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Elizabeth Gradwell
FNEA, LRAM (Speech and Drama) Trained for 3 years at the Bradford Civic Playhouse Theatre School where she was fortunate enough to be taught by Esme Church and Rudolph Laban and to be directed by Tyrone Guthrie. After 2 years on the acting course, she turned down the offer of an Equity card and a season at Salisbury Playhouse, being by then firmly convinced that she wanted to teach. Having qualified for her diploma, she then taught both privately and in a variety of schools and colleges in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Kent, Shropshire, Surrey and Hampshire and also in H.M.Prisons. She has directed plays, from musicals to the classics, and has a particular interest in, and experience of, dramatic production in churches. Elizabeth ran her own Theatre Company for 10 years in Wiltshire, with annual productions of Shakespeare in the open air, where she successfully mixed professional and amateur actors, whose children were also involved where appropriate. She passionately believes that for the child actor and child in the audience alike, Open-air Shakespeare is a magical introduction to the Bard. She was a Festival Adjudicator for many years, a member of STSD where she served on the Council and for a time as Vice Chairman. She began examining for New Era in the 1960s, became a Director and later acted as Chief Examiner until 2004. |
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