Dramatic call-ups for Oakham actors

Published by Oakham School on Wednesday 4th of June 2014

Promising actors from Oakham School, India Martin and Lucy Johnson, are both thrilled after having their acting talents recognised. India has won a place on the National Youth Theatre programme and Lucy has been awarded a much-coveted place at The Lir Academy in Dublin.

Fifteen-year-old India fought off some stiff competition to win her place on this prestigious programme. Famous alumni from the institution include Dame Helen Mirren, Colin Firth, Hugh Bonneville and Matt Smith. India is delighted to be joining a long line of pupils from Oakham School who have won places with the National Youth Theatre.

Lucy (19), who left the School in September after completing her A Levels, has just been offered one of only 16 places on the three-year Acting course at The Lir Academy in Dublin, which is Ireland's National Academy of Dramatic Art. Lucy was a Drama Scholar during her time at Oakham, and she starred in numerous plays including Nicholas Nickleby, Little Shop of Horrors, and As You Like It. After leaving Oakham, she took a six-month Acting and Musical Theatre course at the Oxford School of Drama, but has recently returned to do some work experience in the Biology, Music and Drama departments. 'I learnt so much at Oakham,' explains Lucy, 'and I felt that I wanted to give something back.'

'I credit all of my success to Oakham's Drama department,' says Lucy. 'They gave me such valuable advice about choosing which monologue would be suitable and to the application process in general I really couldn't have done it without them.'

'Oakham continues to be a stepping stone for talented actors,' says Director of Drama Gilly Norell. 'At present we have a good number of Old Oakhamians who are treading the boards, including Matthew Macfadyen, Miles Jupp, and Katie Hall. We are incredibly proud of India and Lucy for taking their first steps into what could be promising acting careers for both of them.'