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Gala 2012

 

 

 

Park Theatre's gala on Friday 19th October 2012 was a huge success. Host, Ian McKellen remarked on the incredible achievements of Artistic Director, Jez Bond:

“Whatʼs the word for Jez Bond? ..Thrusting, cheeky, forward looking, single minded? Or is it simply chuzspah? - heʼs got the lot - and heʼs got me on board!!”

Prior to the gala, Jez, who has masterminded the Park Theatre project with his then-wife, Melli, had already succeeded in raising £2.4 million - leaving a target of approximately £100,000. The star-studded gala at Shakespeareʼs Globe reached this amount, ensuring the theatreʼs plans to build a dedicated education floor can go ahead.

[Ian McKellen, Maureen Lipman, Tim Pigott-Smith. Photograph by Richard Young]

Guests present at the event (many of whom hosted tables on behalf of the theatre) included Benedict Cumberbatch, Stephen Daldry, Stephen Poliakoff, Tom Stoppard, Patrick Stewart, Romola Garai, Anna Maxwell Martin, Maureen Lipman, Jeffrey Archer, Celia Imrie, Sean Mathias, Timberlake Wertenbaker, Rupert Goold, Josie Lawrence, Tom Ellis, Tamzin Outhwaite, Evgeny Lebedev and Tim Piggot-Smith.

Auctioneer, Lord Jeffery Archer, sold a total of six lots (reaching up to £11,000 each) with prizes donated by Les Secret des Grands Chefs, American Airlines, Stephen Fry, Alan Rickman, Celia Imrie and Sonia Friedman, Spencer Hart, Compass Box Whisky, Quintessentially Flowers, The Ritz, The Savoy and The Atheneaum.

[Celia Imrie and Jefrrey Archer. Photograph by Richard Young]

The Park Theatre gala marked the culmination of a final ten months of fundraising undertaken by the theatre to ensure the creation of a dedicated Education Floor on the premises. The planned multi-purpose floor will deliver workshops to both young and old members of the community as well as develop professional practitioners (writers, directors, actors).

"The entire team couldn't be happier with the outcome of last night's gala. Surrounded by such supportive friends both old and new, we raised an outstanding amount money - and had a terrific party to boot" Jez Bond

To read the press coverage of the event click here

For further information please contact: Dorcas Morgan on [email protected]