:04:03
Having covered in tedious detail not only
the history of the Sarah Siddons Society,
:04:08
but also the history of acting since
Thespis first stepped out of the chorus line,
:04:14
our distinguished chairman has finally
arrived at our reason for being here.
:04:18
I have been proud and privileged
to have spent my life in the theatre,
:04:24
a poor player that struts
and frets his hour upon the stage,
:04:30
and I've been honoured to be, for 40 years,
:04:33
chief prompter of the Sarah Siddons Society.
:04:37
39 times have I placed in deserving hands
:04:42
this highest honour the theatre knows.
:04:46
Surely no actor is older than I.
:04:48
I've earned my place - out of the sun.
:04:53
And never before has this award gone to
anyone younger than its recipient tonight.
:04:58
How fitting that it should
pass from my hands to hers.
:05:02
Such young hands. Such a young lady.
:05:06
Young in years, but whose heart
is as old as the theatre.
:05:11
Some of us are privileged to know her.
:05:13
We have seen beyond the beauty and artistry
:05:16
that have made her name
resound through the nation.
:05:20
We know her humility, her devotion,
:05:23
her Ioyalty to her art,
:05:26
her love, her deep and abiding love for us,
:05:30
for what we are and what we do - the theatre.
:05:35
She has had one wish,
:05:37
one prayer, one dream:
:05:41
to belong to us.
:05:44
Tonight her dream has come true,
:05:46
and henceforth
we shall dream the same of her.
:05:50
Ladies and gentlemen, for distinguished
achievement in the theatre,
:05:55
the Sarah Siddons Award...
to Miss Eve Harrington.