Ripon student wins coveted National Youth Theatre place
by
Jun 30, 2021
Photo of Carys Peedell
Carys Peedell in one of her acting roles

Carys Peedell is following in the footsteps of leading British actors by winning a place on the National Youth Theatre summer course.

The Ripon Grammar School sixth form student will be treading the boards where the likes of Dame Helen Mirren, Daniel Craig and Orlando Bloom developed their acting talent.

Carys, 17, won the highly-prized place following a two-stage virtual audition.

As well as entitling her to become a member of the National Youth Theatre company until she is 25, attendance on the course will open the door to casting auditions and opportunities for productions up and down the country.

Photo of Carys Peedell

Carys Peedell plans a career in acting

Carys has dreamt of being a star of stage and screen from an early age.

She said:

“I’ve loved acting for as long as I can remember – when I was little, I would constantly dress up and make films with my sister.”

Being a quiet child, she was only offered minor parts in primary school productions but she confesses she wrote her own version of a play at nine years old to guarantee a leading role.

Through performing, Carys has conquered her shyness. She said:

“I found I could be loud and confident when playing someone else. People saw me in a different light and that’s when I decided I wanted to be an actor.”

The National Youth Theatre now beckons. She said:

“It’s an amazing opportunity and has been the launch pad for many successful acting careers.”

Carys, who studied acting, dance, singing and musical theatre with Upstage Academy in Ripon, achieved distinctions in all her London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art exams, including grade eights in solo acting, duo devising drama and group acting.

One of the highlights of her acting career so far has been, along with acting partner Alfie Davies, winning at the Harrogate Competitive Festival for Music, Speech and Drama last year.

A regular in Upstage Academy’s Harrogate theatre summer musicals, Carys most recently played the part of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde and is now preparing to film High School Musical, in which she is to play Sharpay Evans.


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She is also working on a production of Two by Jim Cartwright with a cast of keen Ripon Grammar School actors, to be performed at Ripon Grammar School on July 19.

Previous school roles include parts in Toy Story, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Oliver and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, for which she also won awards.

 


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