Actor Brian Cox in Dumfries

HOLLY WOOD  comes to SHAKESPEARE STREET

To continue the series, the Trust announces an evening in conversation with BRIAN COX.

One of Scotland’s most distinguished actors, Brian Cox CBE was born in Dundee, where he is now Rector of the University.  This brings him to Scotland for Graduation ceremonies in June, as well as the Edinburgh Film Festival, and he has generously offered to help the Trust’s anniversary campaign.

Brian Cox’ career started in Dundee, at the Rep, when he was still a teenager.  After training at LAMDA, he learned his craft as an actor in the theatre in Scotland, and Birmingham, before a London debut at the age of 21.  His theatre work has included Shakespeare, notably King Lear and Titus Andromachus at the Royal Shakespeare Company, and he has more recently played Coriolanus on film.

It is as a screen actor that he has become most widely known.  In “Manhunter” he created the chilling Hannibal Lecter, and was awarded an Emmy for his TV performance as Goering in “Nuremberg”.  More recent roles have included appearances in both “Rob Roy” and Braveheart”, “The Bourne Supremacy”, “Red”, "X-Men" and voicing both God and Dr Who, at different times.  He has recently played Sydney Newman, the driving force behind the creation of Dr Who, for the TV docudrama “An Adventure in Space and Time”.

He can often be heard on radio – regular appearances as detective James McLevy, his portrayal of Bob Servant, and a play specially written for him and Billy Conolly are only a few of his latest performances.  One of the first actors to venture into the world of computer and video games, his credits include Manhunt, Killzone, and Syndicate.

Brian Cox is a patron of the Scottish Youth Theatre, encouraging the next generations of Scots actors to take the first steps – and often steps that are, in Dumfries and Galloway, also assisted by grants from the Wardlaw Drama Trust.

The “In Conversation” evening takes place on 24 June, at 7.30 at the Theatre Royal.  Tickets priced £10 (£5 students, schools, unwaged)  are available from the Midsteeple (phone: 01387- 253383)

Contact:            Jenny Wilson                01387-820209

                        Linda Wardlaw             01387-268972