Edward Argent Ephemera

The collection includes

Personal ephemera including a Scotsman award, performance still and photographs from Argent's Honorary Doctorate ceremony

Edward Argent was born on 21st August 1931 in London. After training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he acted with various regional theatres and the Royal Shakespeare Company where he also began to direct.

For 10 years Argent was Vice-Chairman of the Conference of Drama Schools, and was a founder member of the National Council for Drama Training. He was a founder member of the Scottish Youth Theatre (later its Chairman) and of the Tron Theater. Argent was a board member of the Citizens Theatre and chaired the Committee of the Edinburgh International Theatre. He was Chairman of Prime Productions theatre company and served on the board of the Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre.

In 1962 he began teaching and in 1970 became Head of the School of Theatre at Manchaster Polytechnic. In 1974 he succeeded Colin Chandler to become the second Director of the School of Drama at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland)

During his time at RSAMD Argent oversaw many developments, including encouraging more international students, expanding the academic awards offered by the School and the initiation of the School of Drama's exchange programmes with the Warsaw State Theatre School and the California Institute of the Arts.

In 1995 Argent was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Drama by RSAMD on 4th December 1995, and retired from his role of Director of the School of Drama in 1996.

Edward Argent died on 26th July 2011 in Glasgow aged 79 years old.

Open. Appointment necessary E-mail: archives@rcs.ac.uk

Sarah Argent