New foundation established in honour of Gillian Lynne to support young performers

A new trust to support young performers has been set up in the name of choreographer Gillian Lynne and her husband.

The Lynne and Land Foundation will provide grants and scholarships to help young people “achieve their dreams” in choreography, drama and musical theatre.

Lynne, whose credits include Cats and The Phantom of the Opera, died aged 92 in July last year.

She had previously discussed setting up the trust with her husband, actor Peter Land.

Land said: “Two years before my wife passed away we discussed the foundation and she insisted on having it in both of our names.

“We both benefitted hugely in our careers from the kindness of others and that is what we want to do with the foundation – to be the help that Gillian Lynne was to so many performers throughout her career.”

The trust will be launched as part of an evening event called To Gillie, With Love, which will feature performances in celebration of the choreographer.

Beverley Knight, Christopher Biggins, Ben Forster, Sierra Boggess, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures Company, Caroline O’Connor, Jonjo O’Neil, Tamara Rojo and Sergei Polunin will all feature in the evening.

The line-up also includes Linzi Hateley, Una Stubbs and Ramin Karimloo, alongside a choir with students from ArtsEd and the Royal Academy of Music.

The evening is curated and produced by Land and Lean Two Productions and directed and staged by Chrissie Cartwright. It is supported by LW Theatres and Cameron Mackintosh Ltd.

All proceeds from the event, which takes place at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on July 2, will go towards the Lynne and Land Foundation.