Biography

Paisley-born actress Danielle has toured all over Scotland with PACE Youth Theatre Company and performed at Glasgow’s SEC to thousands of primary school children. Former members of PACE include film actor James McAvoy and singer Paolo Nutini.

Dani was a member of PACE Theatre Company for over ten years and impressed as an enthusiastic, talented, diligent and determined young woman. Dani was a key figure in Renfrewshire’s ‘Take a Drink’ project, which aimed to educate secondary school pupils about the dangers of alcohol abuse. She was able to portray a believable and realistic character which won over a largely sceptical audience of young people.

Dani went on to take part in Strathclyde Police’s ‘Choices for Life’ project in 2008, aimed at young people to encourage them to make the right choices for their future. Once again, her believable and passionate performance hit the right note.

Dani’s aim is to become an actress Scotland can be proud of and has been accepted onto the degree course at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.

How the Award Helped

Biography

Glasgow-born Edward McGurn started his acting training at Coatbridge College where he was awarded the Ian Bannen Memorial prize for outstanding performance in his final showcase.

How the Award Helped

Biography

From Alloa, Joseph Young is a student on the degree course in acting at the Guildford School of Acting. He describes himself as a ‘driven and hungry individual’.

At the end of his second year, he won the Director’s Award and represented GSA in Stratford-upon-Avon in an all-schools workshop with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Joseph’s ultimate ambition is to work with the RSC and in film. Joseph appeared in a new play staged at the 2008 Edinburgh Festival. He has been put forward to take part in the prestigious BBC Carlton Hobbes competition.

At the start of his third year at GSA, Joseph put on his own production of “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me” by Frank McGuinness and was part of the GSA of “The Shakespeare Review” which went on tour at the end of 2008.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award helps toward the costs of Joseph’s final year at GSA.

Since the Award

Biography

Dundee-born Fingal discovered a talent and passion for theatre at the age of 15, in particular for Shakespeare’s language and fantastical characters. He was a member of the National Youth Theatre from 2003-2006 and was their representative for the City of Edinburgh.

Fingal’s ideal job would be acting with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Already he has trained with actors from both the RSC and the National Theatre in London, has worked on television and, most recently, in the film ‘Hallam Foe’, starring Jamie Bell.

Before pursuing a career in acting, Fingal gained a science degree from Edinburgh University and, rather more romantically, worked as a spear fisherman in Greece as well as a crew member on boats operating out of the East Coast of Scotland. All of this has given him valuable life experience which he can put into future performances.

Fingal has gained a place on the postgraduate acting course at the Drama Studio, London, whose alumni include Forrest Whittaker and Emily Watson. The Drama Studio is particularly well-known for its exceptional training in classical acting, particularly in Fingal’s beloved Shakespeare. Fingal is considered to be highly talented, and already displays the instincts and artistic honesty of a professional actor.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help Fingal through his studies at the Drama Studio, London.

Since the Award

Biography

Sharon, originally from Helensburgh, gained a first degree in Eng. Lit. from Glasgow University before going on to study acting at RSAMD. There she has impressed with her range, depth, wit and flexibility in her acting. In her second year at RSAMD she was selected as a candidate for the prestigious UK-wide Laurence Olivier Bursary Competition.

Sharon’s ultimate ambition is to be deeply involved in Scottish theatre. She has already appeared with Oran Mor in Glasgow, with the NTS/Dundee Rep’s ‘Peer Gynt’, directed by Dominic Hill, and at Perth Theatre. Perhaps because of her first degree, Sharon is noted for a creative and intelligent engagement with the text, and she is particularly valued as a committed ensemble player. Sharon is passionate about Scottish theatre and hopes to contribute to the arts in Scotland in the future.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award has helped Sharon to finance the final year of her drama degree.

Since the Award

Biography

Originally from Ireland, Victoria Armstrong moved to Glasgow to study drama at RSAMD, where she quickly impressed as an intelligent and compelling acting talent.

Before going on to higher education, Victoria was part of the ‘Rainbow Factory’ drama group in Belfast for five years where she was able to communicate her skills and love of acting to young people. Victoria is considered to be an exciting actor, able to create convincing performances and always willing to explore new possibilities.

Victoria was selected to take part in an exchange programme with Cal Arts, Los Angeles which involved spending 3 months at Cal Arts in early 2008. Victoria describes it as ‘a once in a lifetime opportunity for me, and not one that I am ever likely to get again’.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award provided funding to enable Victoria to spend 3 months at Cal Arts College.

Since the Award

Biography

Gayle Rankin has long had an ambition to study drama at the Juilliard School in New York. This year she achieved her goal when she was one of 18 successful candidates – out of an estimated 3,500 worldwide – to be accepted this year. She was the only successful candidate from the UK and is, possibly, the first Scottish drama student ever at Juilliard.

For the last two years, Gayle, who hails from Kilmarnock, has been studying musical theatre at the Dance School of Scotland, Knightswood, where she was noticed as a truly talented performer excelling in acting, singing and dancing. Recently she was winner of an international fellowship award to study in Australia. She performed in the staging of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, with Siobhan Redmond in the title role.

Gayle has been offered a scholarship-funded place on the 4-year drama degree course at Juilliard School.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help towards the considerable expenses to study in New York.

Since the Award

Biography

Glasgow-born James McArdle is the youngest Scot to have been accepted to study for an acting degree at RADA in almost ten years. The list of previous graduates from RADA reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ in British acting.

James started studying acting at school, progressing rapidly through the practical examinations to become a member of the Advanced Higher Cohort. In his last year at school, he played Hamlet, the play having been chosen on the basis of James’s ability to play such a complex and challenging character. He was the finest young actor his acting teacher had come across in her career.

James has been a committed member of the PACE Youth Theatre for over ten years, and was considered to be one of the most talented young actors to have been involved in the company. To help raise money to get himself to RADA, James wrote a play which was produced by PACE Youth Theatre Company and which, it is hoped, will transfer to the Edinburgh Festival in 2008.

James is considered to have enormous potential as an actor and is expected to become one of Scotland’s finest actors in the future.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help with the fees and living costs as James starts his studies at RADA.

At the end of his first term at RADA, James writes, “This has truly been the richest time of my life in terms of the knowledge and growth I am receiving daily. The Dewar Arts Awards has allowed me to enter a difficult profession at the highest level.”  After a successful first year, James’s award has been confirmed for a second year.

Since the Award

In 2018, James starred as James Stewart, Earl of Moray in the blockbuster ‘Mary Queen of Scots’.

James received widespread acclaim for his role in ‘Angels in America’, for which he was nominated for the Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Laurence Olivier Awards, and won a Theatre World Award in 2018.

In early 2025, James appeared in the four-part ITV series ‘Playing Nice’ alongside James Norton.