New Adelphi "gobsmacking" says actor Robert Powell
Friday 21 October 2016
HONORARY graduate Robert Powell returned to the University of Salford to give advice to aspiring performers in the theatre named in his honour – and to visit the newly-opened arts facility.
The Salford-born actor, best known for his playing the title role in Jesus of Nazareth, talked about his career and gave a question and answer session with final year students from the Theatre And Performance Practice programme in the University’s Robert Powell Theatre on Thursday October 20.
The theatre was opened in 2001 in recognition of Powell’s connection with the University and the City of Salford.
He told students: “Always do more than is expected of you and you will never fail.”
Deeply jealous
During his visit, Powell was given a tour of the £55m New Adelphi Arts Centre – the new home of the University’s School of Arts and Media which houses cutting edge facilities including a 350-seat theatre with dynamic seating, a smaller studio theatre, professional quality TV studios featuring HD cameras, a voice acting studio and a series of high-spec performance studios.
Powell said: “I think the New Adelphi Building is gobsmacking. I’m deeply jealous because when I was a student, we never had facilities like these. I think it’s fabulous.”
Hear how actor Robert Powell was 'gobsmacked' by our facilities when he visited our @createatsalford students for a Q&A today. pic.twitter.com/RXmTulqF54
— Salford University (@SalfordUni) October 20, 2016
The actor, who has recently played King Charles III on Broadway and is currently starring in Alan Ayckbourn’s Relatively Speaking at The Lowry, was made an honorary Master of Arts by the University in 1990 and awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters in 2000.
Niki Woods, from the University of Salford’s School of Arts and Media, said: “Robert Powell is a household name, appearing in Holby City and the sitcom The Detectives. Robert’s Salford heritage and his honorary degrees from the University means we’re privileged to enjoy a longstanding relationship with him.
Career advice
“The visit was a wonderful opportunity for our students to talk directly to someone who has a long and prestigious career in theatre and television. Our soon-to-be graduates benefited enormously from his years of experience and they gained first hand advice about working in the industry. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to show him the exciting developments now taking place at the University at our New Adelphi Arts Centre.”
The session was part of the Visiting Professionals Series, during which students benefit from hearing from professional actors, writers and theatre companies.
The actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, who played Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street before appearing in drama series such as Cucumber and Happy Valley, is also taking part in one of the sessions with her company Take Back Theatre, which she set up with writer Rebekah Harrison and visual artist Grant Archer.
