Award-winning Hollywood actor, writer and comedian Simon Pegg made a special return to Stratford-upon-Avon College this week, the place where his creative journey began.
The former student, who studied at the College from 1986-88, toured the campus to see how it has evolved since his time as a student before sitting down with Performing & Production Arts and Media students for an inspirational and lively Q&A session in the Gordon Vallins Theatre, sharing stories from his early days, and offering advice on forging a career in the creative industries.
Students enjoyed the chance to meet the Hollywood star at the place where his career began.
Reflecting on his time at the College, Simon shared heartfelt memories of how the course shaped his life and career: “By some sheer chance, there was a fund in the village I lived in that was set aside for children who wanted to go into the creative arts, a grant for £1,000. My mum, bless her, scrimped and saved, and I came here and lived with a family nearby. I had the best years of my life here; it was so formative and inspirational. I found my tribe and people I had been looking for my entire childhood and so began an incredible process of learning.”
Simon recently shared a nostalgic throwback on Instagram, highlighting the early days of his journey.
Simon, whose career spans cult classics such as Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz to blockbuster franchises like Star Trek and Mission: Impossible, began his visit with a tour of the College’s modern creative facilities, including its professional TV studio, upgraded theatres, and rehearsal spaces, before stepping back into the Gordon Vallins Theatre, where his passion for acting first took shape.
The theatre was the only performance space at the College during Simon’s time as a student. It is named after Gordon Vallins, the lecturer who taught him and inspired generations of young performers. Earlier in the day, Simon reunited with his former tutor, making the occasion especially meaningful.
“Find somewhere like this, somewhere that has these kinds of facilities and enthusiasm, and come here.” Simon advises students. “This is such an incredible space. When I was here, we only had this theatre, and now you guys have a TV studio and three different performance spaces. Colleges like this are vital because they don’t consider the performing arts, or art of any kind, any less than academic fields. There’s such a pressure to achieve academic excellence that performing arts is sometimes seen as a hobby subject and it’s not. For people that want to go into this business, this is an invaluable foundation. It’s a perfect place to go before you go to drama school or university because you’ll get to those places with a brilliant foundation going forward. It was such an amazing experience for me both academically and socially.”
During the Q&A, Simon reflected on the evolving media landscape, urging students to stay curious and adaptable:
“I come from the old school of filmmaking and it’s strange to see all these new platforms like TikTok. But teaching needs to embrace what’s happening. It’s important to leave here with a proper overview of the state of the art because who knows what new mediums will evolve out of technology.”
Impressed by how much the College has grown since his student days, Simon hinted that he might return in the future:
“I am so impressed with the facilities… I might come back here and shoot something.”
Stratford-upon-Avon College continues to champion the creative industries, offering pathways in performance, media, and production that equip students with the experience and confidence to pursue successful careers just as Simon Pegg once did.
A look back at Simon Pegg’s visit to Stratford-upon-Avon College, reconnecting with staff and the next generation of creative talent.
