University News Last updated 29 July
Our Royal Birmingham Conservatoire graduates have gone on to star in or work behind the scenes of television shows, blockbuster movies and stage productions. Check out what some of our talented Alumni are up to this month.
Acting alumna cast in Doctor Who
Nicola Coughlan, who graduated from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s School of Acting in 2011, has been cast in this year’s Doctor Who Christmas special. She will play the character of Joy, which was unveiled at San Diego Comic Con this month.
Music graduate wins Great British Sewing Bee
BMus (Hons) Composition graduate Luke-Matthew Iveson has won this year’s Great British Sewing Bee! Luke won the tenth series of the show, with the final airing at the end of this month.
Acting alumna returns to screens in latest instalment of hit series
Acting graduate Danielle Pinnock returned to UK screens this month, as the third series of hit show Ghosts, based on the BBC Sitcom of the same name, aired on BBC iPlayer. Danielle stars as Alberta Hayes, a lounge singer from the Prohibition era who passed away after drinking poisoned moonshine, who gets a love interest in this series.
Music graduate appointed Director of BBC Singers
Jonathan Manners, who studied Music at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, has been appointed Director of the BBC Singers. He has been Producer of the group since 2016.
Acting graduate stars in Shakespeare show
Laura Cooper-Jones, who graduated from our BA (Hons) Acting course in 2020, stars in the Open Bar Theatre’s Much Ado About Nothing throughout July, August and September.
Stage Management alumna returns to Birmingham
Lauren Wood, who studied BA (Hons) Stage Management and graduated in 2017, is an Assistant Stage Manager on the UK and Ireland tour of Hamilton, which is currently at the Birmingham Hippodrome until the end of August.
Graduates announced in War Horse tour
Two Acting graduates have been announced in the War Horse UK touring cast, which will visit the Wolverhampton Grand theatre in March 2025. Featured on the top row, BA (Hons) Acting graduate Rhianna Ash is the first picture, and MA Acting graduate Haydn Burke is the sixth picture.
Acting graduate confirmed for Autumn run of hit musical
It has been announced this month that Acting alumna Deborah Tracey will continue performing in Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge Theatre in the West End in Autumn 2024. Deborah plays the role of Mrs Phelps, librarian and friend to Matilda, a role that’s prominent in the musical adaptation of the Roald Dahl novel.
Music graduate performs at Wigmore Hall
Earlier this month, graduate Rebeca Ormodia performed at Wigmore Hall as part of the African Concert series. Her latest album, African Pianism 2, was released on 19 July.