Big Spirit Alumni

For many years young people have been joining the The Bancroft Players Youth Theatre (now called "Big Spirit") with a dream of turning professional. For a number of members this has happened. (Members are listed alphabetically).

Paul Collis

[Photo of Paul Collis] Paul had an ambition to be a musical theatre star. He achieved this with lead roles in a number of West End productions, notably Miss Saigon.

Sadly, Paul died tragically young. He is commemorated both at the Queen Mother Theatre and in a website created by his family.

Peter England

[Photo of Peter England] Peter was in the Channel 4 series Teachers (2001) and features in the movie My Brother Tom (2001). He starred in Equus at Oldham Coliseum and won the Manchester Evening News Best Newcomer Award (2001).

Peter is now a regular in the soap Family Affairs (Channel 5).

Ben Hull

Previously Ben appeared in the soap Hollyoaks (1997-2001) and Brookside (2002-2003). He now appears in Family Affairs.

Claire Rushbrook

Claire was seen in the BBC sitcom Linda Green (2001) alongside Lisa Tarbuck. Her previous work includes the film Plunkett & McLean (1999) and Three Sisters on the West End.

Craig Vye

[Craig Vye in Nottingham Playhouse's production of Beautiful Thing by Jonathan Harvey (2001)] Craig took a lead role in two series of the popular Children's BBC series, Aquila (1998). He has played the role of Jamie in the Nottingham Playhouse touring production of Jonathan Harvey's Beautiful Thing (2002). Craig is now at RADA completing his actor training.

Ben Whishaw

[Photo of Ben Whishaw] Trained at RADA, Ben was the lead role in the Channel 4 funded movie My Brother Tom (2001), which won a prize at a European film festival. He has received a "Best Newcomer" nomination from the British Institute Film Awards and won a best new actor award in the British Screen Awards for his role in My Brother Tom.

Recently, Ben has starred at the National Theatre in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials, and is currently playing Hamlet, to much critical acclaim, in Trevor Nunn's new production of the play at The Old Vic.