A pioneer of touring outdoor theatre in Australia, Seaholme’s Glenn Elston was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the performing arts.
His productions of Shakespeare and The Wind in the Willows have been seen by more than a million people in Australia and are now performed in London’s Kew Gardens.
The producer and artistic director of the Australian Shakespeare Company also established the Young Bards education program to make theatre accessible for children.
Mr Elston said theatre was crucial for personal development and self reflection, citing a Warren Buffett documentary as an example.
“He said the thing I’m most proud of is that I made myself go and do a speech and drama course, which I completed and it changed my life.
“I can’t think of a better example of how one man who goes on to be the richest man in the world – also the biggest philanthropist in the world – gives tribute to the value of culture through theatre, through participating in communicating with other people.”
