Patron: Simon Callow, CBE

‘All sorts of marvellous things can be done with this magnificent building, ranging from the epic to the intimate, as long as its essential and unique character is preserved, because that’s why we love it so.’

Simon Callow was born in Streatham and saw his first show ever at the Streatham Hill Theatre.  He studied at Queen’s University, Belfast, before training as an actor at the Drama Centre in London.  He joined the National Theatre in 1979, where he created the role of Mozart in Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus.  He is well-known for his TV and film appearances which include A Chance in a Million, A Room With A View, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Shakespeare in Love, Phantom of the Opera and Outlander.  His many one-man shows include The  Importance of being Oscar, Tuesday’s at Tesco’s, The Mystery of Charles Dickens, Being Shakespeare and A Christmas Carol and he has directed productions for the West End, RSC, National Theatre and Old Vic.  As a writer, he has published biographies of Oscar Wilde, Charles Laughton, Orson Welles, Dickens and Wagner, alongside a number of autobiographical books.  2019 saw the publication of his most recent book, London’s Great Theatres.  Music is his other great passion, and he has made many appearances with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra and the London Mozart Players.