Producer takes centre stage at awards night
ATHEATRE producer has won a top industry award.
Former Wardle High School pupil Brian Hook scooped an Olivier Award for his outstanding work on the highly acclaimed production of Rotterdam.
The 27-year-old, from Littleborough, said he was ‘overwhelmed’ to have coproduced the show which took home the award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre.
He added: “I am a Rochdale boy who went to Bury College where everyone was incredible and really supportive. I cannot believe that I am stood here right now. It is really weird and amazing.”
Rotterdam, performed at Trafalgar Studios 2, covers gender identity and relationship issues and is the first transgenderthemed play to win an Olivier Award.
Brian also co-owns Hartshorn-Hook Productions, a modern theatrical entertainment company based in London which produces commercial theatre in the West End and across the UK and worldwide.
The highly prestigious awards ceremony, which recognises and celebrates excellence in professional theatre, was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Andy Tomlinson, curriculum manager for performing arts and music at Bury College, said: “Brian’s award is justified reward and recognition for someone dedicated to his profession.
“He is an inspiration to other students, not just performing arts, of the possibilities if you follow your dream and work at your craft.
“It really is an amazing achievement of which we are all immensely proud and humbled that he thanked Bury College for the part we played in his journey.”
Brian added: “I have many fond memories of my time at Bury College.
“It was the first experience I had ever had of creating theatre, in a theatre.
“I did my best to make the course my own and the tutors did an outstanding job of allowing me to be myself and learn my craft on my own terms, taking my dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD in their stride.
“Put simply, for me, Bury College was the first time within education that adults had taken an active interest in my potential, nurtured it and given me the tools and space to learn the skills I now use at a global level as a professional actor, producer and theatre consultant.
“I have a great sense of gratitude to the tutors past and present and am glad to count them amongst my personal friends.”