A Message from your Librarian

Mollie Webb highlights two recent ISTD occasions

For members who were unable to be present, I thought I would write about some great ISTD occasions this month. The first at the ISTD Dinner Dance in March at the Royal Lancaster Hotel when, kindly accompanied by Robert Harrold, I made a slow, slightly uneven approach (due to an Achilles injury) to receive the Theatre Faculties Imperial Award for 2007 presented by Paddy Hurlings.
I really enjoy my job in the library meeting all your students when they come to do their research, and to be given an award for doing something you enjoy is fantastic! Looking through the illustrious list of previous recipients, I noticed, that apart from Peter Pearson in 1968, this is the first time the award has come to someone working at HQ, and presents a great opportunity to share it with all the other members of staff who work so hard at HQ for all the different faculties, and especially four people who have been here as long as I have, Liz Wills, Beverley McDermott, David Wood and Gary Smith, all of them always willing to help me with advice and information on very odd queries, computer panics and financial matters.

I would like to thank all the staff for their help, and the Theatre Faculties Board for the very great honour of this award. The Second occasion was a visit at the end of April to see Phoenix Dance Theatre’s mixed bill of works by José Limón and Javier De Frutos. Blue Roses, Chaconne, The Moor’s Pavane and Paseillo.
On reading the programme biographies, I found that Bradley Shelves’ starts by saying: ‘Bradley trained in ISTD,’ and in Dane Hurst you read: ‘While at Rambert School, Dane was awarded runner up prize at the Barbara Geoghegan Cecchetti Dance Competition 2003.’

These two men share the very demanding Jose Limón solo ‘Chaconne’. On the evening of my visit, Bradley was dancing, showing beautiful arms, superb control and a great stage presence. It turned out to be the most interesting and exciting evening I have spent in the theatre for some time.

Mollie Webb

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This book provides hundreds of photos and writing on Fosse’s signature movements and style, and is a ‘must have’ for all those studying his work.