Office of Public Affairs Acadia University Wolfville, Nova Scotia B0P 1X0 (902) 585-1362 Fax (902) 585-1072 News Release For Release: June 7, 2000

Acadia students accepted into London theatre school

(Wolfville, NS) – Two recent graduates of the Theatre Studies program at Acadia University have been accepted into the London Academy of Musical and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) – one of the most prestigious theatre schools in the world.

Professor Michael Bawtree is Director of Drama at Acadia and is thrilled with the success of his students.  “For this special course, over 1000 young actors apply to LAMDA from all over Europe and North America, and only 25 to 30 are invited to London,” says Professor Bawtree.

Orin Dash, 27, hails from Sable River and worked in a variety of jobs before deciding to continue his education at Acadia.  Mr. Dash’s talents were soon recognized, and as early as his second year he was playing leading roles for the Acadia Theatre Company.  In his final year Mr. Dash played a highly charged Cassius in Julius Caesar, and gave a memorable performance in the Canadian play Crackpot.  In Sable River last summer, Mr. Dash established his own theatre company, Aurora Theatre, for which he produced, directed, wrote and performed in his own play. He has also directed plays in Acadia’s annual Minifest of one-act plays.

Dustin Harvey, 23, is a native of Elmsdale, where he is well known for founding and directing a Youth Community Theatre, which gave local young people the opportunity to write and perform in their own plays.  At Acadia, like his classmate Mr. Dash, Mr. Harvey was soon recognised for his acting skills.  In his fourth year Mr. Harvey played Brutus in Julius Caesar.  During his time at Acadia, Mr. Harvey ran an improvisation troupe called the Angry Beavers and has also served as artistic co-ordinator of Acadia’s Minifest.  At his recent graduation, he was Theatre Studies’ University Medallist.

Acadia’s recent graduates constitute the first large group of students to complete the Acadia Advantage program, an initiative that integrates technology into the curriculum and provided students with notebook computers as part of their university experience.

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Published by: The Office of Public Affairs Last revised: June 7,  2000 URL: http://www.acadiau.ca/whatsnew/newsrelease/theatrerelease.htm