ArtsEd Chair Resigns After Deadline Exposé On Bullying & Misconduct At Top UK Drama School
EXCLUSIVE: ArtsEd chair Brian Brodie has quit for personal reasons. His decision follows criticism of the board’s handling of bullying allegations at the esteemed London drama school.
Brodie, a financial services executive, has stepped down after joining Andrew Lloyd Webber-backed ArtsEd in July 2022. One of his last actions was to launch an independent, barrister-led inquiry after Deadline uncovered misconduct allegations against ArtsEd principal Julie Spencer.
Trustee Farida Mannan announced Brodie’s resignation in an email to parents of ArtsEd students on Friday. Mannan has been named acting chair.
Spencer is on medical leave and will not return to work while the investigation is ongoing. “I appreciate that the last few weeks have been immensely challenging for the organisation,” Mannan said. “The allegations raised in recent media coverage are serious and do not reflect our values or the organisation we want to be.” More than 100 parents complained to ArtsEd, raising questions about the board’s handling of the allegations, which include a leaked recording of Spencer branding students “snakes” and threatening them with legal action.
