Conceived as an acknowledgement of Bob Stanton's founding of the innovative Two Year Stage Management & Technical Theatre course at LAMDA in 1965, the bursary was originally launched as a celebration of Bob's 85th birthday. Stanton was a legendary British stage manager and honorary LAMDA fellow who was instrumental in helping Theatre Projects' founder and chairman emeritus, Richard Pilbrow, to start up his early career and then establish Theatre Projects.
Stanton became a consultant to Theatre Projects and was the original director of the pioneering Two Year Stage Management & Technical Theatre course, which became the model for other drama schools across the country. Sadly, he passed away on 14 February 2007, so Theatre Projects decided to extend the bursary in Bob's honour as a tribute to his support for Theatre Projects and his enormous contribution to the theatre industry.
The bursary was set up to give financial assistance to students who might otherwise find it difficult to complete the two-year course at the London Academy. 2007 bursary recipient, Helen Stone explains the huge difference that it has made to her studies: "Having already completed a BA (Hons) degree, many of the usual funding options were not open to me.
"I was overjoyed to get a place on LAMDA's Two Year Stage Management & Technical Theatre Course but, having worked out the budget I would need, I knew that I would be in straitened circumstances. Winning the Robert Stanton - Theatre Projects Bursary has enabled me to commit the maximum time, effort and energy to making the most of my time at LAMDA and pursuing this exciting career. I am honoured to have received an award named after such a renowned theatre professional and well-liked man."
Theatre Projects has guaranteed the bursary will continue for at least another three years. Andrew De Rosa, general manager of Theatre Projects and former student of Stanton's at LAMDA, comments, "Theatre Projects has always had a great relationship with LAMDA and we are honoured to be able to give something back to the Academy and honour Bob in this way. We hope that this bursary will make a real difference to the next generation of theatre technicians during their training and formative years in the theatre world."
(Jim Evans)(
