BIRD COLLEGE – CONSERVATOIRE FOR DANCE AND MUSICAL THEATRE ANNOUNCES GAVIN LEE AS PATRON
Bird College – Conservatoire for Dance, Music and Theatre Performance today announces the appointment of Gavin Lee as patron. Lee will be an advocate for Bird College and for the wider dance and musical theatre sector promoting the work of the college. Lee will work alongside current patrons Christopher Biggins, Baroness Tessa Blackstone, Lara Pulver, Liz Robertson, Dougie Squires OBE and Gary Avis MBE.
Gavin Lee said “What an absolute honour it is to become a Patron of Bird Theatre College. The training I received all those years ago was invaluable, giving me the truly solid foundation I needed to build a career in theatre. Since I left ‘Bird’s’ back in the early 90’s, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching the amazing growth of the college. I am over the moon to formally be a friend and advocate for this wonderful place of talent!”
Principal and Chief Executive, Shirley Coen and Deputy Principal and Artistic Director, Luis De Abreu said today “Gavin Lee is an award winning musical theatre actor who has received great critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic; most notably for creating the role of Bert in Mary Poppins, in the West End, and its subsequent transfer to Broadway, working closely with our President Stephen Mear on both occasions. He graduated from Bird College in 1990 having been an outstanding student, excelling from the start as a musical theatre artist.
“He has received great recognition, including being nominated for Tony, Olivier and Outer Critic Circle Awards. He has won the Drama Desk Awards for Mary Poppins and Sponge Bob Square Pants and the Theatre World Award and for Outstanding Broadway Debut in 2007. We are delighted that Gavin has become a Patron of the College and Doreen Bird, Founder of the College, would be as proud as we are. He is a great ambassador for the College both at home and abroad. He is an inspiration to our community and we all very much look forward to working with him.”
Gavin Lee’s theatre credits include SpongeBob SquarePants -The Broadway Musical (Oriental Theatre), Les Miserables (Imperial Theatre), Mary Poppins (New Amsterdam Theatre/ Prince Edward Theatre), How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Hulu Theatre), Showboat (Carnegie Hall), Holiday Inn (Goodspeed Opera House), The Nerd (Bucks County Playhouse), Top Hat (Aldwych Theatre), Crazy For You (Prince Edward Theatre), Peggy Sue Got Married (Shaftesbury Theatre), Me And My Girl (Adelphi Theatre), Oklahoma! (RNT), Contact (Queens Theatre), Singin’ In The Rain (Haymarket Theatre), Of Thee I Sing (Bridewell Theatre), Saturday Night (Bridewell Theatre) and Whenever (Stephen Joseph). TV credits include White Collar, Law and Order: SVU, The Good Wife.
Bird College
Listings
Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts Ltd
Alma Road, Sidcup, Kent, DA14 4ED
0208 300 6004
Bird College is a charity which was founded by Doreen Bird more than 70 years ago. It is one of the leading musical theatre colleges in London and offers conservatoire training to 600 full time students. The college has grown substantially over the last decade and works closely in partnership with the University of Greenwich and with Trinity College London, and through these partnerships ensures that students graduate with qualifications which give recognition to the quality of their education and training. Bird College ensures students are taught by the best possible teachers and that they have the opportunity to work with a range of external directors and choreographers so they receive the most relevant, current and vibrant opportunities. The college has an outstanding national and international reputation with graduates who have a strong presence in West End Theatres, Broadway and beyond. Brid College has established itself as one of the most exciting colleges in the UK.