Gyearbuor Asante Prize for Acting
Gyearbuor Asante came to England from Ghana in 1967 and trained at Mountview where he distinguished himself as a prize-winning student.
He had numerous theatre, film and television appearances to his credit and was perhaps best known as the African student Matthew in the hugely successful Channel Four sitcom, Desmond’s produced by Humphrey Barclay. He died from natural causes at the early age of 58 in 2000.
The Gyearbuor Asante Memorial Fund from which is awarded The Gyearbuor Asante Prize for Acting was founded by Humphrey Barclay and a galaxy of stars and friends including Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, Richard O’Brien, Hugh Quarshie, Emma Thompson, John Alderton, Pauline Collins, Kenneth Branagh, Maureen Lipman, Neil Pearson, Matthew Kelly and many more. They could think of no better way to commemorate Gyearbuor’s inspiration, contribution and example than to offer a yearly salute to the talent of somebody new – somebody who in the view of the judges is equally likely to make an unforgettable mark on the acting scene.
Winners
2004: KELLY PRICE
2005: CONNIE FISHER
2006: DAVID FLYNN
2007 TESSA MABBITT
2008 LAUREN HOOD
2009 IDDON JONES
2010 MATTHEW SEADON-YOUNG
2011 RICHARD VORSTER
