GradEx 2025 opens with a celebration of Guildhall students and staff

Guildhall School’s Production Arts Graduate Exhibition GradEx opens to the public tomorrow, showcasing the outstanding work of final-year students on the BA (Hons) Production Arts and BA (Hons) Digital Design & Production programmes. 

GradEx gives visitors the chance to see up close a range of props, scenery, costumes, lighting, sound and video designs created for the School’s public operas, dramas, musicals and external projects, as well as portfolios and personal projects. Running from 17 June – 1 July, it forms part of Making It Festival 2025 – an annual celebration of new, original work created by Guildhall students. 

Last week, the School hosted professionals from across the creative industries at a Private View ahead of the Exhibition’s public opening, introducing them to the graduating students and celebrating their exceptional work as they prepare to enter the industry in a few weeks’ time.  

The evening also provided an opportunity to recognise several outstanding student and staff contributions to the School. 

The Hazel Sharples Memorial Prize for 2025 was awarded to Lauren Jones, a final-year student on the Design Realisation pathway of the BA (Hons) Production Arts programme.  

The prize was set up in 1999 by friends and colleagues of Hazel Sharples, a Stage Manager and Arts Officer who passed away suddenly in 1995. During her career Hazel worked for the Royal Opera House and the National Theatre, chaired the Board of the Warehouse Theatre, Croydon and was a local government Arts Officer for several Boroughs. 

The prize is awarded to an outstanding Guildhall School third-year Production Arts student and is unique amongst the School’s student prizes in that the winner is voted for by their peers. The Hazel Sharples Memorial Prize is generously supported by Vivienne Littlechild, former Chair of the Guildhall’s Board of Governors. 

On receiving the Hazel Sharples Memorial Prize, Lauren Jones said: “It’s a huge honour to receive this award - I’ve enjoyed learning about Hazel and her amazing legacy; it also feels very special to have been nominated for the award by my incredible peers on the Production Arts course. I’m very grateful and it feels like the perfect ending to my time here at Guildhall.  

I’ve always tried to get the most out of my studies which has led me to work on productions and extracurricular projects, and to collaborate with different departments at the School. At points, our schedule was challenging - but I always endeavoured to make sure my team and the wider company had an enjoyable time, and to bring a bit of levity and humour to our work. I have felt supported throughout my time here and hope I’ve been able to reciprocate that for other students.” 

The School was also delighted to confer Fellowships on Lisa Evans, Production Arts and Drama Administration Officer (Admissions), and Gill Allen, Programme Leader of the BA (Hons) Production Arts programme until 2023. The Fellowship is Guildhall School’s highest accolade and recognises outstanding achievement or service to Guildhall by past and present members of staff, members of the board and former students. 

Reading the introductory citations for both Fellowships, Principal Professor Jonathan Vaughan noted the exceptional service Lisa Evans has given to the School since joining in 2002, highlighting her unparalleled commitment to the students of the Acting and Production Arts programmes, boundless enthusiasm, and the deep respect she has earned from both students and staff during her Guildhall career. Professor Vaughan praised Gill Allen for the knowledge, attention to detail and passion for the technical theatre industry she brought across her nine years at the School, and commented that she combined hard work with humour, grace and a fierce devotion to the students. 

GradEx: Production Arts Graduate Exhibition 2025 is open at select times from 17 June – 1 July, taking place in the Silk Street Theatre as part of Making It Festival 2025. Admission is free, with no tickets required.  

Find out more about studying Production Arts at Guildhall School. 

^{Photography (c) David Monteith-Hodge}