Buxton Opera House is pleased to announce the appointment of its new patron, the celebrated British stage and\u00a0 screen actress Janie Dee.<\/p>\n
Janie\u2019s connection to the historic venue was established in 2021 when she starred in\u00a0 Stephen Sondheim\u2019s A Little Night Music, an acclaimed co-production between Buxton Opera House and Buxton\u00a0 International Festival, directed by Paul Kerryson. The Olivier and Evening Standard Award-winner, who has\u00a0 performed at leading venues across the UK and America, joins Lady Jasmine Cavendish, who has been a dedicated patron of the theatre for over 10 years.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Janie\u2019s prolific career spans work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, and Shakespeare\u2019s\u00a0 Globe, alongside acclaimed artistic partnerships with legendary playwrights Alan Ayckbourn and Harold Pinter.\u00a0 Her extensive musical theatre credits range from Sondheim\u2019s Old Friends and Follies to Nicholas Hytner\u2019s\u00a0 celebrated 1993 production of Carousel, for which she won an Olivier Award. On screen, she has featured in high profile projects such as \u2018Official Secrets\u2019 alongside Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes and Matt Smith, \u2018Chimerica\u2019,\u00a0 Phoebe Waller-Bridge\u2019s \u2018Crashing\u2019 on Channel 4, and \u2018The Burning Girls\u2019 for Paramount+.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Speaking about her appointment, Janie Dee said:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy connection to Buxton began with a knowledge of the Buxton International Festival. Then Paul Kerryson, who I\u00a0 had worked with on Hello, Dolly! at Curve, Leicester, invited me to play Desiree Armfeldt in Stephen Sondheim\u2019s A\u00a0 Little Night Music at the Opera House. What I hadn\u2019t bargained for was that I would fall totally in love with the\u00a0 theatre and the place, the people, and the work I saw going on there. I\u2019m now delighted to become a Patron of this\u00a0 beautiful and historic theatre.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Paul Kerryson, CEO of Buxton Opera House, commented:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been my privilege to direct Janie as Anna in The King and I, Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly! both at Curve, Leicester, and, more recently, Desiree Armfeldt in Sondheim\u2019s A Little Night Music here at Buxton Opera House. Over\u00a0 the years, I have come to know Janie as a true supporter of the arts and the profound effect they have on the\u00a0<\/p>\n
community, especially young people. Janie is also an advocate of environmental issues and how we can make the\u00a0 world a safer healthier space.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHer appointment marks another wonderful addition to this exciting new chapter for Buxton Opera House as we continue to build inspiring opportunities with and for our audiences, spark creativity, and support lifelong\u00a0 learning, helping people of all ages discover new skills, passions, and confidence. Janie\u2019s love for Buxton Opera\u00a0 House and her wealth of industry experience will undoubtedly help inspire local audiences, participants, and the\u00a0 next generation of theatre-makers.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Professor Judy Simons, Chair of the Board, added:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are thrilled that the multi-talented Janie Dee has agreed to become our Patron. Janie is a true star who\u00a0 inspires audiences and supporters of all ages with a love of theatre. It\u2019s a real privilege to welcome her to Buxton\u00a0 Opera House.\u201d<\/p>\n