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South Wales Guardian
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Sam Mendes, Adrian Lester and James Nesbitt honoured by Paul McCartney at LIPA
The ceremony, which took place on Tuesday at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, saw The Beatles bass player award the trio a companionship for 'outstanding achievement and contribution to student learning', as he also honoured indie band The Wombats, who met while studying at the LIPA. The band, made up of Matthew Murphy, Tord Overland Knudsen and Dan Haggis, also saw their manager Simon Bobbett receive a companionship. Sir Sam, who is currently planning a set of four individual but interconnected films based on the lives of each of the members of The Beatles, received his companionship via video link as he could not make the ceremony. Lester starred in the 2021 Broadway production of The Lehman Trilogy, directed by Sir Sam, with his role seeing him nominated for a Tony Award, and the actor has also appeared in BBC series Hustle, 2004 film The Day After Tomorrow and US TV series The Rook. Others being honoured by Sir Paul were director Gay Linvill, who has directed episodes of The Big Bang Theory, and Go Live Theatre chief executive and arts accessibility campaigner Sita McIntosh. The LIPA's principal and chief executive Professor Sean McNamara said: 'Today is a celebration of creativity, collaboration and possibility. 'As artists, innovators, and leaders who will inspire others through their work, the graduating class of 2025 possesses the skills, the vision and the confidence to influence culture and the world around them. 'We are immensely proud of them and look forward to seeing the future they create.' The LIPA was founded by Sir Paul and Mark Featherstone-Witty in 1996, on the site of the old Liverpool Institute – the former school of both Sir Paul and Beatles bandmate George Harrison, and the adjacent Liverpool Art College once attended by John Lennon. This year's graduation ceremony celebrated the achievements of around 420 graduating students from more than 30 countries, including Colombia, Hong Kong and India.


North Wales Chronicle
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
James Nesbitt ‘honoured' to accept LIPA companionship from Paul McCartney
The 60-year-old, who starred in ITV drama Cold Feet, praised the work of students at the institute, as he was honoured alongside James Bond director Sir Sam Mendes, actor Adrian Lester and indie band The Wombats, who were formed at LIPA. Nesbitt said at the ceremony: 'I'm so honoured to accept this award from LIPA. 'When I visited a few months ago to speak to a group of students I was immediately struck by just what an extraordinary seat of learning this is, home to inspirational teachers and magnificent facilities out of which clearly pours creativity, innovation, passion, authenticity, collaboration and joy. 'After my talk I was lucky enough to see a short scene from a new take on Oklahoma. It was honestly astonishing, breathtaking and, somehow, courageous.' The Northern Ireland-born actor also starred as civil rights activist Ivan Cooper in the film Bloody Sunday (2002), and has also appeared in The Missing, Occupation and Murphy's Law. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his lead role in Steven Moffat's Jekyll, portrayed Bofur in The Hobbit trilogy, and is a Unicef ambassador. Nesbitt was awarded an OBE in 2016 in recognition of his services to drama and to the community in Northern Ireland. Others being honoured by Sir Paul were director Gay Linvill, who has directed episodes of The Big Bang Theory, and Go Live Theatre chief executive and arts accessibility campaigner Sita McIntosh. The LIPA was founded by Sir Paul and Mark Featherstone-Witty in 1996, on the site of the old Liverpool Institute – the former school of both Sir Paul and Beatles bandmate George Harrison, and the adjacent Liverpool Art College, once attended by John Lennon. This year's graduation ceremony celebrated the achievements of around 420 graduating students from more than 30 countries, including Colombia, Hong Kong and India.


South Wales Guardian
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
James Nesbitt ‘honoured' to accept LIPA companionship from Paul McCartney
The 60-year-old, who starred in ITV drama Cold Feet, praised the work of students at the institute, as he was honoured alongside James Bond director Sir Sam Mendes, actor Adrian Lester and indie band The Wombats, who were formed at LIPA. Nesbitt said at the ceremony: 'I'm so honoured to accept this award from LIPA. 'When I visited a few months ago to speak to a group of students I was immediately struck by just what an extraordinary seat of learning this is, home to inspirational teachers and magnificent facilities out of which clearly pours creativity, innovation, passion, authenticity, collaboration and joy. 'After my talk I was lucky enough to see a short scene from a new take on Oklahoma. It was honestly astonishing, breathtaking and, somehow, courageous.' The Northern Ireland-born actor also starred as civil rights activist Ivan Cooper in the film Bloody Sunday (2002), and has also appeared in The Missing, Occupation and Murphy's Law. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his lead role in Steven Moffat's Jekyll, portrayed Bofur in The Hobbit trilogy, and is a Unicef ambassador. Nesbitt was awarded an OBE in 2016 in recognition of his services to drama and to the community in Northern Ireland. Others being honoured by Sir Paul were director Gay Linvill, who has directed episodes of The Big Bang Theory, and Go Live Theatre chief executive and arts accessibility campaigner Sita McIntosh. The LIPA was founded by Sir Paul and Mark Featherstone-Witty in 1996, on the site of the old Liverpool Institute – the former school of both Sir Paul and Beatles bandmate George Harrison, and the adjacent Liverpool Art College, once attended by John Lennon. This year's graduation ceremony celebrated the achievements of around 420 graduating students from more than 30 countries, including Colombia, Hong Kong and India.


Glasgow Times
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
James Nesbitt ‘honoured' to accept LIPA companionship from Paul McCartney
The 60-year-old, who starred in ITV drama Cold Feet, praised the work of students at the institute, as he was honoured alongside James Bond director Sir Sam Mendes, actor Adrian Lester and indie band The Wombats, who were formed at LIPA. Nesbitt said at the ceremony: 'I'm so honoured to accept this award from LIPA. Sir Paul McCartney joined his Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) companions for 2025 (Peter Byrne/PA) 'When I visited a few months ago to speak to a group of students I was immediately struck by just what an extraordinary seat of learning this is, home to inspirational teachers and magnificent facilities out of which clearly pours creativity, innovation, passion, authenticity, collaboration and joy. 'After my talk I was lucky enough to see a short scene from a new take on Oklahoma. It was honestly astonishing, breathtaking and, somehow, courageous.' The Northern Ireland-born actor also starred as civil rights activist Ivan Cooper in the film Bloody Sunday (2002), and has also appeared in The Missing, Occupation and Murphy's Law. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his lead role in Steven Moffat's Jekyll, portrayed Bofur in The Hobbit trilogy, and is a Unicef ambassador. The event was held at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (Peter Byrne/PA) Nesbitt was awarded an OBE in 2016 in recognition of his services to drama and to the community in Northern Ireland. Others being honoured by Sir Paul were director Gay Linvill, who has directed episodes of The Big Bang Theory, and Go Live Theatre chief executive and arts accessibility campaigner Sita McIntosh. The LIPA was founded by Sir Paul and Mark Featherstone-Witty in 1996, on the site of the old Liverpool Institute – the former school of both Sir Paul and Beatles bandmate George Harrison, and the adjacent Liverpool Art College, once attended by John Lennon. This year's graduation ceremony celebrated the achievements of around 420 graduating students from more than 30 countries, including Colombia, Hong Kong and India.

Western Telegraph
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Western Telegraph
James Nesbitt ‘honoured' to accept LIPA companionship from Paul McCartney
The 60-year-old, who starred in ITV drama Cold Feet, praised the work of students at the institute, as he was honoured alongside James Bond director Sir Sam Mendes, actor Adrian Lester and indie band The Wombats, who were formed at LIPA. Nesbitt said at the ceremony: 'I'm so honoured to accept this award from LIPA. Sir Paul McCartney joined his Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) companions for 2025 (Peter Byrne/PA) 'When I visited a few months ago to speak to a group of students I was immediately struck by just what an extraordinary seat of learning this is, home to inspirational teachers and magnificent facilities out of which clearly pours creativity, innovation, passion, authenticity, collaboration and joy. 'After my talk I was lucky enough to see a short scene from a new take on Oklahoma. It was honestly astonishing, breathtaking and, somehow, courageous.' The Northern Ireland-born actor also starred as civil rights activist Ivan Cooper in the film Bloody Sunday (2002), and has also appeared in The Missing, Occupation and Murphy's Law. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his lead role in Steven Moffat's Jekyll, portrayed Bofur in The Hobbit trilogy, and is a Unicef ambassador. The event was held at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (Peter Byrne/PA) Nesbitt was awarded an OBE in 2016 in recognition of his services to drama and to the community in Northern Ireland. Others being honoured by Sir Paul were director Gay Linvill, who has directed episodes of The Big Bang Theory, and Go Live Theatre chief executive and arts accessibility campaigner Sita McIntosh. The LIPA was founded by Sir Paul and Mark Featherstone-Witty in 1996, on the site of the old Liverpool Institute – the former school of both Sir Paul and Beatles bandmate George Harrison, and the adjacent Liverpool Art College, once attended by John Lennon. This year's graduation ceremony celebrated the achievements of around 420 graduating students from more than 30 countries, including Colombia, Hong Kong and India.