Taunton School student gains place with National Youth Theatre

A Taunton School student has gained a place with the prestigious National Youth Theatre.

Arthur, a Year 12 student at the School, has been awarded the place following a rigorous audition process and many years of honing his talent.

Of his achievement, Arthur commented: “I’m so proud that I have got into the National Youth Theatre; so many amazing actors have gone through the NYT and I’m thrilled to be a part of it. A massive thank you to all my teachers who have helped me along the way – without them I wouldn’t be where I am today. I am now looking towards the future with excitement and anticipation over what’s to come.”

Arthur joined Taunton School in Year 5 and since then he has taken part in more than 12 full productions, including Legally Blonde and The Addams Family at Taunton’s Brewhouse, plus The Watsons, One Man, Two Guvnors, and Bronte in the School theatre, and is currently rehearsing for Dracula. These are in addition to productions he has been part of outside of School, including with the Taunton Youth Theatre at The Brewhouse.

Arthur is currently studying Drama A-Level (as well as Spanish, Philosophy, and English Literature) after achieving a grade 9 in GCSE Drama and is participating in a range of co-curricular activities too. He also recently signed with Seaside Kids Casting, the company which represents the actress who voices Peppa Pig.

On top of this, Arthur has studied at LAMDA for a number of years and has recently completed his Grade 8 Gold for which he received a Distinction, and has this week been included in the National Youth Monologues Regional Shortlist.

Janey Carden, Head of Co-Curricular Drama, said: “Everyone at Taunton School is so proud of Arthur’s achievement – getting offered a place in the National Youth Theatre is no mean feat, especially up against so many fantastic applicants. It’s wonderful to see Arthur’s hard work pay off and his talent recognised in this way.”

The National Youth Theatre was the world’s first youth theatre and offers industry-leading training and exclusive opportunities to perform in London’s West End theatres. Its alumni includes the likes of Helen Mirren, Daniel Craig, and Orlando Bloom. The institution regularly partners with Netflix, BBC, Sky, and other entertainment giants.

Taunton School has a strong reputation for its extensive Performing Arts department which includes four major productions and over 100 music events each year. Its academic provision runs in tandem with its vast co-curricular programme which includes a range of music, drama, and dance clubs.

Find out more about Taunton School’s drama provision > https://www.tauntonschool.co.uk/explore/co-curricular/drama/