University News Last updated 20 January
A Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC) alumnus has won the Celebrating Culture and Heritage Award at the Northamptonshire Community Foundation Awards for A Home for Harmony, a community-focused musical play for young children.
Tristan Jackson-Pate, who graduated from RBC with a BA (Hons) in Acting in 2010, joined People’s Theatre Collective initially as an actor and became Artistic Director in 2015, a role he continues to hold.
“It’s crazy to me that I’ve now been leading the company for ten years,” Tristan said. “I’ve learned an enormous amount about leadership, supported by an incredible staff team. Together, we’ve grown the organisation’s reach and impact while staying rooted in inclusive, community-focused theatre-making.”
Reflecting on the award, Tristan said the category was “incredibly strong,” adding that the team “really didn’t expect to win.”
“The award means a great deal because the project itself is something I’m deeply proud of. A Home for Harmony supported an actor with progressive multiple sclerosis and centred on positive representations of disability. It toured schools, libraries, and community spaces, reaching children who might otherwise never experience live theatre. To have that work recognised was incredibly affirming for the whole team.”
A Home for Harmony is a musical play for young children produced by People’s Theatre Collective, featuring a heart-warming story by Renata Allen and original music by Joshua Baldwin. Created in collaboration with Dogs for Good, the Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire Library Services, and Home-Start, the production was designed for accessible community venues including libraries, schools and shopping centres.
Through the story of Bouncer the assistance dog, the show explores emotional resilience, confidence and social play, with SEND-friendly elements such as sensory and musical features, Makaton signing and non-verbal storytelling. The production toured Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire in summer 2024, reaching thousands of people and supported by a free illustrated resource exploring the play’s emotional themes.
Tristan’s working life remains highly varied. Some weeks are spent directing in rehearsal rooms, while others involve partnership meetings, funding applications, workshops with young people and strategic planning.
In addition to his role at People’s Theatre Collective, a youth-focused organisation that brings young people and professional artists together on an equal footing, Tristan works with the National Theatre’s Connections Programme. He is also a freelance writer and director, and an Associate Artist with Royal & Derngate Theatres Northampton and Human Story Theatre in Oxford, which create theatre exploring health and social issues.
Tristan was encouraged into the performing arts by inspiring teachers and developed a strong interest in both music and acting during his teenage years. After not securing a drama school place on his first attempt, he took a valuable year out playing in bands, which built his confidence, independence, and creative material. Auditioning again, he was drawn to the supportive environment at RBC and was delighted to be offered a place there.
On what it was like to study at RBC, Tristan said: “Honestly, it was fantastic. Every day I walked into the building, I felt grateful to be there and to receive such world-class training.
"There were also some truly inspiring tutors whose lessons I still carry with me today, even though I’ve since moved into directing and writing. We also worked with brilliant external freelance directors, some of whom I’ve gone on to work with professionally since graduating.”
Tristan is grateful for his time at RBC and the skills it gave him: “Although I no longer act, everything I learned through actor training deeply informs my directing and writing practice. Having been an actor makes me a more empathetic, actor-centred director. I understand what it feels like to be in the rehearsal room and in the performer’s shoes.
“The course gave me a deep cultural education and a strong understanding of text, voice and characterisation. As a writer, I still ‘write as an actor,’ playing all the characters internally as I work. I also carry forward practical approaches and small moments of practice from directors I admired during training, reshaping them into my own methodology. Even though I no longer act professionally, the training has been an invaluable bedrock for my entire career.”
Tristan’s advice to anyone considering studying Acting is simple. “Start now,” he urges.
“Look after your body and your voice, build that awareness early. Get physically fit and treat yourself like an athlete in training. Read as many plays as you possibly can. During my first couple of years, I commuted by train, and I’d read a play on the way there and another on the way back every day. That time was incredibly influential.
“See as much theatre as you can - take advantage of theatres that do cheap tickets for under 25s while you still can! All of this feeds your craft and gives you a deeper understanding of storytelling and performance.”
Pictured: Debs Howe and Tristan Jackson-Pate