Congratulations to Ms Howarth!

Ms Howarth awarded 'Unsung Hero' Award at a Ceremony at the Theatre Royal in London. 

Celebrating our wonderful colleague Sheila Howarth this week. In addition to providing superb support to our students in her Pastoral role at Leeds City Academy, Sheila works as a Front of House Manager at Leeds Playhouse.

Last week, Miss Howarth was awarded The Stage newspaper’s ‘Unsung Hero’ Award at a ceremony at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London. This year the award was given in recognition of Front of House staff for going above and beyond while working at the front line during the industry’s recovery from Covid.

For almost three decades, Sheila has been welcoming people to the theatre and engaging with communities across Leeds and beyond via numerous creative projects. Sheila is a long-standing advocate of Leeds West Indian Carnival, has starred in many Leeds Playhouse productions and has also encouraged many other creatives and audience members who wouldn’t have started engaging in theatre if it wasn’t for her tremendous enthusiasm and support. 

Sheila is a valued member of Leeds City Academy. Richard Chattoe, Academy Principal said ‘Shelia is a truly wonderful and inspirational professional and person. Through years of devotion, she has become an important and influential figurehead and continues to be an amazing role model for our students and staff at Leeds City Academy. Shelia works with complete devotion and is always seeking for students to develop and excel as young people, not only for themselves but for the families and communities they come from and serve. She is such an important ambassador and role model for our Academy and we are all so proud that she has secured & been recognised for this prestigious award’.

Ever modest, Sheila said on the stage at the ceremony that the award is for all the unsung heroes - the Front of House staff who are inviting everybody into the theatre. Sheila asked the audience at the awards to look out from the stage at the expression on audiences’ faces, to see that when they are in the theatre, watching a show, they feel safe and loved.

Congratulations Sheila and thank you for all that you do from everyone at Leeds City Academy and the White Rose Academies Trust.

Photography Credit: Alex Brenner