Gyearbuor Asante came to England from Ghana in 1967 and trained at Mountview (as Christopher Asante), 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 Gambian student Matthew in the hugely successful Channel 4 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
Gyearbuor Asante
The Gyearbuor Asante Award for Acting
The Gyearbuor Asante Memorial Fund was founded by Humphrey Barclay and theatre friends in 2004.
Since then, it has supported the Gyearbuor Asante Award for Acting, which is given each year to an undergraduate performer who achieves at the highest level. The Gyearbuor Asante Award is one of Mountview’s highest honours and recognises a student who not only has extraordinary talent and potential, but also has applied themselves fully to their craft and achieved outstanding results. The award is an important recognition of talent, but also supports the winner financially as they take their first steps into the profession.
The Gyearbuor Asante Award has now supported 22 graduates as they embark upon their professional careers.
Make a Gift
Join our family of regular givers by setting up a Direct Debit here or make a one-off donation below to help us to continue Gyearbuor’s extraordinary legacy at Mountview.
Your support will go towards continuing the Gyearbuor Asante Award for Acting, providing a graduating student essential support as they leap into their careers.
For alternative donation methods or to speak further, please contact Laura Gabe, Senior Development Manager on LauraGabe@mountview.org.uk.
Thank you.
Header image by Carole Latimer.
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
2012 SHAUN CHAMBERS
2013 BRONTE BARBE
2014 GIANNI TOZZI (JON TOZZI) and IMELDA WARREN-GREEN
2015 MICHAEL BELL (MICHAEL JAMES) and JUDITH NEILL
2016 ADAM SMALL
2017 OSCAR CONLON-MORREY
2018 SARAH DICKSON (ROSE DICKSON)
2019 ISABEL CANNING
2020 DARCY FINDEN
2021 PHOEBE HORN
2022 YALI MARGALITH
2023 SIGNE LARSSON