The Earl of Grantham Goes to Washington

 
He was “Lord Grantham”, the patriarch of the Downton Abbey household, and he charmed us as “Mr. Brown” in Paddington. This spring, award-winning actor, Hugh Bonneville (Corpus Christi 1982), collaborating with fellow alumnus Simon Godwin (St Catharine’s 1994), the Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) in Washington DC, became Anton Chekov’s Uncle Vanya. 

The production, staged from March 30 to April 20 in DC after a successful run at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in Berkeley, California, drew critical acclaim and rave reviews on both coasts.

Success is the hallmark of both men’s careers.

Bonneville, who was born in Paddington, London, read theology at Cambridge but went on to study acting in London, a path that has led him to star turn after star turn in his career on stage, screen, and television. Bonneville has also penned a memoir titled Playing Under the Piano: From Downton to Darkest Peru. Godwin, who majored in English at Cambridge, also went on to post graduate studies in performing arts. He directed plays at Cambridge and went on to develop an award-winning resume at various venues, joining STC in 2019.

So, it was especially thrilling for Cambridge in America (CAm) to bring alumni and friends together in DC on April 19 to enjoy the work of these two Cambridge luminaries for a matinee performance of Uncle Vanya. Following the show, CAm hosted an exclusive reception where Hugh Bonneville captivated the audience with behind-the-scenes stories about getting the production to stage, insights into his career, and thoughts on the arts today, followed by a lively Q&A session.

“It was an unforgettable afternoon, underscoring Cambridge’s contribution to performing arts,” said Patricia Danver, CAm’s Senior Director of Strategic Engagement.