Looking back at two decades at Eton College's Farrer Theatre

What do star actors Eddie Redmayne and Tom Hiddleston have in common?

They are former pupils at Eton College who made their early appearances at the school's own purpose built Farrer Theatre.

Matthew Evered - the production manager at the theatre over two decades - received a long service award this summer from the college's provost Lord Waldegrave.

He said: "We have built a real repertory theatre here. Sometimes there will be one production on while another is in technical rehearsal and two others just starting."

Matthew, 51, grew up in Wales loving the theatre and learned his skills as a lighting designer at Bristol Old Vic before coming to Windsor to work at the Theatre Royal, lighting stars like Helena Bonham Carter and Eleanor Bron.

A friend at the theatre recommended him to the college. During his time there the Farrer Theatre - first built in the 1950s - has been restructured inside and out. Former college pupils like Redmayne, Hiddleston and Henry Faber have gone on to the success on stage, film and television.

Matthew lives in Clifton Rise, Windsor with his wife Ruth, a sports therapist who he met at the Bristol Old Vic - she was in the box office.

His sons Theo, 19 and Finn, 17 went to Windsor Boys School.

In his capacity as a freelance lighting designer he also gets regularly hired for big corporate events - lighting stars like Shirley Bassey, Peter Kay and Michael McIntyre and Hawkwind among others.

He said: "If you don't get butterflies before a big event then you are not doing your best.

"You should always feel a bit nervous. When Shirley Bassey hits her first note you know it is worthwhile."

But the Farrer remains his first love."At that age boys soak up knowledge like sponges. If they care about the theatre we can teach them all the technical knowledge they will need if they decide to do it professionally."