A Much Wenlock student is living her dream after being accepted by both the National Youth Theatre and the British Youth Musical Theatre companies.
Acceptance to the National Youth Theatre (NYT) opens the door for Year 12 student Mariella Steele, 17, to the possibility of performing in London’s West End, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and on the company’s continental tours.
The British Youth Musical Theatre (BYMT) place will see Mariella appear in an innovative all-female production of Cabaret Macabre in Plymouth later this year – depending on the Coved-19 situation.
“I have auditioned for the NYT for the last three years – so you might say it’s third time lucky,” said Mariella, who attends Ellesmere College in Shropshire and lives in Much Wenlock.
“I’m really excited about it but disappointed that the three-week course due to take place in London won’t be happening as planned because of the Covid-19 epidemic. There will be a week’s Zoom course which I will be ‘attending’ and hopefully the physical course will go ahead later”
“Being accepted by the BYMT is also a great honou. Cabaret Macabre is a creative new show with an all-female cast and is being staged as part of Mayflower 400 – celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower’s historic voyage to the New World.”
Rachel Schubert, Director of Drama at Ellesmere College, said “Both are very difficult to get into and competition for places is very high, Mariella has done very well indeed – she should be very proud of herself.”
