Michael Attenborough in conversation with Professor Sasha Roseneil

Michael Attenborough was in conversation with Vice-Chancellor Professor Sasha Roseneil in December about his life and Sussex.

In the theatre refurbished and renamed in honour of his late father, Michael Attenborough recalled the moment he knew which direction his career would take.

Michael, the son of the University of Sussex’s former chancellor, Lord Attenborough, was in conversation with Sussex’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Sasha Roseneil to reflect on his student years at Sussex and his subsequent career as a celebrated theatre director.

And on stage at Attenborough Centre for Creative Arts (ACCA), Michael revealed that he had been in the very first student production in the same building - then called the Gardner Arts Centre, in 1970.

The play was Sergeant Musgrave’s Dance, with a cast list that included Jim Carter (best known as the butler Mr Carson in Downton Abbey). 

Michael recalled: “I was convinced at the time that I was going to be the world’s most brilliant actor. Being on stage with Jim taught me that I wasn’t.”

Reflecting on his undergraduate years at Sussex studying English (while also being a very active member of the drama society), Michael said: “The three years I spent here were the happiest of my life so far. I absolutely had a ball.”

He added: “I did get a 2.1. My personal tutor wrote me a note saying, ‘Congratulations, Michael. What an extraordinary achievement. Given your genius for extra-curricular activities’.”

In response to a question from Sasha about why he chose Sussex, Michael said: “This was the radical chic university to come to. It was certainly the university to study English. It was ferociously difficult to get in here as an arts student. And when I came here and looked around, I fell in love with the Basil Spence architecture.” 

Michael recounted how, at his own graduation, his father was then Pro-Chancellor and had invited the playwright and old friend Noel Coward to be conferred an honorary degree. “Noel was one of my godparents,” he added. “In fact, I had seven godparents. It read like the cast list of a radio play. Most of them famous - John Mills, Dulcie Gray, Glynis Johns…”

After university, Michael stayed on campus to work as an assistant director at the Gardner Arts Centre for a season of plays. “I’m not sure I was even paid but it gave me a credit.”

He went on to have a distinguished career as an artistic director in many British theatres, including the Almeida in London (2002-2013), and was principal associate director and producer of the Royal Shakespeare Company (1990-2002).

Michael was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to theatre and since then has worked with theatre companies in the UK and around the world.

But ACCA, Sussex and Brighton have always remained dear to his heart because of his family’s association. He also paid tribute to former Sussex Vice-Chancellor Michael Farthing, who was in the audience, for raising the funds to refurbish the theatre.

“When my dad retired as Chancellor of this university, Michael Farthing said he would raise money to completely refurbish this arts centre and call it the Attenborough Centre. I think Dad, with a healthy dose of scepticism, thought he's a nice man, but can he do it?  He raised £8m – not an easy task – but here it is in all its glory.” 

Lord Attenborough died before the building was reopened but his son was able to share with him the drawings and designs. “My heart always skips a beat when I come into the café because it’s always full. I wish that Dad could come in disguise and see this beautiful café full of people. 

“He passionately believed that the arts were for everybody – and it’s brilliant that everybody comes here without in any way thinking it is posh or forbidding. He would be so excited that this place existed.  We have Michael Farthing to thank for that.”

He also praised Sasha for continuing to support and recognise the importance of the arts in education.

“Arts open the doors to the understanding of each other. Look how polarised the world is now. Never seen it before in my 74 years.  Two, if not three, major wars on the planet, not to mention the war on the planet itself. We desperately need enlightened generations of people who understand how we communicate with each other.”

Michael, who is Honorary Professor of English at University of Sussex and a Patron of the Students' Union Drama Society (SUDS), described the drama department at Sussex as “one of the jewels in the crown of this university”. 

He said: “It’s brave and bold and above all alive. And to be in a room with students working with these wonderful teachers is so inspirational and something for this university to be massively proud of.”