THE FOUNDERS
LIAM GARTLAND-
FOUNDER & PRODUCER
Liam is a Northern lad who went to fulfil his dreams in the Big Smoke. After training for two years at Pendleton School of Theatre, he went on to further his training at The Guildford School of Acting, receiving a BA(Hons) in Musical Theatre. Liam was set out to graduate from GSA early and begin his journey as a performer in Sasha Regan’s All Male HMS Pinafore. Sadly, due to COVID-19, this was postponed. However, Liam’s friends know that he doesn’t stop creating and is always intrigued to see what life would be like on the other side of the table. So this brings him to becomming the Founder and Producer of The Grad Fest, a company which started out as a small virtual festival and in under 6 weeks took off to become something rather successful.
Liam is a firm believer that all graduates should have the privilege to continue in their craft and have a chance to network with other graduates heading into the industry and he will ensure The Grad Fest WILL make that happen.
For those who need to contact Liam he will often be found in a wine bar with a selection of cheese by his side.
View Liam's spotlight here.
Liam's representation.
ALICE CROFT-
CO-FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Alice was born and raised in a very small village in Lincolnshire. Let's just say theatre wasn't a partucularly popular scene in this county. From a very young age, she had always enjoyed producing dance shows in her living room and forcing her family and friends to watch. She watched movie musicals from morning til night, so it was clear to her parents, this was where her life was heading.
She began performing with The New English Contemporary Ballet when she was 10, but she decided to focus on her studies at school, with the desire to be a chemical engineer. This didn't last long.
At 17, she joined the Lincoln Academy of Theatre Arts where her passion really took off. Eventually, she found herself auditioning for theatre schools and it turned out ArtsEd was the place for her (the only school that offered her a place). Here, she had a roller-coaster of a time, but it made her the performer and business woman that she is today. Her undeniable drive for creating opportunities, not only for herself, but for her fellow grads, has helped her get to where she is today.
She currently adores discovering new writing, and is a comedy addict. She lives by the phrase "if you don't laugh, you'll cry" (she is famously known at ArtsEd as a crier, however), and she is a firm believer than EVERYTHING happens for a reason.
View Alice's spotlight here.
Alice's representation.
ALICE GOLD-
FESTIVAL ASSOCIATE
Alice Gold is a current MFA Musical Theatre student at the Guildford School of Acting, and has been stage struck since she saw a stage. She attended the University of St Andrews to read Art History and English, although she spent more time reading scripts and wearing ridiculous costumes in the town’s theatres. After playing Eliza Doolittle in ‘My Fair Lady’, she applied to an MT course, thinking that perhaps it was the right place for her to be. GSA agreed, and now she has spent an alarming amount of time in a leotard and pink tights heaving herself up from a plié. She has also been lucky to continue her passion for plays throughout her course, and aims to work across musicals, plays, and television.
She is delighted to be working with The Grad Fest, and can’t wait to continue meeting exciting new people, and growing the festival into everybody’s go-to for fresh talent.
When not onstage, Alice enjoys reading, life drawing, and offering her prosecco-drinking services at any good party.
View Alice's website here.
