Our Patrons
BSPA are thrilled and honoured to announce our patrons. These two hugely talented artists are masters of their professions and inspirational figures in the world of Performing Arts.
Janie Dee
Janie is an award-winning British actress, singer and musical theatre performer, characterised by her extraordinary versatility in acclaimed work on stage, film, television and radio. Her career embraces everything from Shakespeare at the Royal Shakespeare Company and The Globe, to revivals of classic plays at the Bath Festival, directed by Sir Peter Hall, acclaimed West End performances in modern dramas and comedies, and leading roles in classic musicals, in the West End and major regional theatres. Janie is also a passionate champion of new writing, both plays and musical theatre. In addition, she regularly performs her own witty and sophisticated cabaret at leading venues such as Crazy Coqs, The Hippodrome, The Pheasantry and the St James Studio and she was featured in the 'Divas at the Donmar' season.
Janie has worked closely with living playwrights, particularly Alan Ayckbourn, Michael Frayn and the late Harold Pinter in numerous productions and has become a renowned interpreter of their work. In recent years, she has also worked with the next generation of outstanding contemporary playwrights, including Lucy Kirkwood, whose acclaimed new play 'NSFW' was premiered at The Royal Court in 2012 and for which Janie received her fourth Olivier Award nomination, this time as Best Supporting Actress in a Play, for her mesmerising performance as glossy womens' magazine editor, Miranda.
Janie is increasingly expanding her work in film and television and has made three films this year, including feature films 'Wild', set in Ireland, written and directed by Vivienne Decourcy and 'The Trouble With Dot and Harry', opposite Neil Morrissey, written and directed by Sundance Festival Grand Prize-winner, Gary Walkow.Janie won the three most prestigious awards in British Theatre; the Olivier Award, the Evening Standard Award and Critics Circle Awards for Best Actress in a Play, as well as the Obie and Theatre World Best Newcomer Award in New York, for her hilarious and heartbreaking performance as Jacie Triplethree in Alan Ayckbourn's 'Comic Potential'.She has also won the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her performance as Carrie Pipperidge in Nicholas Hytner's acclaimed production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's 'Carousel' at the National Theatre and most recently she has won the TMA UK Theatre Award 2013 for Best Performance in a Musical for her performance as Dolly Levi in 'Hello, Dolly!' at the Curve, Leicester.
Future plans include the London premiere of Stephen Sondheim's 'Putting It Together' at the St James Theatre and a revival of Noel Coward's classic 'Blithe Spirit' at the Gielgud Theatre, starring the legendary Angela Lansbury.
Matt Flint
Born in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Matt began dancing at the age of 12 and after quickly discovering his passion he put all his focus into becoming as versatile a dancer as possible. He went on to train for 3 years at Laine Theatre Arts and has since then choreographed and danced internationally, ranging from musicals and television to dance companies and feature films.
When he is not performing, Matt loves to work with young people. For the last 10 years he has had regular teaching posts at some of Lodon'ss top Performing Arts Colleges and he travels the UK and Europe providing Masterclasses to students of all ages with his company, Happy Feet Productions, of which he is Creative Director.
Creating new material for students led Matt to discover a love for choreography. He now choreographs for Film, TV and Theatre. Recent credits include All Stars 3D (Vertigo Films) and Cinderella, So You Think You Can Dance (FOX), Strictly Come Dancing & Let's Dance For Comic Relief (BBC). He is the Co-Creator of Can You Dance? An annual competition aimed at finding the UK's best dance talent.
On the side, Matt works as a presenter. Most recently hosting Olympic Men's Football (Ricoh Arena) and Rhythmic Gymnastics (Wembley Arena) both for London 2012.
Also in 2011, Matt won Series 2 of So You Think You Can Dance (BBC) in which he was crowned Britain's favorite dancer.