Laurence Olivier Bursary winners announced

The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) has awarded bursaries to 13 second year drama students from across the UK to continue their final year studies.

The nine recipients of this year's Laurence Olivier Bursaries were announced at a ceremony at SOLT last week along with the four students chosen to receive two other bursaries awarded under the scheme.

Established in 1987 to commemorate Lord Olivier's 80th birthday, the bursaries aim to help students at the end of their second year of drama school who have potential talent but are facing financial difficulties in completing their studies. Some 40 nominees, put forward by their drama schools, are invited to audition in front of a panel of SOLT members and casting directors before the £30,000 bursary fund is distributed between the winners.

The bursaries aim to help students at the end of their second year of drama school who have potential talent

Previous recipients of the bursaries include Ewan McGregor, Paterson Joseph and Michael Sheen.

In presenting this year's recipients with their bursaries, Nica Burns, President of SOLT, said: “We wish you all good luck in what is a difficult industry. You don't just have to be good, you have to have courage and stick with it through the hard times; but our panel all believe that each of you has real talent. All the Members of the Society join me in wishing these young hopefuls really good luck, a great time and a warm welcome to the greatest industry in the world.”

The 2009 bursaries are awarded as follows:

Laurence Olivier Bursaries:
Gavin Fowler at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London
Rebecca Humphries at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Lashana Lynch at the Arts Educational School in London
Benjamin O'Mahony at the Drama Centre in London
Roddy Peters at the Bristol Old Vic theatre school in Bristol
Mark Sumner at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff
Paul Thomas at East 15 in London
Adam Warren at School of Acting in Birmingham
Eleanor Yates at the Bristol Old Vic theatre school in Bristol

The Behrens Bursary
Jack Derges at the Arts Educational School in London

Behrens additional sums
Ariane Barnes at Rose Bruford in Kent
Nicola Brown at Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow

The Mary Selway Bursary
James William Finan at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London

This story was supplied by The Official London Theatre Guide – read more