Saving our seas
Last year we were delighted to have held two events focused on the arts and creative industries, and as part of them we welcomed back some very special guests…
The relaunch of the Creative Dialogues series
In November, award-winning producer and Exeter alumna Marigo Kehoe (American and Commonwealth Arts, 1984) returned to the Streatham Campus for the first time in 40 years as our special guest in the re-launch of the Creative Dialogues series, orchestrated by the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, which brings high-profile speakers from the arts and creative industries to Exeter.
Before the event, Marigo was given a tour of the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum, and heard from film academics about Screen Devon, the county’s new screen agency. Marigo then met with TV and Film students and alumni to share her invaluable advice and insights.
In the evening, Marigo was welcomed to the stage by our President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Lisa Roberts. Marigo reflected upon her incredible career journey in conversation with film critic Mark Kermode, and Professor of Film, Linda Williams before taking questions from the audience.
Beginning her career in commercials, Marigo moved to television and managed the production of the award-winning ‘Shackleton’. As Head of Production at Tiger Aspect she oversaw the likes of ‘Cracker’, ‘The Royle Family’, ‘Cold Feet’ and ‘The Deal’, as well as ‘The Queen’, before co-founding Left Bank Pictures in 2007. There, she helped to oversee the creation of ‘The Crown’ for Netflix, as well as other multiple award-winning drama and comedy series including three series of the seven times BAFTA award-winning ‘Wallander’; three series of ‘Strike Back’; five series of ‘Inspector Banks’ and five series of ‘Outlander’.
Professor Lisa Roberts said:
“We were thrilled to welcome executive producer Marigo Kehoe to the first event of this new series, and we are all very grateful that she gave so much of her time to meet our brilliant students and alumni, as well as joining us for a fascinating conversation.”
Watch the conversation with Marigo:
An audience with award-winning theatre legends
Award-winning composer and lyricist duo George Stiles (Music, 1983) and Anthony Drewe (Zoology, 1983) returned to Exeter with fellow alumnus and award-winning theatre producer Nick Allott OBE (Economic History and Economics, 1973) to give their time and expertise to current students hoping to carve out a career in theatre. All three special guests were also treated to a tour of the Northcott Theatre, which was a poignant experience for them as the theatre helped to launch their careers 30 years ago.
Ten undergraduates performed a number from one of Stiles and Drewe’s musicals as part of a musical theatre masterclass and were given the unique opportunity to have it critiqued by the pair. Meanwhile, Nick hosted an open discussion with students, covering relevant industry topics including the role of a producer; how to start in the industry; how to find and work with creative personnel; and budgeting and raising money.
In the evening, we hosted the three alumni in our brand-new cinema style space in Thornlea for a conversation filled with incredible anecdotes and insights. Professor Jane Milling opened the event before handing over to Dr Evelyn O’Malley, Senior Lecturer in Drama who guided the conversation and moderated audience questions. Amongst the audience were Exeter alumni who had been in Stiles and Drewe’s first ever show, ‘Tutankhamun’, which played at the Northcott in 1984: a real full circle moment!
Stiles and Drewe’s acclaimed shows such as Mary Poppins have attracted audiences in the millions – ‘Honk!’ has been seen by more than six million people in more than 8,000 productions in 20 languages. Their recent West End productions include ‘Half A Sixpence’ and ‘The Wind in the Willows’. Nick spent 40 years working for Cameron Mackintosh and was Executive Producer on the original London productions of ‘Cats’, ‘Les Miserables’, ‘Phantom of the Opera’, ‘Hamilton’ and many others. He is currently Director of the Roundhouse Trust and the Soho Theatre.
Professor Jane Milling, Head of Department for Communications, Drama and Film said:
“We are enormously grateful to Stiles and Drewe and to Nick Allott, for making time in their schedules to come and share with our students some incredibly valuable insights into their art, craft and working practice, as well as their experiences in the industry. And for those students who performed for them, the personal feedback and appraisal they received will be something that remains with them for life.”
Watch ‘An Audience with Award-Winning Theatre Legends’:
