mountview.

Established in 1891, the foundation is now funded by the invested proceeds of the sale of the Old Vic Theatre in 1982 plus subsequent gifts and bequests. The charity grants up to 30 awards each year to various theatrical projects in London, including the Lilian Baylis Awards for promising students attending the accredited drama schools in the capital. The grants are made at the end of the students’ second year and are intended to ease the financial pressures in their final year of study.

During the ceremony chairwoman Val Colgan welcomed Old Vic artistic director Kevin Spacey to the foundation as patron. She said: “We are delighted that he will be associated with the charity and believe it indicates the seriousness and depth of his support for theatre in the capital.”