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(L to R) Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Zoë Wanamaker, Anne Mensah, Jenny Sealey, Ben Okri

Photo: Lovelight Photography, Jillian Edelstein, Netflix, Becky Bailey Matt Bray

Changing Faces

Central School names Vice Presidents

Arts Professional
2 min read

Five Vice Presidents have been confirmed at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (CSSD).

They include British space scientist and science educator Dr MAGGIE ADERIN-POCOCK, who is also an author, a BAFTA nominated TV presenter and co-hosts the world’s longest-running science television programme, The Sky at Night.

“The work that [CSSD does] in outreach and fair access and Equality and Diversity is game changing and very much coincides with the work that I try to do, raising aspirations for all our kids,” Aderin-Pocock said. 

Netflix UK's Vice President of Content and former CSSD Governor ANNE MENSAH and Booker Prize winning poet and novelist BEN OKRI have also been named as CSSD Vice Presidents.

“I hope my presence contributes to strengthening an important cultural institution and empowering the creative imagination,” Okri commented.

They are joined by Artistic Director of Graeae and disability rights activist JENNY SEALEY, while Olivier Award winning actor ZOË WANAMAKER has confirmed she is continuing in post.

Graduating from CSSD in 1970, Wanamaker said she “had the freedom to discover what it meant to be an ‘actor’, to discover who I was and to develop the ‘equipment’ that was needed to support my career.”

“I’m very pleased and honoured to continue my relationship with Central now, joining esteemed company as one of the school's Vice Presidents,” she added.

The annoucements follow the recent appointment of SONIA FRIEDMAN OBE as CSSD President.

JOHN WILLIS, Chair of Central’s governing body said: “We are delighted that such a brilliant and diverse group have agreed to become our Vice Presidents. Their commitment speaks volumes for Central’s reputation for innovation.

“This is a bold collection of wide-ranging talent that embraces not only different corners of the arts but science as well. It is a ministry of all talents, connecting together different strands of creativity and learning for the benefit of all our students.”