Multiple Sixth Form College students successfully audition to join the highly competitive National Youth Theatre 

This year, five of the Sixth Form College’s most talented theatre students have landed a place after fighting off fierce competition to join the prestigious National Youth Theatre this summer.  

All five students are studying BTEC Theatre, with two students in their first year of college and three in their final year. All students aspire to work in the performing arts field. 

The National Youth Theatre (NYT) has seen more than 6,000 hopefuls from across the UK audition to gain places on their summer courses. Only around 500 applicants were successful. 

The successful applicants take part in a 2-3 week training experience at The Royal and Derngate Theatre and Northampton & National Youth Theatre based in London.  

After completing the summer intake course, students will become Acting Members of the National Youth Theatre until they reach the age of 26. Their membership allows them to gain unique access to castings for NYT Productions. Free West End tickets and casting opportunities for Film and TV, drama facilitation training, industry-led workshops and Q&As; which are incredible experiences outside the institution. 

The NYT has internationally acclaimed former members including Orlando Bloom, Catherine Tate, Matt Lucas, Matt Smith, Daniel Craig, and Dame Helen Mirren. 

BTEC Theatre students were encouraged to audition by Teacher of Theatre/Musical Theatre Jade Wood; Performing Arts students were allowed to become a part of the UK’s biggest and best Youth Theatre, enabling them to broaden their horizons and showcase their talents across the country. 

Five talented Sixth Form College students that achieved success are first-year students Jasmine Eccles and Keira Kowalkowski and second-year students Sam Harrison, Amy Sproston, and Niamh Lowell.  

They attended a day of professional workshops and auditions to give them an insight into the industry before spending the afternoon completing the auditioning process resulting in having their hard work, dedication, and talent recognised. 

Audition pieces consisted of monologues from Glengarry Glen Ross, Olleana from the David Mammot play, Like a Virgin by Gordon Steel, an extract from Sarah Kane’s 4.48 Psychosis, Catherine’s Monologue from The Memory of Water and One Man, Two Guvnor’s. The contrasting and diverse nature of these chosen monologues demonstrated each student’s ability to deliver a performance. 

After completing the NYT summer intake course, the first-year students will return to Sixth Form College to complete their final year of studies. Second-year students Sam Harrison, Niamh Lowell and Amy Sproston have received offers to study at university. 

The college is very proud of the students’ achievements and looking forward to seeing how this accolade will positively affect their future. 

Second-year student Amy Sproston, aged 18, from Stockton Brook, said, “Going into college, I chose to take theatre as a subject, and it is the best decision I made. Through the course, I was given the opportunity to act in short films, audition for the National Youth Theatre and present the awards evening twice. I also joined the musical theatre society at college, and I am now a director of this! Jade and Richard also supported me in signing with an acting agency” 

“My audition piece was a monologue entitled Olleana from the David Mammot play. I had learnt and rehearsed this during the naturalism unit of my theatre course at college.” 

Second-year student Sam Harrison, aged 18, from Meir Hay commented, “I delivered two monologues during my audition on the request of the judges; a comedy monologue from One Man, Two Guvnor’s and a naturalistic monologue from Glengarry Glen Ross.” 

“I plan to attend university in Manchester to further my studies and reach my career ambition of becoming a presenter specialising in talk shows, sports, and TV & Radio. I am also interested in exploring acting for TV/film further down the line. I am also a keen footballer and have played for multiple teams, winning several awards. I also represented Stoke & won the Premier League National Enterprise Challenge in 2019 with four others.” 

Teacher of Theatre/Musical Theatre Jade Wood said, “It is incredible that 5 of our amazing young performers successfully got in, and their hard work and talents have been recognised nationally given the competitive nature and limited places available. It is such a huge achievement for us all! I am unbelievably overjoyed for them; this will open many doors for them in their future careers. I cannot wait to see what achievements await them next!