The Chronicle no. 672

25 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

James Adkins 2005 – 2010 ‘When I was at Teddies, The North Wall staged a vast array of performances and events in many different styles and layouts. Having such a professional facility on school grounds enabled me to learn new skills alongside industry experts. It was a safe environment always at the forefront of technology and art. My experiences in the technical aspects of theatre in The North Wall gave me an enormous head start when I set out to enter the industry after school. I’m currently out with the Pet Shop Boys on a world tour – programming, and operating and installing the video. Since leaving university, I’ve worked with Sarah Brightman, Queen, The Pet Shop Boys, The Human League and at various music festivals around the world. My career highlight so far is probably bringing in the New Year with Queen and Adam Lambert as they ‘Rocked Big Ben’ live on BBC1.’ Florence Pugh 2009 – 2014 Flossie Pugh’s career continues to go from strength to strength. Following a world première in Toronto, her recent film, Lady Macbeth , was awarded top prize by the International Federation of Film Critics at the prestigious San Sebastian Film Festival

Pippa Bennett-Warner 2001 – 2006

Pippa Bennett-Warner trained at RADA after St Edward’s. She launched her career by beating 3,000 people to be cast in the musical version of The Lion King with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice. Since then she has starred as Cordelia alongside Derek Jacobi’s King Lear , appeared at the Lyceum, National and Donmar theatres – and featured in Dr Who . ‘I was very keen on singing and music when I was young – Teddies is where I fell in love with ‘straight’ acting. I had originally planned on going to Cambridge to read Medicine and save people’s lives - I had the whole thing mapped out! One of my first jobs after RADA was a two-hander with Sinead Cusack written by Frank McGuiness. It was such a lovely job and I learnt a huge amount. We played at the Riverside Studios and then performed it live on Sky Arts; in a word: terrifying! Other highlights are: Queen Isabel to Eddie Redmayne’s Richard II at the Donmar; The Witness at the Royal Court; and The Swan at the National. I recently recorded the audiobook for Zadie Smith’s book Swing Time ; I’m such a fan of hers so it was lovely to bring one of her books to life.’

James Adkins

in 2016. Flossie’s latest film, The Commuter , an action thriller starring Liam Neeson, is due to be released in October 2017. Flossie left St Edward’s in 2014 having secured her first role (in Carol Morley’s film, The Falling ) whilst still at School. She recently won a BAFTA Breakthrough Brit 2016 (18 talented newcomers from film and television).

Florence Pugh in The Falling

Pippa Bennett-Warner meets HM The Queen at a RADA reception at Buckingham Palace