Our Patrons
Fourth Monkey is proud to benefit from the patronage of six patrons, new for September 2018. They represent six theatre professionals who work across acting, directing and dramaturgy, onstage, in film and beyond.
Each patron supports a named scholarship, signifying support for one in six students entering the Two Year Rep course and are currently financed by Fourth Monkey. All scholarships are based on audition outcomes, personal circumstances and financial need and are means tested accordingly, to ensure the financial award is given to those who would otherwise be unable to train as an actor.
These scholarships are in addition to the already established Emrys Johns Scholarship, awarded to a student from a rural part of the UK who demonstrates exceptional talent, commitment and investment in the ensemble, as wells as the Ronnie Collash Scholarship, in honour of the late Ronnie Collash, granted to a multi-talented student who embodies his joyful outlook on life.
Jorge De Juan
Actor, Artistic Director and Founder of The Spanish Theatre Company and The Cervantes Theatre
‘Before I came to London, Fourth Monkey, was at the top of my priority list because I thought they had the kind of training that I believe in. I never thought that five years later, I would have a theatre in London and that Fourth Monkey was going to be part of it.
That’s why it is a privilege for me to be a patron and share with their students and community of actors the same dream.’
Jorge is a renowned Spanish producer, director and actor and founder of the Spanish Theatre Company (London). He trained at the Royal School of Dramatic Art of Madrid (Acting) and the British Theatre Association (Directing and Producing).
His directing credits include: The Grain Store and The Public by Lorca (Fourth Monkey); End of the Rainbow; Dracula; The 39 Steps (Spanish production); The Woman in Black (Spanish production), The House of Bernarda Alba, Blood Wedding and The Judge of the Divorces… y otros (Cervantes Theatre).
As an actor, Jorge has appeared in more than 20 plays, 30 films and TV series, having played the lead in over 30 projects. Theatre includes: Blood Wedding, Calígula, Oedipus, Macbeth, Ricard III, The Kiss of the Spider Woman, The 39 Steps, The Woman in Black. Film includes Grimsby, Talk of Angels, Open your Eyes, One of the Hollywood Ten and Prince of Shadows.
Other Info:
Dramaturgy: She Said (English National Ballet).
Jorge’s awards include the Francisco Rabal Film Award for his starring role in The Best of Times; The Turia Theatre Award for his performance in La Mujer de Negro and for his film Lost Bullet; Grand Prix des Amériques at Montréal Film Festival with the Serbian film Kordon that he co-produced.
THE JORGE DE JUAN SCHOLARSHIP IS TO BE AWARDED TO A TALENTED INDIVIDUAL WHO DOES NOT SPEAK ENGLISH AS A FIRST LANGUAGE, TO ENSURE OUR STUDENT COHORT REMAINS INTERNATIONAL AND INCLUSIVE, EVEN BEYOND BREXIT
Jonjo O’Neill
Actor
‘I love Fourth Monkey because there is a sense of punk and rock n’ roll about the place. It feels fresh, passionate and up for it. Not everyone looks the same or sounds the same.’
Jonjo O’Neill is a well-known British Stage Actor and is an Associate artist with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He is perhaps best known for his portrayals of Richard III and as Mercutio in the acclaimed Rupert Goold production of Romeo & Juliet.
Onscreen, Jonjo is best known for The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018), Constantine (2014), The Assets (2014), The Fall (2013), Defiance (2008) and Doctor Who (2005).
THE JONJO O’NEILL SCHOLARSHIP SEEKS OUT A MALE APPLICANT WHO DISPLAYS EXCEPTIONAL TALENT, INDIVIDUALITY AND PERSONALITY: A UNIQUE AWARD FOR A UNIQUELY TALENTED INDIVIDUAL
Paula Paz
Co-Founder and Associate Director of Cervantes Theatre
‘I am a true advocate for Fourth Monkey training. Every time I see an actor walking into an audition I can tell if they have trained at Fourth Monkey, it’s like a signature. They are confident, ready and prepared, full of ideas and full of energy. As a director, it is a joy working with actors so well trained and I am truly honoured to be a patron of Fourth Monkey.’
Paula Paz is co-founder and Associate Director of the Cervantes Theatre and the Spanish Theatre Company. She is a theatre director and former professional ballet dancer and holds an MA with distinction in Theatre Directing from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
Directing credits include The Little Pony, The Swallow and Darwin’s Tortoise (Cervantes Theatre), Knives in Hens (KC Theatre), Eigengrau (Mountview), History of a Staircase (White Bear Theatre) and Hay que deshacer la Casa (Canada Water Culture Space).
THE PAULA PAZ SCHOLARSHIP IS TO BE AWARDED TO A YOUNG WOMAN WHO ASPIRES TO MAKE THEATRE AS WELL AS TRAIN TO BE AN ACTOR. THIS AWARD IS FOR A CREATIVE; SOMEONE DESTINED TO BE AN ACTOR, MAKER AND COLLABORATOR.
Guillaume Pige
Actor and Artistic Director Theatre Re
‘I am extremely proud and excited to become a patron of Fourth Monkey Actor Training Company and join their journey to explore the best way forward in training for theatre.’
Guillaume is an actor, director, mime and magician, forming Theatre Re in 2009. Guillaume trained at the Conservatory of Villeurbanne (FR) and graduated from the International School of Corporeal Mime in London under the direction of Corinne Soum and Steven Wasson. He also studied with Thomas Leabhart and Daniel Stein. Guillaume holds an MA in Text and Performance Studies from King’s College & RADA.
As well as directing and performing in all Theatre Re’s productions to date, Guillaume has worked as a Movement Director with Andrew Visnevski, Sue Dunderdale and Bill Gaskill. He is Head of Movement at Fourth Monkey Actor Training Company, an Associate Teacher at RADA and is regularly invited to give workshops in the UK and internationally.
THE JACQUES COPEAU SCHOLARSHIP WILL RECOGNISE THE TALENT OF AN APPLICANT WITH EXCEPTIONAL MOVEMENT ABILITY.
Rich Rusk
Associate Director, Gecko Theatre
‘Fourth Monkey prides itself on doing things differently, I believe this philosophy will lead to the development of some truly special theatre-making brains. I want to watch work made by creative people thinking outside the box and I am very excited to be able to support such emerging artists, as a Patron.’
Rich Rusk is a multi-international award winning theatre maker and has spent the last ten years touring as an Associate Director at Gecko Theatre. Rich has made 35 original five-star productions for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, as well as a further 200 original productions for touring since 2001. Rich has also worked as an associate artist at New International Encounter, Hoipolloi and The Junction in Cambridge.
Rich has always enjoyed mentoring emerging theatre companies and supporting young artists. He regularly collaborates with the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre and in 2019 he will open his second touring production in China.
THE RICH RUSK SCHOLARSHIP WILL OFFER A BURSARY TO THE WINNING PIECE OR COMPANY OF THE TWO YEAR REP EXPERIMENTAL FRINGE PROJECT. THE FUND WILL ENABLE ONWARD DEVELOPMENT FOR THE WINNING STUDENTS, AS WELL AS THE FORMATION OF THEIR OWN COMPANY AND WORK POST-GRADUATION.
Brigid Zengeni
Actress
‘I believe that Fourth Monkey offers the student actor outstanding training in a supportive and innovative environment, perfect for creative development. The training experience is both rewarding and profound; producing intuitive, focussed and dynamic actors whilst nurturing and motivating the importance of creating their own work in this ever-evolving industry. I am delighted and excited to be part of the Monkey family.’
Brigid is an actor whose most recent theatre work includes A Christmas Carol (RSC), I’m not Running (National Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (Headlong) and her television work includes a regular role in Fortitude (Sky Atlantic).
