Harrogate aspiring actor thrilled to hit his Drama School fundraising target

An aspiring actor from Harrogate has achieved his fundraising target to go to a prestigious drama school – with help from Hollywood superstar Russell Crowe.

Harry Pritchard needed to raise £13,799 in order to pay the fees for LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art), where he won a place earlier this month for a year-long course.

The former Harrogate Grammar School student’s cause was given an incredible boost this week by actor Russell Crowe. The Oscar-winning actor not only shared Harry’s fundraiser, but donated £2,741 – almost enough to pay the deposit for the course by this Thursday’s deadline.

This morning Harry hit his target and tweeted his thanks

We’ve done it!! I still can’t believe it. There are so many people to thank but I have to say a massive thank you to  @russellcrowe and @TerryGeorge for everything over the past week and thank you to the 244 donors who have helped make my dream a reality.

Russell Crowe also tweeted his delight at Harry hitting his target:

Congratulations Harry.

Looking forward to hear of your success.

thank you to everyone who got involved and gave this young bloke a lift and a helping hand , you are all lovely and brilliant

Get Harry to LAMDA Drama School https://t.co/HigNzD6Hul

— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) August 29, 2020

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Russell Crowe backs Harrogate student’s drama school fundraiser

A Hollywood superstar has given his backing to a crowdfunder campaign to help an aspiring Harrogate actor take up his place at drama school.

Harry Pritchard needs to raise £13,799 in order to pay the fees for LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art), where he won a place earlier this month for a year-long course.

Now, the former Harrogate Grammar School student’s cause has been given an incredible boost by actor Russell Crowe. The Oscar-winning actor not only shared Harry’s fundraiser, but donated £2,741 – almost enough to pay the deposit for the course by this Thursday’s deadline.

Harry said:

“My mum told me to check the Go Fund Me page. I saw Russell Crowe’s name and I saw his incredibly amazing, generous donation and I was speechless for about 20 minutes.

“I couldn’t believe it. I was just in total shock and amazement and so many feelings. I grew up watching Russell Crowe – I never thought he would interact in some capacity with me and to think he is helping out and donating is just unimaginable. It’s insane.”

There’s a lot of plans and dreams being shattered these days … Will Harry succeed?

He comes from Harrogate home of @YorkshireTea and I’m hoping he’s @LUFC.
Thoughts ⁦@TerryGeorge⁩ ?
Fundraiser by Harry Pritchard : Get Harry to LAMDA Drama School https://t.co/oiSvb0ydxi

— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) August 24, 2020

The fundraiser has also been supported by Leeds entrepreneur Terry George, who told the Stray Ferret he wanted to be an actor himself as a child growing up in a poor family. He used to interview celebrities for a hobby and was given £30 by actor Dick Emery to fund elocution lessons to get him started.

Though the lessons never happened, Mr George said he always remembered how the contribution to his future made him feel and tries to do the same for others when he can. He said:

“I’m friends with Russell Crowe and he tagged me in the post. I’m a Yorkshire boy myself and had a read of what Harry was doing and thought, ‘Wow, what an inspiration, putting himself out there to get funding’.

“If Russell has done it to get worldwide appeal, I’m a Yorkshire lad and I thought, if I can put something towards it, it might help other people do that too.”

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Mr George said he hopes Yorkshire Tea and Leeds United – tagged on Twitter by Mr Crowe, who is a fan of both – will also do something to support Harry’s cause. The aspiring young actor said he was very grateful to both supporters, not just for their donations but for helping to spread the word.

Since Mr Crowe and Mr George donated to Harry’s fundraiser, the total has risen steadily and now sits at almost £7,500. Mr George said the Hollywood superstar’s donation could help in other ways, too.

“I know Russell really well and if he sees a part that would fit Harry, he would try to get him cast. That’s the type of man he is.”

In response, Harry added:

“That would be amazing. I hate to get ahead of myself, but that would be a huge, exciting, fantastic opportunity.

“It’s hugely encouraging and makes me feel like I’m not alone and I’m on a good path and people want to help me up. For something like this to be the launch into it, it doesn’t mean it’s going to shoot off on the right trajectory, but it says to me there are people who will help you – you just have to find them and put in the work.”

Harrogate student hopes to crowd-fund his acting dream

A Harrogate actor and low-income student is one step away from finally going to drama school, but there’s a big £13,800 obstacle.

Harry Pritchard, 23, has applied to more than a dozen British drama school auditions over the past four years, only to be rejected each time.

Last week, however, he was accepted onto a foundation course at the prestigious London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA) – but because of his family’s financial status, he may be denied the chance to go.

Out of the thousands of applications LAMDA received, Harry was one of just 30 to be chosen despite applying in lockdown, by tape. However his acceptance was given after the deadline had passed to apply for a bursary, which gave one of the 30 students from a low-income background full funding for the course.

Harry’s desperation led him to set up a GoFundMe page. By Thursday, August 27, Harry has to raise £2,760 to fund the course’s deposit, followed by four further monthly payments of the same amount, coming to £13,800.

Harry said:

“Going into an acting career is not an easy ride, it’s really difficult. When my parents found out I was accepted they were so happy for me but also immediately grimaced at how much it cost because they can’t afford it.

“My dad is unemployed and my mum was a teaching assistant before she had to stop because of an illness. For the past four years I have worked in pubs and temp jobs to save for auditions, which are really expensive too.”

Since leaving Harrogate Grammar School in 2015, Harry has starred on stage at the Almeida Theatre Young Company and Arcola Theatre in London. He has also joined drama organisations including the National Youth Theatre, Young & Talented, as well as appearing in numerous short films.

LAMDA is known as one of the world’s most prestigious drama schools and one of the oldest in the UK. Attending the school could remove barriers for Harry, providing opportunities unavailable otherwise. The school’s rich alumni list includes Benedict Cumberbatch, David Suchet, Jim Broadbent and The Hunger Games’ Sam Claflin.

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Harry said:

“It is so expensive and the lack of student loans available for courses like this holds back those who can’t afford it, only serving those who can. Nobody wants the acting industry to be a private space for those who can afford it.

“Unfortunately, at this moment in time, those things are true. But I won’t let that stop me from trying.”

By Friday, Harry’s GoFundMe page had raised less than half of what he needs by Thursday. Harry said his hometown makes up such a massive part of who he is and he would feel overwhelmed, humbled and “over the moon” if the Harrogate district could support him,

To donate to Harry’s GoFundMe, click here. The final payment for Harry’s tuition has to be made by December.