Sibford School pupil, Matt Rainsberry, has been awarded a place on the National Youth Theatre’s prestigious Intake Acting Course.
His success follows an all-day audition involving group work and individual performance.
Sibford School Head of Drama, Neil Madden, said: “Competition for the Summer Intake Course is extremely high … with around 4,000 applicants competing for some 500 places.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for Matt as it means he will now become a member of the NYT and will therefore be eligible to audition for their productions in London’s West End, around the UK and Internationally.”
The course, which takes place in August, will be led by an experienced theatre professional, alongside an assistant director. Students will be taken through various acting techniques before taking part in a final performance.
Matt said: “I’m very excited and couldn’t believe it when I heard that I’d got in. It was unbelievable and will be such a valuable experience.”
Matt’s main individual audition piece was a monologue from Oppenheimer, which Neil Madden described as: ”Phenomenal and way beyond his years.”
Currently sitting his GCSE exams, Matt has already been making a name for himself locally. In December 2014 he played the Scarecrow in Stratford Musical Theatre Company’s production of The Wizard of Oz at the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford upon Avon and in September 2014 he produced a chilling portrayal of Bill Sykes when he appeared in Sibford School’s production of the Lionel Bart musical Oliver!