Star Sir Mark ‘honoured’ to be patron of East Riding Theatre
ONE OF the country’s leading actors Sir Mark Rylance has become the latest patron of Beverley-based East Riding Theatre.
The highly regarded Shakespearean actor, who has also won plaudits for performances in film and TV, joins Dame Judi Dench, who became a patron back in 2012.
Sir Mark won an Oscar and BAFTA for his role in Spielberg’s
and huge acclaim as The Big Friendly Giant in
and as Thomas Cromwell in the TV series He said he was “honoured” to take up the role.
The actor, who was first artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, said: “A community is a group of people who share a story. That story may be as simple as ‘We live by this river’ or ‘We believe that spring will follow winter’. Usually the story involves something like ‘We lived through these events...’
“A theatre, a thriving healthy theatre like the East Riding Theatre, is a sign to me of a healthy community. A community interested in story. I am very honoured to be one of its patrons and supporters.”
The brainchild of film and television actor Vincent Regan, who has adopted Beverley as his hometown, the theatre offers an eclectic mix of theatre, music and entertainment.
The theatre, which made the announcement about Sir Mark during its current festival of young performers, said it was delighted “to have attracted the interest of such a great artist and avid supporter of regional and community arts”.
It said Sir Mark “is a passionate champion of young talent and has been incredibly supportive of ERT’s work in encouraging a new generation to get involved in every aspect of the theatre.”
The festival has seen the return of director Mike Friend, who has been working with 20 youngsters to devise a new play called
which will be performed this Friday and Saturday.