An alumna of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Pauline Knowles established herself as one of the pre-eminent Scottish stage actors of her generation in a dazzling career which spanned thirty years. Hugely respected by other actors for her integrity, graft and craft, she specialised in thrilling vocal performances and characterisations of ambiguity and inscrutability, with a dazzling range from tragic majesty as Clytemnestra in Oresteia: This Restless House by Zinnie Harris (Citizens’, Glasgow), to comic genius in the opera Pass the Spoon by David Shrigley (Magnetic North). Pauline had an unerring dramaturgical eye and specialised in the development of new plays. Her work on variety of roles was shown in her appearance on every Scottish theatre’s stage.
In a tribute to the late Pauline Knowles, who famously created the lead role of the Young Woman in the original production of Knives in Hens, and who died at the age of 50 in October 2018, the performed reading of the play at the Lyceum Theatre on 11 June 2019 reunited many of the original team from 1995. All proceeds from this special performance of Knives in Hens went to support the Pauline Knowles Scholarship Fund at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, which has been set up by the RCS, Pearlfisher and David Harrower.
With this fundraising effort, the hope is that the Pauline Knowles Scholarship will be endowed, which allows it to help Conservatoire drama students indefinitely. The aim of the scholarship will be to support a Scottish or Scotland-based BA Acting student throughout their training and help relieve the burden of the expenses of a Higher Education degree.
Watch our video featuring alumni and students discussing the importance of scholarships.
