PRESS RELEASE
SARAH SIDDONS AWARDS LAUNCHED FOR YOUNG ACTORS
Brecknock Decorative and Fine Arts Society (BDFAS) in association with The Royal
Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) are launching the very first Sarah Siddons
Awards for Young Actors, named after the acclaimed Brecon-born Georgian actress, who
contributed so much to making the profession of acting both admired and respected. Both
awards of £250, funded by BDFAS, will be awarded annually.
On 3rd December 2013 at a ceremony in Theatr Brycheiniog, BDFAS will present the first
award to a Breconshire drama student, entering either The Royal Welsh College’s Young
Actors Studio or studying the College’s BA course in Acting. The winner will be
announced shortly.
The second Sarah Siddons Award for Young Actors will go to the Royal Welsh College’s
best classical actress in that year, in honour of Siddon’s role as the foremost actress of
her time, and recognizing her importance in the history of women in theatre. This prize
will be awarded by academics at the College, based on a final year performance and will
be presented in June as part of the College’s graduation ceremony at St David’s Hall,
Cardiff.
“We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Royal Welsh College of Music and
Drama to support and encourage young acting talent while celebrating the life of Sarah
Siddons and her birth in Brecon,’ said Dorcas Cresswell, Chairman of BDFAS.
Hilary Boulding, Principal of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama adds, ‘This is an
exciting development which will provide support for a talented local actor, in recognition of
a legendary figure in theatre. We’re delighted that the Brecknock and Fine Arts Society is
able to invest in the next generation of actors from Wales.’
The leading actress of her day, Sarah Siddons was born into the Kemble family of touring
actors on 5th July 1755 at Brecon’s The Shoulder of Mutton Inn - now called ‘The Sarah
Siddons’ in her honour.
Although the family returned to Brecon several times during her childhood, her early
training as an actress took place mainly in York and Bath, culminating in a triumphant
performance at London’s Drury Lane as Isabella in Thomas Southerne’s The Fatal
Marriage in 1782.
Thirty years of dazzling success followed, during which she played all the great
Shakespearean heroines and countless other tragic roles. However it was for her
passionate performances of Lady Macbeth that she was most famous.
BRECKNOCK DECORATIVE
& FINE ARTS SOCIETY
A Member Society of the
National Association of Decorative
& Fine Arts Societies
Sarah Siddons dominated theatre during the late Georgian period and was widely
acclaimed by both the theatre-going public and by royalty. Painted by all the great artists
of the age, including Reynolds, Gainsborough and Lawrence, her likeness can be seen in
many national collections worldwide and her statue is in Westminster Abbey.
Admired to the end of her days, she enhanced and made respectable the acting
profession for women while simultaneously raising the cultural profile of drama and
theatre in general. She retired in 1812 and died in 1831.
Ends
BDFAS is a member of the National Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies,
which is a pioneering arts charity that has been fostering appreciation of the decorative
and fine arts and the preservation of our national heritage for over 40 years,
The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, the National Conservatoire of Wales, and
part of the University of South Wales Group, competes alongside an international peer
group of conservatoires and specialist arts colleges for the best students globally,
enabling students to enter and influence the world of music, theatre and related
professions. In June 2011, the College opened its £22.5 million new performance and
rehearsal spaces. The world-class facilities include The Richard Burton Theatre, The
Linbury Gallery, a café bar, rehearsal studios, and The Dora Stoutzker Hall.
The College was recently ranked in the Guardian University League tables as one of the
top five conservatoires for Music and the top Drama training programme in the UK.
Note to Editors:
The attached photograph is of the Sarah Siddons statue in Westminster Abbey;
permission has been given for its use in the publicity for the awards, as long as the credit
line “Copyright Dean and Chapter of Westminster” appears with the photograph in all
cases.
The white marble statue is located in the chapel of St Andrew in the north transept of
Westminster Abbey and is larger than life-size (seven feet two inches, with a three foot
plinth). It is signed by the sculptor Thomas Campbell and dated 1845, the inscription
reads:
“Sarah Siddons. Born at Brecon July 5 1755. Died in London June 8 1831”
For further information please apply to Deborah Cogger, Publicity Secretary for
Brecknock NADFAS, Tel. 01874 652679
Email: djcogger@btinternet.com
BRECKNOCK DECORATIVE
& FINE ARTS SOCIETY
A Member Society of the
National Association of Decorative
& Fine Arts Societies