Actor David Ricardo-Pearce receives Honorary Doctorate from University

An award-winning actor, director and presenter were awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Bolton.

David Ricardo-Pearce received a Doctor of Arts for his outstanding contribution to the Theatre.

He said: “It is an incredibly humbling experience to be invited into the University of Bolton family.”

Mr Ricardo-Pearce received the Honorary Doctorate in a unique Covid-secure ceremony which was filmed for a special movie documenting this year’s innovative ‘Alternative Graduation’.

The University’s Professor of Theatre, David Thacker, former artistic director of the Octagon Theatre, Bolton, who has worked with Mr Ricardo- Pearce for 12 years, read the citation.

The University of Bolton is one of the only ones in the UK to have invited graduands from this year and last to be presented with their degrees in person and their gowns, giving them the chance to have official photographs of their special day.

Mr Ricardo-Pearce has been working as part of the documentary as a public orator, announcing students’ names as they received their degrees throughout the week.

He is an award-winning actor, director and presenter, who has worked mainly on stage, but also in television, film and radio.

He has appeared in many theatre productions and is cast in numerous lead roles. Credits include Hamlet in ‘Hamlet’, Alfie in ‘Alfie’ and Romeo in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ for the Bolton Octagon Theatre.

Nationally he has appeared in ‘The Lorax’ at the Old Vic and as Fred in ‘Kiss me Kate’ at the Watermill Theatre, a role which gave him a Broadway World Nomination for Best Actor in a Musical.

Mr Ricardo-Pearce has won several awards for his work on stage. In 2005, his performance in ‘Sweeney Todd’ was recognised with a Whatsonstage Award for Best Ensemble.

He has also directed and produced many plays, including ‘The Towers of Babel’, ‘My Romantic History’ and ‘The Wall’.

He has appeared in several television shows, including ‘Extras’, ‘EastEnders’ and ‘Outnumbered’. He has also starred in films, namely ‘Ma’am’, ‘Stop Dead’ and ‘Resting’.

Mr Ricardo-Pearce also enjoys working with young people and is a manager and workshop leader at Perform – a drama course for four-to-11-year-olds.