Moreton Hall student Megan is celebrating success having gained a place at the prestigious National Youth Theatre.

Head of Drama at Moreton Hall, Kate Howells, commented:

“She is quite simply one of the most talented and hard working girls I have taught in a very long time. She came to me back in January asking for a piece to do for her audition. I gave her a play and said, ‘choose your favourite bit’! She came back literally two or three days later having learnt ‘her favourite bit’ and performed it for me. It was practically perfect then!

“She takes direction like a dream! Her ability to embed the psyche of a character within her is really quite astonishing. I cannot think of anyone who deserves this more than Megan; she works for everything she gets. I have already placed a bet with her mum when we will be going to see her first West End performance! I am in no doubt that this is where she belongs.”

Megan’s achievement is all the more remarkable given that over 6,500 actors auditioned and just 8% of the applicants get accepted. The theatre’s alumni include prolific actors such as Helen Mirren, Daniel Craig, Daniel Day-Lewis, Colin Firth, Orlando Bloom and Sheridan Smith.

Reflecting on her success and on the auditioning experience, Megan enthused:

“I auditioned for National Youth Theatre back in February at the incredible Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. For the audition, I had to take part in a 3 hour workshop on improvising with about 40 other young people, most of whom were at university already.

“It was an extremely fun and crazy morning! Then in the afternoon I had to go for an interview and also perform my monologue, for which I had chosen an extract from the play Iphigenia in Splott.

“I had to wait for many months to get the result back, which made it even more amazing when I did receive the email to say I had succeeded! I couldn’t believe that I had got in when so many people had auditioned.

“This means that I am invited to go on a two week acting course in the summer down in London, with one of the most prestigious youth theatre companies in the country. And once I have completed the course, I will be an official member of the company, which means I can take part in many of their workshops and masterclasses, as well audition for parts in their professional productions!”