Catch Amanda Redman's latest Artists Theatre School production this weekend

Ealing-based Actress Amanda Redman is bringing London to life at The Questors this weekend with her fascinating production, London Calling.

Her drama school, Artists Theatre School based at Ealing Film Studios, puts on a production every other year involving all the students at the school from the ages of five through to adult.

She described the mammoth scale of the school's latest project to Ealing Today: “This year’s show is called London Calling and it is a history of London through the ages, from the Romans to present day.

"It covers landmark events affecting London including 7/7. So it is a huge endeavour. We devised the show because there are no productions written for that number of students – 80 this year.

"I loved the research for the show -I found it absolutely fascinating. We found out the most unbelievable facts. We even managed to get the immigration test that you have to take now if you want to move to London, which includes questions such as: What is the official title of the heir to the throne, is it a) the Prince of Tides, b) the artist formerly known as Prince, or c) the Prince of Wales? And we discovered that in the early days of the tube people took the train to go and witness the last public execution. I find that astonishing.”

Amanda co-founded Artists Theatre School in 1994 with Julie Legrand, Freda Gill and Ann Matlow.  The school is non-profit making.  Student fees pay for the premises and admin costs.  But teachers, including Amanda herself and a veritable who’s who of luminaries including Sheila Hancock, Art Malik, Dennis Waterman, Linda Bellingham, who come to give students one off master classes, give their services free. 

“We don’t believe in making money out of kids,” Amanda said. The school is non selective too, so pupils don’t go through an audition process to gain entry." 

She added : “I am extremely proud of the school. This year alone, of the kids who have been applying for the top drama schools, 100 per cent of them have got through to the final recalls.  That is incredible.”

Amanda most recently starred in the BBC One drama New Tricks - the fourth series of which has just transmitted. A fifth series of New Tricks begins filming in London later this year to hit screens in 2008. Amanda is also currently filming a new six part drama for ITV1, Honest. She previously starred in the hugely popular ITV1 series At Home With The Braithwaites, and in the feature film Sexy Beast with Ray Winstone, among others. She lives in Ealing with her partner Damian and her 18-year-old daughter Emily.

June 26, 2007