Sir Paul McCartney honours leading arts figures at LIPA graduation

Oscar-winning filmmaker Sir Sam Mendes, and acclaimed actors Adrian Lester and James Nesbitt, have been honoured by Sir Paul McCartney at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) graduation ceremony at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on Tuesday 29 July. 

Sir Paul McCartney, LIPA's Principal and CEO Sean McNamara and, from L-R (back row) Adrian Lester, James Nesbitt, Mark Featherstone-Witty, Sita McIntosh, Gay Linvill and (front row) Tord Øverland Knudsen, Matthew Murphy, Dan Haggis and Simon Bobbett

They were among nine leading figures from the creative arts to be made LIPA Companions. Also honoured were returning musical heroes The Wombats. The Liverpool band formed in 2003 when Matthew Murphy, Tord Øverland Knudsen, and Dan Haggis met while studying at LIPA. 

A LIPA Companionship is awarded for outstanding achievement and contribution to student learning.  

The full list of Companions for 2025: 

• Simon Bobbett, manager of The Wombats (LIPA graduate) 

• Adrian Lester, film, TV and stage actor (Hustle, The Day After Tomorrow) 

• Gay Linvill, Hollywood director and producer (The Big Bang Theory, Days of Our Lives) 

• Sita McIntosh, CEO of Go Live Theatre and arts accessibility campaigner 

• Sir Sam Mendes, director, producer and writer (American Beauty, Skyfall) 

• James Nesbitt, film, TV and stage actor (Cold Feet, The Hobbit) 

• Matthew Murphy, Tord Øverland Knudsen, and Dan Haggis, The Wombats (five UK top five albums, LIPA graduates) 

They received their Companionships from LIPA’s Founding Patron, Sir Paul McCartney, in a ceremony that celebrated the achievements of around 420 graduating students from over 30 countries, including Columbia, Hong Kong and India. 

LIPA’s Principal and CEO Professor Sean McNamara said: “Today is a celebration of creativity, collaboration and possibility.  

“As artists, innovators, and leaders who will inspire others through their work, the graduating class of 2025 possesses the skills, the vision and the confidence to influence culture and the world around them. We are immensely proud of them and look forward to seeing the future they create.” 

LIPA offers undergraduate, master's, and foundation certificate programmes in disciplines including Acting, Dance, Music, Musical Theatre, Filmmaking, Theatre Production, Design, Sound Technology, and Arts Management. 

Founded in 1996 by Sir Paul McCartney and Mark Featherstone-Witty, LIPA stands on the site of the old Liverpool Institute – the former school of both McCartney and George Harrison, and the adjacent Liverpool Art College once attended by John Lennon. 

Sir Sam Mendes received his LIPA Companionship via video. 

Photography: Brian Roberts