Alumni News January and February 2026: Olivier Awards Special

Posted: 17 Mar 26

January and February have seen our alumni achieve some truly remarkable successes! Keep reading to discover their latest projects and accomplishments.

Are you an alum with news to share? We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch at [email protected].


​​2026 Olivier Awards Nominations

James Hameed (BA Musical Theatre, 2018) – Nominated for Best Actor in a Musical for Paddington The Musical at The Savoy.

Giles Terera (Vice President & BA Acting, 1998) – Nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Oh, Mary! at The Trafalgar Theatre.

Oliver Savile (BA Musical Theatre, 2010) – Nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for Into the Woods at The Bridge.


On Stage and Screen

Rosanna Harris portrays Serena in Legally Blonde The Musical in the UK & Ireland tour. 

Hulda Elira released her debut EP, Songbird’s Lament.

Joseph Langdon joins the cast of the Double Indemnity touring the UK and Ireland.

Lily De-La-Haye, Sophie-May Feek, Noah Thallon and Danny Whelan joined the new cast of Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre. 

Gustav Melbardis will perform as Maestro in The Choir of Man in its first UK and Ireland tour, alongside Sam Ebenezer and Jared Leathwood, completing the cast. 

Bronté Barbé starred in a new musical parody, Shining in Misery: A King-Size Parody, at MT Fest 2026. Bronté will play Queenie in the new production of Small Island

Keith Ramsay performed in the world premiere read-through of their original musical, That Witch, at MT Fest 2026.

Emma Lindars performed in The Guild: The Musical, based on the original series by Felicia Day, at MT Fest 2026. 

Stephanie Cremona joins the cast of The Secret Garden – The Musical revival opening at York Theatre Royal. 

Gracie McGonigal portrays Hazel in Bridgerton Series 4.

Cameron Jack returns to ITV’s Unforgotten Series 7 as DCI Paul Copley.

Jack McGlinchey will join Disney Cruise Line as a pianist in both group and solo settings.

Jack Ward | Return to the Forbidden Planet 2021 | Photo by Pamela Raith

Jack McGlinchey | Return to the Forbidden Planet 2021 | Photo by Pamela Raith

Jocasta King joins the cast of the UK tour of The Constant Wife. 

Grant Zavitovsky joins the cast of the new musical Rock & Roll Man.

Anne Odeke performs as Justine in the new production The Ladies Football Club at Crucible Theatre.

Laurence Stannard serves as Musical Director for the new musical Midnight at Sadler’s Wells East.

Jhon Lumsden and Kirsty Malpass will join the cast of the new musical Pride at the National Theatre, alongside Jo Cichonska serving as Musical Director. 

Simbi Akande will star in the world premiere of the new musical FlyBy at Southwark Playhouse Borough.

Shaquille Jack joins the cast of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest at the Old Vic with Giles Terera in the leading role as Dale Harding.

Alice Fearn, Tyler Davis and Craig Mather performed in Love Beyond concert at Cadogan Hall. 

Melanie Bright plays one of the Fates in Hadestown at the Lyric Theatre in the West End.

Natalie Kimmerling will play Katherine in Henry V for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Emily Aboud joins the creative team for The Story at the National Theatre as Staff Director.

New musical A Mirrored Monet comes to Charing Cross Theatre, with Dean John-Wilson starring as Monet and Kristie Winsen serving as General Manager

The West End revival of Avenue Q has announced Julie Atherton as Associate Director, alongside cast members Jonathan Carlton, Joshua Williams-Ward and Meg Hateley.

Christian Cooper and Carl Sanderson both join the Annie in the UK tour cast.

Jacob Young portrays Fiyero in Wicked in the West End, having previously been an Understudy.

Liz Ewing joins the cast of Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the National Theatre

Stuart Burt serves as Casting Director for the new Victoria Wood musical Fourteen Again and Kiss of the Spider Woman.

Elizabeth Bower will join the cast of the world premiere of Allegra, a new comedy by Peter Quilter. 

Grace Hodgett-Young will portray Clare and Nicola in Punch as the production returns to Nottingham before touring.

Christopher Short performs in the Johnny Cash musical The Ballad of Johnny & June, where Beth Manicom serves as Assistant Stage Manager.

Rochelle Jack is currently performing in the European tour of Tina: The Rock Legend as an Ikette and Cover Tina.

Grace Cunningham performs in As We Drift at Boys School Smock Alley Theatre, produced by Belfast Playwrights.

Grace Cunningham | The Watsons 2023 | Photo by Steve Gregson

Grace Cunningham | The Watsons 2023 | Photo by Steve Gregson

Sean Arkless stars in I Was a Teenage She-Devil at The Other Palace.

Will Close portrayed Kevin Felton in Death in Paradise.

Ellie-Jo Makewell is a vocalist for Norwegian Cruise Line.

Joey Zerpa-Falcon will perform in The Contract at Park Theatre.

Luke Garner-Greene is filming for The Crow Girl Season 2 for Paramount+.


Lucy Anderson
founded the photography business Lulu Cam.

Efé Agwele performs in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) by the Reduced Shakespeare Company. 

Michael Mather and Imelda Warren-Green join the cast of The Jonathan Larson Project at Southwark Playhouse Borough.

Ellie Haffenden is a part of the Stage Management team on the tour of Legally Blonde.

Annie Kingsnorth starred in an episode of Call the Midwife.

Nikhil Singh Rai will appear in Series 15 of Call The Midwife.

Isobel Pinsky will star in Sweet Pea Series 2 on Sky and in The Quiet Hour on Channel 5.

Daniel Walford is in the cast of Big Finish audio drama Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor Adventures: Vampire Weekend.

Sam Defeo performed in Beautiful Little Fool at Southwark Playhouse.

Eve Humphrey portrayed Diana Barry in Anne of Green Gables at Sadler’s Wells.

Simi Jolaoso performed in the Ensemble for the Once On This Island concert at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Sacha Koplewsky performed at The Millennium Forum in The White Handkerchief as Alfie.

Bethan Tomkins and Kieran Shooter are both lead vocalists for Viking Cruises.

Amrik Tumber will appear in This City is Ours Series 2 for the BBC.

Lydia Whitehead filmed Series 2 of Sky Atlantic drama Sweetpea as returning series regular Lana.

Will Batty plays the lead role of Gus in Panacea for Riverside Studios.

David Carter stars in Season 1 of Bloodaxe for Amazon/MGM in the series regular role of Harek, and appeared on a panel at London Comic Con 2025 for his work on the award-winning game No Stone Unturned.

Rebecca Devlin Knight serves as Assistant Director in a new musical adaption of Frankenstein, Frankenst(ai)n, for an upcoming national tour of Italy.

Juliette Artigala plays Cosette in Les Misérables tour. 

Will Hamilton performed in the Stick Man UK tour.

Fergus Murphy plays Romeo in Romeo and Juliet for Jellyfish Theatre.

Rebecca Fisher is Main Stage Vocalist for Disney Cruise Line. She is a part of the inaugural cast onboard Disney’s newest ship, “The Adventure”. Playing the parts of Elsa, Rapunzel and Aurora in the Walt Disney Theatre.

Nabilah Hamid recently reprised her role as Iris in another sold-out run of Tom Lehrer is Teaching Math and Doesn’t Want to Talk to You at OSO Arts Centre in Barnes.

Luca Hlaing recently performed in The Choir of Man on NCLH’s Encore.

Grace Kanyamibwa is in rehearsals for Marie & Rosetta, the Original West End Cast as 1st Cover Marie.

Rowan Mackillop takes the titular role in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, a musical for DK Productions.

Kat Ronney and Yali Topol Margalith will appear in the upcoming movie Finding Emily.

Yali Topol Margalith | Company 2022 | Photo by Cesare De Giglio

Yali Topol Margalith | Company 2022 | Photo by Cesare De Giglio

Alexander Evans will portray Lord Ashcroft in the concert production of the new musical Rosie.

Claire Llewellyn serves as Intimacy Coordinator for Romeo and Juliet at Globe Theatre.

Grace Towning is set to appear in Public – The Musical at Curve, Leicester, with Livs Needham serving as Musical Director.

Jim Howick will write and star in an upcoming feature film of Ghosts. 

Vanessa Sutherland will be serving as Company Stage Manager for Choir Boy at Stratford East.

Scott Paige and Cerys Burton will perform in Kinky Boots at the London Coliseum with George Dyer providing musical supervision. 

Ian Hallard and Harrison Sharpe appeared in an episode of Call the Midwife for the BBC.

Owen Spencer joined the International tour of Matilda as Assistant Stage Manager Book Cover. 

Louisa Kemp serves as Assistant Stage Manager Book Cover on My Neighbor Totoro, with Melisa Camba joining the cast. 

Madison Swan will star in the new workshop presentation of Little Piece of You: An Atypical Musical.

Kat Ronney will star in the new workshop presentation of Smalltown Boy and will in the new series of Dinosaur on BBC iPlayer.

Léona McClay recently launched HAVE IT Productions, a not-for-profit community theatre company, spotlighting female voices and helping emerging creatives access more opportunities in the industry.

David Mairs-McKenzie will appear in the UK tour of Waitress

Issy Wroe-Wright will star in the UK tour of Flat and the Curves: Rosé-Tinted.

Ilinca Gheorgheasa joins the cast of Untimely Ripped at the Golden Goose Theatre. 

Ibbi El Hani wrote, co-produced and starred in the award-winning short film HYSTERIA.

Andrew Lynford is a Casting Director for Jack & Sarah at the Mill at Sonning.

Jewelle Hutchinson, Lois Glenister and Roshaan Saulnier will star in the UK professional premiere of Disenchanted!.

Ryan Kopel and Romona Lewis-Malley will play in In Pieces at the Other Palace.

Amber Hoile performs in Stiles and Drewe’s The Three Little Pigs Musical.

Liv Davies has been cast as Emilia in Discarded Nut Theatre Co’s new production of Othello.

Louisa Harland stars in The Walsh Sisters on BBC One.

Sienna Widd | Fun Home 2024 | Photo by Stephen Glass

Sienna Widd | Fun Home 2024 | Photo by Stephen Glass

Michael Stafford Wells starred in Newsrevue at the Canal Cafe Theatre.

Evie Weldon is in the current cast of The Boy At The Back of The Class.

Alexandra Scott performs in the immersive production Ritual by Witness.

Ben Watts performed in Flashbang and Plays For A Poor Theatre.

Sienna Widd joins the West End company of Oliver!.


Niamh Callan
and Alex Morgan-Edwards joined the cast of Plays For A Poor Theatre for Divided Culture.

Mathew Craig and Matthew Gent perform in The Last Ship international tour.

Nathania Ong will play Elle Woods in Legally Blonde for Singapore Repertory Theatre.

Jordan Luke Gage wrote and will star in Redcliffe at Southwark Playhouse, with Joseph Peacock joining the cast. 

Luke Garner-Greene transfers to the Olivier-Nominated West End production of Inter Alia as understudy for the leading role.

Eleanor Sutton and Matthew White join the cast of Witness for the Prosecution at London County Hall.

Polly Maltby makes her Off-West End Debut as Anne/Ensemble in The Witch and The Whistleblower at The Glitch, Waterloo.

Matt Cox filmed a Ministry of Justice campaign playing a Police Officer.

Hannah Hassan is part of the Chorus in Creative Electric’s Medusa and is longlisted for the 2026 David Maclennan award for her play Your Nan’s a Table.

Helena Massoud joins the cast of Nottingham Playhouse’s The Beekeeper of Aleppo.

Ambra Caserotti joins the cast of The Karate Kid – The Musical tour. 


Kaleidoscope Festival

Ella Jarman performs in Welcome to the Pleasure Dome and is part of the festival’s production team. 

Nina Crossly performs in Killing It: A One Person Musical.

Ingrid Vingelen-Digre performs in Leave Yourself (Me) Alone.

Cecile Taylor performs in You Will Never Know My Name and is part of the festival’s production team.

Sian Lawrence performs in Does My Privilege Look Big In This? and is part of the festival’s production team.

Tara Flanagan performs in Which Box Do I Pick?.

Nimi Spiff performs in The Last Day Of Spring.

Kirsty Campbell performs in Dating Dex (amphetamine).

Rebecca Fairhurst, Haden Coward and Suzi Williams are part of the festival’s production team. 

Valery Reva performs in Meat Me In Shoreditch.

Lucy Price performs in Baby Dumpling.

Emelyn Autor-Nilsson performs in Ida Reframed.

Joseff Walsh performs in Capel Celyn.

Sam Winner performs Burnt Out.

Sofia Natoli & Kitchen Table Theatre perform Babel Beast.

Noah Van Renswoude performs in Be A Man?!.

Shelbi Matthews performs in She’s Got Grits!.

Abigail Whitehead performs in You Never Wash Up After Yourself.

Emma Sandborough performs in Naughty Swedish Girl Destroyed.

Dan Layton performs in Work In Progress.

Emily Drewett performs in Situationsh*t and is part of the festival’s production team, alongside Suzi Williams joining the cast.

Suzi Williams performs in Care and is part of the festival’s production team.

Maggie Moriarty performs in Root Problem.


Awards and Other News

Louisa Harland, star of The Walsh Sisters and Derry Girls, won the 2025 Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland IFTA Rising Star award.  

James Hameed is shortlisted for Best Actor at the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards alongside Arti Shah for their performance in Paddington The Musical at Savoy Theatre.

Asa Haynes won the Elena Zastawnik Award for Best Written Film at the 29th Annual Magnolia Independent Film Festival in Mississippi, USA. Asa won the award for the writing of the third-year year Acting Cohort 2025 short film …and Release.

Emma Kingston won the 26th Annual WhatsOnStage Award for Best Takeover Performance for performing as Elphaba in Wicked.


Read our last alumni news round-up here