LAMDA Bursary Award Winners
LAMDA is delighted to announce three exceptional 2023 Bursary Awards for talented students studying on its MFA Professional Acting postgraduate course.
The moment towards the end of an actor’s training marks the conclusion of an intense period of development before taking a great step into a world hungry for talent, but a competitive world nonetheless. Thanks to the generosity of enlightened funding this pathway becomes more accessible and can be truly transformative.
The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) established the Laurence Olivier Bursary in 1987, commemorating the award’s namesake. Its financial assistance makes a profound difference to the life of a young actor at the start their journey to make an impact on British theatre. Recognising the challenges for talented actors, when training demands reduce the possibility of taking on paid work, the Laurence Olivier Bursary provides financial assistance allowing recipients to focus on their professional development. Each year UK drama schools nominate students approaching their final year of training. Students are awarded the Bursary based on both financial need and talent.
Tateyana Arutura has been awarded the SOLT Laurence Olivier Bursary Award in 2023.
The Sir John Gielgud Charitable Trust created the Sir John Gielgud Bursary Award and for decades since it has supported actors as they complete their training before embarking on a professional career. The Trustees bring a wealth of industry experience and insight when selecting students from UK drama schools for financial support, taking into account the positive impact financial assistance can make to those whose talent has truly emerged during their actor training.
Suzanne Van Maurik has been awarded the Sir John Gielgud Bursary Award in 2023.
The Lionel Bart Foundation Bursary Award embodies the values of the great songwriter and musical theatre artist after whom it is named. Lionel Bart understood the importance of nurturing young talent with support to allow it to thrive. His professional origins epitomise that journey, and his impact on theatre, film and music lives on today — as does his legendary spirit of generosity. The Foundation provides financial assistance to undergraduate and postgraduate drama school students at critical moments in their training, when being able to focus fully on developing one’s talent is paramount before entering the profession.
Alexander Makar has been awarded the Lionel Bart Foundation Bursary Award in 2023.
