Performing Star Laurence Belcher

A TALENT FROM KINGSWOOD

The actor Laurence Belcher came to Kingswood with his family in 2004. His mother Deirdre, is a professional dancer and the principal of Laird Academy whilst his father Barrie, is a retired cellist and studio session player.

Laurence Belcher

Laurence attended City of London Freemen’s School, Ashtead Park where his love of theatre was nurtured and where he was a junior contemporary of Andrew Garfield, (Andrew himself now a renowned Hollywood actor).

Laurence’s first steps on the professional stage were taken at the The London Palladium where he appeared as Tiny Tim alongside Tommy Steele in ‘SCROOGE – The Musical’ - quite an achievement for a ten-year-old! – followed shortly afterwards by ‘WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND’ for Bill Kenwright and Andrew Lloyd Webber (Palace Theatre). From this early beginning he continued to build a formidable reputation as a character actor on stage and in television and film.

During these years he was involved in various shows at Kingswood Village Hall, one of the most memorable occasions being KADDS ‘KINGSWOOD’S GOT TALENT’ for which his performance earned him the top prize for Rising Star!

Other early stage credits include ‘Mary Poppins’ playing Michael Banks (Prince Edward Theatre); Simon Gray’s “The Late Middle Classes” in which the late, great

Laurence as Tiny Tim with Tommy Steele - The London Palladium Laurence in ‘The Late Middle Classes’ with Helen McCrory

Helen McCrory played his mother (Donmar Warehouse) and Alan Bennett’s ‘The Habit of Art’ with Alex Jennings and Richard Griffiths (National Theatre).

Prior to going up to Oxford, Laurence’s gap year was taken by joining the Globe Theatre Company in their production of Shakespeare’s ‘King John’. This was of particular significance as it celebrated the 800th anniversary of

the signing of Magna Carta by King John in 1215AD. The production toured the 13th Century courtly venues of the King, commencing with performances at Temple before taking in Northampton and Salisbury Cathedral, completing the run at the Globe’s natural home on the South Bank. Laurence’s TV credits include DR WHO – ‘The Fish’, a BBC Christmas Special in which he performed with Michael Gambon, In Dr Who - The Fish with Michael Gambon and Matt Smith playing Michael’s younger self. He has appeared with Sean Bean and Ashley Judd in ‘MISSING’, shot in the beautiful city of Prague and for BBC TV, ‘SILENT WITNESS’ and ‘A SONG FOR JENNY’. Movie credits include ‘DIANA’ in which he played Prince William and ‘X-MEN FIRST CLASS’ playing the young Charles Xavier, a role he reprised in ‘X-MEN – DAYS OF FUTURE PAST’. After graduating from Oxford with a degree in Classical Archaeology and Ancient History, Laurence continued to perform in various short movies for independent film producers and is now in rehearsal for ‘TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD’ – a new Broadway adaptation for the theatre which opens at the Gielgud Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue in March 2022. Laurence has sadly now left the leafy environs of Kingswood and resides in North London. He is represented by Curtis-Brown in the UK and by the top Hollywood agency William-Morris Endeavour in the States.