Curve leaders receive honorary doctorates of fine arts from De Montfort University

Curve CEO Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster have received honorary Doctorates of Fine Arts from De Montfort University, Leicester (DMU).

Chris and Nikolai were presented with their PhD degrees live on the Curve stage in front of hundreds of students and their families who attended DMU’s annual summer graduation ceremony.

DMU Board Chair and former Curve Trustee Chair, Ian Squires, said:

“It is no exaggeration to say that Chris Stafford and Nikolai Foster ‘invented’ Curve as we know it today. Chris and Nikolai have made theatre the melting pot of this art form.

“In the hands of Chris and Nikolai, theatre has become an instrument that they play with great skill, inventiveness and verve.

“I pay tribute to you.”

Chris and Nikolai’s partnership as CEO and Artistic Director began in 2015. Since then they have overseen countless acclaimed productions at the theatre’s Leicester home, in the West End and on national and international tours including A CHORUS LINE, BILLY ELLIOT, THE WIZARD OF OZ, MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE and many more.

While at Curve they also developed a close working relationship with DMU, ​​overseeing co-productions between Curve and DMU’s performing arts, dance and drama students, giving students a unique opportunity to work and perform in a world-class professional theatre environment.

After receiving their diplomas, newly appointed Dr. Chris Stafford and Dr. Nikolai Foster congratulated the students, saying:

“It is an honour to receive Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degrees today, alongside the many wonderful DMU students whom we congratulate on their achievements. We are honoured to have shared this special day with them and witnessed such a wonderful celebration of their amazing achievements.

“DMU and its students make a huge contribution to our city and we are proud to have had a close working relationship with the university for many years. To receive this recognition on stage here at Curve – our home – from an organisation we greatly admire means a lot to us both.

“We thank the conference committee and the DMU board again for this recognition.”

For more information about Curve, visit www.curveonline.co.uk.

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