Theatre mourns stalwart Stephen (From Brentwood Weekly News)

Theatre mourns stalwart Stephen

7:00am Saturday 2nd March 2013 in News

COMMUNITY theatre in Brentwood is mourning the death of an actor who appeared in many amateur productions.

Stephen Prater, 65, collapsed and died while on holiday in Tunisia on January 26.

The father-of-two had been a member of acting societies across Brentwood including the Hutton Players, Brentwood Shakespeare Company and Marlborough Dramatic Club.

Over 30 years he had appeared in a number of plays and won Best Actor Brent Awards for roles in productions of Mousetrap and Misery.

Mr Prater was also a celebrated director, having won a Brent for his play, Honk.

Mark Reed, administrator at Brentwood Theatre, in Shenfield Road, said it was a sad loss.

He added: “Stephen was for many years a stalwart, performing, directing and supporting this community theatre in any way he could, before moving away [to Scotland] yet always keeping in touch. His last visit was in 2012.

“Our thoughts are with his family.”

A former school headteacher, Mr Prater had lived in Woodland Avenue, Hutton, before he retired.

His family has requested donations in Mr Prater’s memory should go to the British Heart Foundation.