Essex Campus announces Stephen Armstrong Award winners for 2024
Every year, two Performers College Essex students are highlighted and celebrated by the staff in memory of alumni Stephen Armstrong. For the last ten years, the Armstrong family have been graciously awarding two students per year with gifts that support them through their training and highlight key attributes that Stephen demonstrated whilst training at Performers College.
The 2024 award winners have been announced and have received their awards and we are thrilled to confirm the 2024 award winners chosen for their dedication, commitment and overall passion for their training are BA (Hons) Musical Theatre and Dance students Mark Austin and Lew Walker.
Mark said of his award:
“Receiving the Award for Dedication was a brilliant surprise to end a great year at Performers College. It was gratifying to have been recognised by my tutors for my work this year and gives me a massive confidence boost going into the final year of my degree. It fuels my motivation to continue growing, both as an artist and a person. I appreciate how challenging yet rewarding the course can be and this year was no exception, as I strive to do my best, absorb the advice of my tutors, and take every opportunity offered to me. I would like to thank the Armstrong family for this award and generous bursary and it is an honour to accept this award, following in the footsteps of the many wonderful graduates that have previously received this award and passed through the doors of “The White Box”. I hope future students will look up to me as a good example in the same way that I look up to those Performers College graduates who have already achieved success within the industry.”
Fellow second year student Lew Walker also reflected on the prize:
“As a performer I make it my mission to not only be the hardest worker in the room but the most UNIQUE – I’ve always wanted to be “the name on everybody’s lips” like Roxie hart! Not just for my talent, but for who I am as a person. Life is simply far too short for us to hide who we are. We must live our lives authentically, shine as bright as we can and be kind. I feel honoured to receive this award of recognition, for a long time I found it very hard to be myself in an education space because I was ‘too much’ or ‘too different’ but here at Performers College I can just be who I am, a proud Trans plus size woman. There’s no pretending and no pressure to fit a mold. I aim to inspire and future students as much as I can and leave a big shiny handprint on the college.”
Emma Rogers, Essex Campus Dean commented:
‘It was wonderful to be able to deliver the news to Mark and Lew that they had won this years awards on stage at the Towngate Theatre in Basildon after their final dress runs of Rise, our annual production for 2024. In front of their peers and friends Nikki O’Hara (Head of School) and I shared our thoughts and highlights of both recipients and the reasons that so many lecturers and staff of Performers College had selected them to be the winners of these very special awards. Both students exude passion, determination and a continued enthusiasm for their training and the creative arts and have over this academic year both demonstrated the true meaning of dedication. A huge thank you to the Armstrong family for their continued support and it is an honour for us to keep the memory of Stephen alive through these very special awards.’
Congratulations to both Mark and Lew for their achievement. All at Performers College wish them all the best with their final year with us, and their promising future careers.
To discover more about Performers College, including auditions and how to apply, contact us at [email protected] or book an Open Day on our Events page.
