Young Acting Talent To Get a Boost At ‘Meet The Media’ Event

Press Club events director Llewela Bailey with young Playbox members (left to right) Harriet Kennedy, Sam Johnson, Lydia Harper, who are holding some of the memorabilia to be auctioned at the ‘Meet the Media’ event on 7 September.

29 July 2009

Birmingham Press Club is to hold another of its popular ‘Meet the Media’ networking events this month, a feature of which will be a special auction to help young acting talent.

The ‘Meet the Media’ event – which aims to bring together those working in the region’s media with the local business community – will be held on Monday 7 September at the Hyatt, in Birmingham city centre.

One of the highlights of the evening will be an auction in aid of Playbox Theatre Company, Warwick, which fosters the skills and talents of young people who want to work in theatre, film and television.

Playbox, founded in 1986, is based at the Dream Factory complex in Warwick.

The auction will feature various theatrical memorabilia, including various items signed by Sir Ben Kingsley and his pass to the Oscars.

Other memorabilia up for auction includes photos of pianist/singer Jamie Cullum and Sir Ian McKellan, a ‘Calendar Girls’ flyer signed by stars from the current London stage show, and the cover of a script from a new film, ‘Black Death’, signed by its star, ‘Sharpe’ actor Sean Bean.

As well as the auction, the ‘Meet the Media‘ event will see the unveiling of the Press Club’s brand new web site.

Press Club chairman John Lamb said that the event promised to be a lively and entertaining affair, and would be a diversion from the doom and gloom currently affecting the media sector.

“This is intended to be a light-hearted start to the week,  he said. “We’ve staged ‘Meet the Media‘ events before, of course, and they have proved very popular – I’m sure this one will be no exception. There will be free drinks and nibbles.

“As well as the networking, we shall be holding the auction for Playbox, which does a great job of encouraging young people who have creative talent and might want to set out on a career in the performing arts.

“We’ll also be unveiling our new web site, which will help improve the way the Press Club communicates with its ever growing membership base.