LA film producer Arnon Milchan offers financial support for arts provision at Windlesham House
Independent West Sussex prep school Windlesham House has received a personal donation offer from LA film producer Arnon Milchan to provide the funds to renovate its onsite school theatre and creative arts facilities. Arnon lives locally and as a passionate supporter of the creative arts, he is keen to support the school in the renovation of its Malden Family Theatre which was originally built with funds raised by parents of children at Windlesham. The funds will go directly towards new flooring, state-of-the-art LED stage lighting, new retractable seating to accommodate 300 people and interior redecoration.
Ben Evans, headmaster at Windlesham House School, said: “We are extremely grateful for Arnon’s generous donation to our school. Our theatre was built back in 1986 and is in real need of renovation and refurbishment so these funds will make a huge difference to the lives of our children and the whole school community. We plan to recognise his generosity and the legacy it will leave at Windlesham House with a special commemorative plaque and a grand opening once the works are complete.”
Arnon will make regular, personal donations monthly to the school for a period of three years to cover the refurbishment of the performing arts facility at the school.
He said “It is an absolute pleasure to be able to support the school in restoring its beloved theatre and to help to bring it firmly into the 21st century with new state-of-the-art facilities. Children really do benefit from increased exposure to the performing arts and I am confident that Windlesham will make great use of the new equipment and renovations. I am looking forward to the work commencing and to future school productions.”
Headmaster Ben added: “Windlesham House is renowned for its creative arts with many children going on to senior schools with drama and music scholarships and this will further enhance the children’s opportunities. Famous actors that attended Windlesham House School include Tom Hiddleston, Adam Buxton, Guy Ritchie, Michael Hordern John Michie, Noah Huntley and Tamsin Merchant.”
Milchan is best known for producing a long line of award-winning films from Pretty Woman to L.A. Confidential, Free Willy, Mr & Mrs Smith, Man on Fire, 12 Years a Slave, The Revenant, Little Women, Gone Girl, Bohemian Rhapsody, and many, many more.
He has worked with some top movie stars including Robert de Niro, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Denzel Washington, Leonardo di Caprio, Al Pacino, and Margot Robbie to name a few. He has three new films currently in production – Deep Water, starring Ben Affleck and Ana De Armas, The Northman, a historical thriller starring Nicole Kidman, Willem Dafoe, Ethan Hawke, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Alexander Skarsard, and lastly, a heavily anticipated film by director David O Russell with allstar cast Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Chris Rock, Rami Malek, Anya Taylor Joy, Mike Myers, Zoe Saldana and Robert De Niro.