Film Festival Producer at the National Media Museum, talented actor and founder member of Paper Zoo Theatre Company, Ben Eagle studied Theatre Studies, English Literature, and Performing Arts at Bradford College.
“During sixth form I spent three months working every Saturday at Tesco’s stacking flour. I went home very white and very depressed! I absolutely hated it and realised that I had to do something I enjoyed. On one of my many visits to the Alhambra I envied the staff being paid to ‘watch the show’ so I applied to work front of house at Bradford Theatres. It was the best job I could have imagined and it was with a heavy heart that I handed my resignation in after nine years of seeing a variety of plays, musicals, ballet, comedy, opera and stand-up. It was lots of fun and really set alight my passion for acting.
My other love was film so I found another part-time job at the National Museum of Photography Film & Television, now the National Media Museum. In my spare time I went to Bradford College to study for AS Levels in English Literature and Theatre Studies.
"I always showed an interest in film so I was asked by the Film Department if I wanted to help out on the film festivals. In 2005 I started as Festival Administration Assistant and gradually took more responsibility so that by 2006 I was co-ordinating all the festivals: the Bradford International Film Festival; the Fantastic Films Weekend; Bite the Mango and the Bradford Animation Festival.”
Ben had done some performing at school and later with the Bradford Catholic Players and Actors Community Theatre, but was keen to learn more, so in September 2005 he enrolled on an evening class to do the National Award in Acting, which was to change his life.
“Damien O’Keeffe was and still is an inspiration. His teaching was second to none and at the end of the year Dave Peel, Martin Knowles and I had bonded and didn’t want to stop working with each other. Together with Damien and some of the other staff and students of Bradford College we formed Paper Zoo Theatre Company. September 2010 marks our fifth anniversary and in five years we have staged 13 productions including taking a show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2008 –something we’re repeating in 2010. We have received fantastic critique and built a real following. After a successful production of George Orwell’s 1984, featuring John Hurt, in June 2009 at the National Media Museum and subsequent tour, Paper Zoo is getting a reputation for providing quality theatre.”
Ben was recently described in Bradford’s Telegraph and Argus as “Bradford’s busiest actor”, due to his connections with various theatre companies in the area. His previous roles have varied from Napoleon in Animal Farm to Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof to the Beast in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at the Halifax Victoria in April 2010 – a role he will reprise at the Bradford Alhambra in November 2010.
As Film Festival Producer at the National Media Museum Ben has a job that film buffs everywhere would dream of. He has attended the Cannes Film Festival twice and the Animation Festival in Annecy; he gets to meet top film stars and movie producers and was recently discussing his acting ambitions with Kenneth Branagh.
“I have progressed purely on enthusiasm, passion, and commitment. Stage and film share a similar sort of knowledge and culture. Becoming a professional actor is now my dream but in the meantime I have a job that I love.”
Please note that the information and images have been provided by Bradford College. Full detail and information of 175 Heroes can be found at 175heroes.org.uk
