Ambassadors

“We all know the Roundhouse as being an iconic music venue, but it’s so much more than that. The Roundhouse is about giving young people hope and opportunity in what I think is one of the hardest industries in the world to crack.”

Ade Adepitan MBE is a television presenter, Paralympic medallist, journalist, and father to toddler, Bolla, who dedicates much of his time advocating for causes close to his heart.

Previously a Roundhouse Trustee, Ade has kindly donated his time to the Roundhouse over the years in many capacities, including supporting the Roundhouse Works opening, and speaking at the 2021 Driving Change event that addressed issues surrounding race and disability in the creative industries.

In 2024, Ade hosted the Rise up for the Roundhouse Gala, the venue’s flagship fundraising event for its work with young people. Ade’s energy and passion shone through, eventuating in £1m of donations garnered over the evening that went directly to the young creatives programme.

Guitarist, singer, actor, and co-founding member of Spandau Ballet, Gary Kemp is one of the UK’s most successful songwriters of the past 35 years. 

Across 2023 and 2024, Gary supported the Roundhouse’s fundraising efforts as Chair of the Roundhouse Gala Committee. Rise Up for the Roundhouse Gala is the venue’s most significant fundraiser for its vital youth programme, so this was no small feat. 

Donating copious hours of his time and expertise, Gary devised an unforgettable evening, and organised performances that wowed the crowds before getting to the stage himself. The night was a resounding success, raising a huge £1million that goes directly to Roundhouse’s young creatives programme. 

Of his involvement with the Gala, Gary shared: “I’ve had the joy of working in the arts for many years, so being involved in an event that supports the next generation of artists is really special. Having a creative outlet can be transformative for young people and the Roundhouse is dedicated to providing them with the best space, opportunities and support.”

“Through my involvement with Roundhouse Rising I loved seeing the impact and I am thrilled to have been asked to be an ambassador for Roundhouse. I’m really looking forward to helping the next generation unlock their creativity and potential.”

Host of BBC Radio 1’s New Music Show, Jack Saunders is a long-time broadcaster with a passion for profiling emerging artists.

In 2023, Jack joined Roundhouse Rising Festival for a BBC Introducing Live event that sought to empower aspiring artists with a lineup of panels, performances, and feedback sessions. Jack brought his high energy to the stage in a panel that inspired the young creatives in attendance to offer his advice on getting your career to the next level with national recognition.

Lolita Chakrabarti OBE is an actress and award-winning playwright. She trained at RADA and has been on our stages and screens for over thirty years. Her acting credits include; The Hunt (St Ann’s Warehouse, New York), Gertrude, opposite Tom Hiddleston, in Sir Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet (RADA), Last Seen – Joy (Almeida Theatre) which she also wrote, Screw (CH4), Vigil (BBC1), Showtrial (BBC1), Wheel of Time (Amazon), A Casual Vacancy (BBC1/HBO), Criminal (Netflix) and Delicious (Sky One).

Writing credits include; her adaptation of the Booker Prize winning novel Life of Pi, for which she won the Olivier Award for Best Play. Life of Pi ran for over 14 months in the West End, sold out in Boston, then opened on Broadway in March 2023. This production won 5 Olivier Awards, 4 UK Theatre Awards and 3 Tony Awards and a WhatsonStage Award for Best Play, amongst others. Lolita adapted Hamnet, from the best-selling novel by Maggie O’Farrell, which opened for a sold-out run at the RSC, before transferring to London’s West End. Her debut play Red Velvet opened at the Tricycle Theatre, London, before transferring to St Ann’s Warehouse in New York and to London’s West End at The Garrick Theatre. It earned her the Evening Standard Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright 2012; The Critics’ Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright 2013; AWA for Arts and Culture 2013 and an Olivier Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre 2012, as well as many other nominations. Red Velvet is now on the Drama syllabus for A level, is studied at universities in the UK and USA and there have been countless productions in the USA and beyond. Lolita curated The Greatest Wealth (Old Vic), commissioning eight new monologues to celebrate the NHS. She also dramaturged Sylvia (Old Vic) and Message in a Bottle (Peacock Theatre/US tour) for Kate Prince.

“The Roundhouse has been instrumental in my journey as an artist, nurturing my love for music production and giving me the space to develop my craft on and off stage. It’s an honour to now serve as an Ambassador for this iconic venue, which continues to foster youth creativity and provide support for the next generation of industry pioneers. I am committed to using this opportunity to celebrate and uplift emerging talent, who shape our vibrant music and creative scenes.”

Rising music producer and DJ with a genre-bending sound, Melle Brown honed her craft as a regular of the Roundhouse Creative Studios. 

As a young creative herself, Melle is passionate about opening doors for young people and integrates it into her work at every opportunity. She even runs her own community-minded artist development agency that aims to give back to the next generation of music makers. 

In 2023, Melle visited a music cohort in the Creative Studios, falling in love with the young creatives programme all over again before opening for Annie Mac on the Roundhouse Main Stage that night. 

“The Roundhouse was a key part of my journey in becoming a professional radio broadcaster. Without the facilities and training I would not have achieved as much as I have done up to now! I’m grateful for this wonderful place and what it’s done for me.”

Nels Hylton is a BBC Radio 1 presenter and artists and repertoire representative, whose journey started as a young creative at the Roundhouse.

Nels first entered the Roundhouse aged 14 after learning about the £2 radio drop-ins at a careers expo. Over two-years of drop-in visits he developed his skills in broadcasting, and then before he knew it, he’d hosted a Radio Roundhouse show for ten years. 

Having remained a member of the Transmission Roundhouse community through his professional career, Nels continues to use studio space for his personal projects, and has volunteered his time to speak about the “formative” experience of being a Roundhouse regular.

Sanjeev Bhaskar is an actor, writer and presenter. He first came to notice in the ground breaking television comedy sketch show Goodness Gracious Me which he co-created and the award winning The Kumars at Number 42, (Both BBC) which he created and both of which he wrote and acted in.

He’s also appeared in The Indian Doctor (BBC) and the drama Unforgotten (ITV) the fifth series of which will be on screen in 2023. He can currently be seen in Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman, which is streaming on Netflix.

His book India with Sanjeev Bhaskar, based on his BBC documentary series of the same name was a Sunday Times bestseller.

Movie credits include Notting Hill, Paddington 2 and Yesterday.

On stage he has appeared in the West End in Art (formerly The Whitehall Theatre), as King Arthur in the Monty Python based musical Spamalot (The Palace Theatre) and Dinner With Sadaam (Menier Chocolate Factory).

His personal claim to fame is adding the word ‘chuddies’ to the OED.

Multi-platinum-selling singer, songwriter, and producer Tom Odell finds an unlikely beauty in laying bare his most closely guarded thoughts and feelings. The latest turn in his decade-long career that’s included winning a BRITs Critics’ Choice Award, the Ivor Novello Award for Songwriter of the Year, is the release of his sixth full-length album, Black Friday. 

Tom’s artistry is intertwined with the Roundhouse, with his two captivating sold out shows in early 2024. Tom’s support and commitment for the emerging generation of artists brought him to host a masterclass for Roundhouse Resident Artists, where he shared insights into his songwriting process and fostered meaningful conversations.

Tom also attended the opening of Roundhouse Works and donated the 2024 Roundhouse Gala’s most highly sought after prize, a private concert experience just for a winner and their friends at the Roundhouse.