Acting alumnus shines in Shakespearean comedy at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre

Lee Farrell graduated with in 2013 with a BA in Acting, and since then his career has gone from strength to strength. Lee credits his time at UWTD to providing him with the confidence and skills to make it in the competitive world of acting, he said: “My time at UWTSD was brilliant. I have met lifelong friends who are still very much a huge part of my life. I got to study abroad in North Carolina which was the most incredible opportunity. The course really helped with my self-esteem and confidence. The teachers were very supportive and always encouraged and pushed me. I loved my Absurd Theatre module, one of the highlights, and quite fittingly I loved my Shakespeare module, which turned out to be one of the highest marks I achieved.”

Currently Lee is appearing in William Shakespeare’s well-loved comedy ‘Much Ado about Nothing’ co-produced with Ramps on the Moon, which opened at the Crucible in September before embarking on a UK Tour.  Ramps on the Moon is a consortium of theatres which aim to enrich stories and the ways in which they are told by putting deaf and disabled artists and audiences at the centre of their work. Lee plays the part of Verges and is loving this fun and creative retelling of a beloved classic, which is on tour until November 12^th.

Reflecting on the acting world and different pathways Lee’s said: “My career so far has been incredible. It’s been really tough, necessitating a lot of hard work and tenacity. It is a very demanding industry so I’ve had to really get in my zone and keep my determination and self-belief strong.” Lee has appeared at the National Theatre in a new play entitled Common, a life changing experience which enabled him to work alongside Anne Marie Duff and Cush Jumbo. After this there was a performance at the Royal Opera House in the new production ‘Lessons in Love and Violence’ directed by Katie Mitchell. Alongside his hectic performance schedule, there are many auditions and rehearsals.

Lynne Seymour, Senior Lecturer on the BA Acting course said: “I had the pleasure of working with Lee on my first directing project at UWTSD in 2013. His commitment and dedication always shone through, along with his talent!  He was not only a great company member but a student that always went the extra mile to develop his characters for the project we were working on, and we had a lot of laughs along the way too.  I have followed his career since he graduated and have been absolutely delighted at his achievements so far, but not surprised, he was always going to make his mark on the industry, and I look forward to seeing him progress further and continue to create wonderful work.”

Planning for the future Lee said: “I would like to keep auditioning and growing as an actor. I really want to land some screen projects and continue doing great Theatre work. I do hope to do some of my own work at some point as well. I’ve had times where I wanted to give up and quit the industry. Its normal to have those moments. I’ve just learnt how to overcome it, It’s a tough but rewarding industry, you just have to love it and keep fighting.”

Further Information

Llinos McVicar BA (Hons), MA, AFHEA, ACIM. MCIPR
Principal Communications and PR Officer Alumni
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