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THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH VISITS ATG ENTERTAINMENT’S THE AMBASSADORS WOKING

27th November 2024

On Tuesday 26^th November, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh attended The Ambassadors Woking, in a special visit celebrating the borough’s vibrant arts, culture, and community initiatives. Hosted by Venue Director Mr. John-Jackson Almond FRSA, the visit highlighted the importance of The Ambassadors as a key hub for both the arts and community engagements, alongside the local organisations making a meaningful impact on the wellbeing of Woking and the surrounding areas.

The Duke was warmly received by Mr. Mark Tantam, Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey, alongside The Ambassadors’ leadership team, including Rachel Moore (Head of Operations), Louise Lyne (Head of Sales, Marketing and Development), and Mike Wright (Head of Technical and Building Services).

The visit began with a discussion in The Ambassador Lounge, where representatives from local charities and organisations shared insights into their work. Participants included Ms Rebecca Jesperson (Founder and Director of The Lighthouse Charity), Mr Neil Wheeler (Managing Director of Halow Project), Ms Elaine McGinty (Director of Phoenix Cultural Centre), Ms Hayley Newton (CEO of Italia Conti), and Mr Shahid Azeem DL (representing the local Asian community). His Royal Highness also heard about the Surrey Cultural Partnership from Mr. Tantam and Mrs Mary Creswell, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, highlighting ongoing efforts to foster cultural development in the area.

Additionally, His Royal Highness discussed ATG Entertainment’s National Creative Learning and Community Partnership initiatives and was presented with a copy of its annual report. In the UK alone, ATG Entertainment’s Creative Learning programmes have engaged 78,379 individual participants, delivered 218 live performances to 75,720 audience members, and supported 1,002 mentored placements or internships.

Creative Learning & Community Partnerships Annual Review 2024: CLCP Annual Review 2024 by ATG Tickets – Issuu

In the 1321-seater New Victoria Theatre auditorium, The Duke met Gordon and Ann Parris, co-founders of the Children with Special Needs Foundation, who generously purchase every seat for the opening performance of the annual pantomime, ensuring children with special needs and their families enjoy a magical evening at the theatre.

His Royal Highness also spoke with actress Nina Wadia OBE, who shared insights into her current production, NOW That’s What I Call A Musical, while highlighting the technical build taking place on stage.

At The Piano Bar, The Duke met Mr. Neil Marcus, Project Co-Director alongside Mr. Almond, of the newly established Surrey Musical Theatre Development Programme, His Royal Highness enjoyed live performances of three brand-new songs by Philip Glassborow and Tamiko Dooley, inspired by stories from Woking and Surrey, and showcasing the region’s creative talent. The songs were performed by musical theatre legends Janie Dee and Caroline Sheen.

The visit continued to Woking’s community hub, the Rhoda McGaw Theatre, where students from Italia Conti – one of the UK’s oldest theatre arts training schools and regular performers at the venue – showcased their talents through musical theatre, dance, and acting. His Royal Highness then joined the students on stage to discuss their experiences and aspirations.

A stop at the technical desk offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse at sound and lighting operations, where Technical Apprentice Leah Dent demonstrated the controls and on-stage effects – before His Royal Highness got involved himself.

The Duke also met participants from Halow Project, a charity empowering young adults with learning disabilities and autism to lead purposeful lives. The meeting took place inside the Red Lounge, where the organisation regularly hosts lessons and workshops. His Royal Highness then visited Screen 7 at Nova Cinema to engage with Ukrainian refugees supported by The Lighthouse.

The visit concluded with lunch in The Ambassador Lounge, where The Duke of Edinburgh joined a discussion on the importance of a cultural strategy for Woking and the need for greater investment in local arts and culture.

Mr. Almond, Venue Director, reflected on the day:

“His Royal Highness’s visit was an incredible opportunity to highlight the vital role The Ambassadors plays in enriching the lives of our community, as well as to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary work of local charities and cultural organisations. The visit underscores the importance of fostering collaboration and investment in arts and culture for future generations – something that ATG Entertainment is very proud to support across our venues.”

This special visit underscored The Ambassadors’ significance as a cultural and community hub, elevating its standing with an official royal endorsement set to inspire and invigorate Woking’s arts and culture for years to come.