Kevin Spacey, star of films including American Beauty, and Artistic Director of London’s Old Vic Theatre, has been named Cameron Mackintosh Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre at St Catherine’s. He will take on the role at the start of the new academic year in October 2008.
The role of the Visiting Professor involves, as a minimum, delivering a seminar, workshop or lecture to interested students each term.
The Professorship was established over fifteen years ago through a grant from the Mackintosh Foundation, with the aim of promoting contemporary theatre within the University. Previous holders of the post have included Patrick Stewart, Stephen Sondheim and Sir Tim Rice.
Spacey said of his new role, "It really is an honour for me to have been invited to follow such illustrious names and take up this role at Oxford. The university is steeped in tradition and has a great heritage in the arts and I look forward to working with the students and staff."
