New Studio Opened by West End Actor
The Studio is a high-tech facility for drama, film making,
workshops and conferences with digital lighting and sound control systems and
large projection facilities. The area
also features a small café. Posters on
the wall celebrate St Andrew’s creative alumni of John le Carré, Howard Hodgkin
and Andrew Alexander.
In his talk to the pupils, staff, governors and parents, Mr Alexander told them that eighteen years ago he was sitting in the school hall in his green blazer thinking what he would be.He told them,
"I hope that you too will look back at your time at St Andrew’s and realise what a preparation it has been for you”
"My passion for music and drama was ignited by St Andrew’s”
He finished by encouraging the pupils to, "Find your passion and excel at what you love doing; you can achieve what you want if you work hard at it”
Andrew is an ex pupil of St Andrew’s School (1991-1995) who won a music scholarship to Bradfield College (1995 - 2000).He read History at King’s College London and thentrained at the Royal Academy of Music. Andrew describes himself on Twitter as "an actor who sings a bit”, an understatement for a man currently in a West End production and the possessor of a Gold Disc!
He is currently starring as Richard Hannay in the successful West End production of The 39 Steps. He has also performed in The Hot Mikado, Salad Days, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Box and Cox, Henry IV, Titus Andronicus and Two Gentlemen of Verona.
Andrew is also a member of the recording group Teatro. Their eponymous album, recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, achieved gold record status and number 1 chart positions around the world. With Teatro, he has performed for Her Majesty The Queen at the Royal Variety Performance and at the UNICEF Stars of Europe concert in Brussels.
The Head Master, Dr David Livingstone, commented,
"All the pupils and staff are
looking forward to the new studio and we have already started drama clubs in
anticipation. The pupils will be able to
act, produce films and learn theatre craft in the studio which will also be
used for as a conference room and social area.” 
The Heads of School, Isabelle Richards and Tom Powell, presented gift to the guests and Isabelle commented,
"All the School is thrilled with the new Studio and really looking forward to using it”
The School is very grateful to the St Andrew’s parents for their generous donation towards this project, raised from the 2009 Ball.