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Esteemed theatre director Philip Hedley honoured by University of East London

Tuesday 15 November 2011

Esteemed theatre director Philip Hedley honoured by University of East London

Esteemed theatre director and tireless campaigner for equality, Philip Hedley CBE, was conferred with an honorary doctorate of the Arts from the University of East London today at a ceremony at the 02 in London.

Not only a celebrated director, Philip is an educator and outspoken campaigner for cultural diversity in the theatre.

He joined the newly-founded 15 Acting School in 1961, where he studied under the inspirational guidance of the late, great Joan Littlewood. Following a stint with his own theatre company at the Theatre Royal Lincoln, he moved to the Theatre Royal, Stratford, appointed as a board member and then Chair of the Board, and finally in 1979 as Artistic Director and Chief Executive; a post he held for 25 years.

In 1990 he received the Prudential Award for Drama in recognition of his ‘championing of sometimes controversial new work and for having achieved audiences mixed in age, race and class.’ In 2006 he was awarded the Arts Council’s Eclipse Award for advances made against institutional racism in British theatre. He continues to campaign for equality of access to a career in the arts.

Philip said of the award: “I’m very moved to be rewarded in this way; it means an immense amount to me, particularly being in this part of London. It’s moving to see all those graduands trooping past from all over the world and many from Newham. When I think back fifty years to when I taught here, the difference in what’s open to them now and the things that have happened to Newham, it’s wonderful.”

Philip was joined at the ceremony by actor and director Clint Dyer, who was mentored by Philip through the Stratford East Youth Theatre from the age of 14. Clint has gone on to feature in a number of films and television dramas and is known for bringing the first Black British musical, the Big Life, to the West End.

Clint said: “What a joy to see Philip being recognised in this way and being appreciated for his hard work in making theatre accessible to all the communities of East London. I can say for sure my success is wholly down to him.”

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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