Long established in North London, the Mountview Academy is heading south of the river. Here Susan Elkin catches up with principal Stephen Jameson
Founded in 1945 as an amateur repertory company, Mountview Academy took its name from its local North London old style telephone exchange. By 1958 it was offering part time training.
The full time acting and other courses, for which it is now well known, date from 1958. Since then people such as Brendan Coyle, Julie Atherton, Connie Fisher, Amanda Holden, Ken Stott and many more have trained there.
Now, this respected Wood Green institution is heading south. “Yes, we’re moving to Peckham” says principal Stephen Jameson. “The deals are almost done and the enlightened Borough of Southwark – I like to call it ‘The Theatre Borough’ – is welcoming us with open arms and very favourable terms”.
“It will give us 21 studios, two theatres and all the facilities we need to do our job even better and to become central to the local community…”
The new 9,500 square metre building is destined for the long derelict brownfield site, once a wood wharf and warehouse at the top of the old canal, behind Will Alsop’s iconic library in Peckham’s main square. “It will give us 21 studios, two theatres and all the facilities we need to do our job even better and to become central to the local community as well as training performers” says Stephen.
So what does Mountview stand for? “At the heart of it all is the training we provide for performers and other theatre creators” says Stephen. “We get thousands of applications every year, our auditions for 2017 are well under way and recruitment is going well”. Stephen is particularly pleased that Mountview’s outreach partnership with 35 companies and venues, nationwide and now in its third year, is bringing in some very interesting and diverse applications. “The partners have a quota of free audition places for young people of exceptional talent and promise whom they identify from their communities. Last year there were 32 recalls and six place offers through this scheme which is reaching people who probably would not otherwise have considered applying because few people in their families and schools know anything about vocational performing arts training”.
In its new home Mountview will expand its remit. “We already run a vey affordable three nights a week foundation course,” says Stephen. In Peckham I want to start an evening academy offering courses, activities and opportunities for anyone over 6 (and up to 110!) in health, wellbeing, drama, music, dance and so on.”
Stephen is also looking forward to creating vibrant theatre for locals to come and enjoy. “We can take rep theatre back to Peckham” he says. “We stage large scale musicals with a cast of 30 talented students as well as Shakespeare, modern classics, new writing – everything. It’s a case of come and see tomorrow’s stars but also a matter of come and have a lovely evening in the theatre at a very reasonable price.”
These were the factors, Stephen thinks, which has predisposed the London Borough of Southwark in Mountview’s favour. “For a long time they’ve been seeking a company which would bring culture to Peckham and do so at a whole raft of levels. Their approach is truly visionary. We shall be there alongside, for instance, Shakespeare’s Globe, Unicorn Theatre, Menier Chocolate Factory, Southwark Playhouse and the new Bridge Theatre that Nicks Hytner and Starr are planning near Tower Bridge.”
So what’s the timescale? “Well I’m hoping very much that we’ll be in the new building by September 2018” says Stephen. “It’s a 60 month build so provided the contracts – which are almost complete now – are finalised by April, we shall be on target for that.”
Appointed Artistic Director and Principal in 2014 when Sue Robertson stood down, he had previously been Mountview’s Head of Performance. “Coming here was my first grown up job really” he jokes. “I trained as an actor at LAMDA and after 12 years on the boards I moved into directing.”
Less flippantly he says “And running Mountview is a massively grown up job too. This is my third year and I’m only just beginning to feel that I might – possibly – just know what’s going on.” Normally he directs two student shows per year. “It’s very important for someone in my position to do some hands-on work with the students and to maintain your understanding of what it’s like to stand on the shop floor. You need to keep your creativity going too.”
This year, because of the enormous amount of work arrangements for the move have generated, Stephen is directing just one Mountview show – Ben Jonson’s The Alchemist – which will also go the Shakespeare Festival at Germany’s Globe.