Theatre group Ensemble ’84 which counts BA (Hons) Acting for Stage & Screen and MA Directing & Theatre Making alumni Stephen Lister as a part of its cast, won three awards at this year’s North East Culture awards. Ensemble ’84 was formed in 2024 by Artistic Director Mark Dornford-May. Inspired by Mark’s work with Isango Ensemble, a Theatre company rooted within the Townships of Cape Town (South Africa). From the groups home in Horden, County Durham they offer a “platform of hope, expression and positive change, amplifying unheard voices and harnessing untapped potential within our communities.” The theatre company champions “theatre for, with and by the diverse communities of County Durham to share with audiences on a global stage.”

Stephen, graduated from our acting degree programme in 2023 – winning The Actor of the Year Award – and completed his MA in Theatre Making and Directing in 2024, a period that he says he “enjoyed and cherished”, and auditioned for the group shortly after. Stephen reflects “we went through an audition process and 15 actors from County Durham were selected. From October 2024 to April 2025, we went through an intense training process which also allowed the actors to be paid. We make Theatre for, with and by the diverse communities of County Durham to share with audiences on a global stage.” He added “my time at NSOA gave me the vital skills and techniques that I’ve been able to develop further with Ensemble 84.”

Speaking of Ensemble ’84’s triple award win at this year’s North East Culture Awards including Performance of the Year and Newcomer of the Year awards the 26 year-old from Gilesgate Durham, said “all of us at Ensemble 84 are very proud to win three awards at the North East Culture Awards which included Newcomer of the Year (which was in partnership of The Northern  School of Art), The Arts Council England Award and Performance of the Year for Mother Courage and her Children, originally written by Bertolt Brecht and adapted by Lee Hall, in collaboration with our sister company Isango Ensemble. To win one award in our first year as professional actors would have been amazing but to win all three blew us all away, we were overwhelmed and humbled as well as being totally honoured and were all still buzzing days after.”

He reflected on how he hopes the award will positively impact his community in Durham, “as a Horden based Theatre group, we hope these awards can bring more attention to Horden, a mining village with a great community that has been deeply impacted by the closure of the Pits in 1984.”

When asked what his advice is to students that will be starting out in the industry he said “the advice I would give is to be committed. It’s a very competitive business with many lows as highs, so prepare yourself to keep going! Also be ready to go outside your comfort zone and definitely learn your lines.”

For any information on future Ensemble 84 productions head to Ensemble ’84 on Facebook or @Ensemble84 on Instagram.

If you are interested in a career in acting make sure you check out our BA (Hons) Acting for Stage & Screen degree page here. If you are post degree and looking to further your research and skill-set in theatre making check out our MA Directing and Theatre Making programme here.