London: St Benedict's is top school for Drama

Soizic East, Kasia Krynska, Tempestt Walsh and Rory Hobson,

Four Upper Sixth Drama students at St Benedict's School, Ealing have been chosen to perform at the prestigious National Student Drama Festival (NSDF) to be held in Scarborough from 28th March to 3rd April. Soizic East, Rory Hobson, Kasia Krynska and Tempestt Walsh will present their devised performance of 'Fete' alongside drama schools, universities and professional companies.

This is a huge success for the students and for the Head of Drama, Katie Ravenscroft, since St Benedict's is the only school chosen in the whole country. The students will perform a minimum of four shows whilst in Scarborough and will be able to attend other productions and multiple professional workshops.

Back in December the four Drama and Theatre Studies students presented 'Fete' to a school audience and, later that month, an adjudicator from NSDF came to watch a second performance at the school. NSDF receives hundreds of entries from secondary schools, universities and leading drama schools from across the country. Katie Ravenscroft received the confirmatory telephone call from the Director of the Festival on Wednesday 25th February. Since then it has been all systems go with rehearsals and preparations for the Festival.

The National Student Drama Festival offers huge opportunities for budding actors and actresses, their mission being to empower and inspire young talent and ambition. They tour the country looking to find and nurture exceptional productions and present them at the festival. The festival is open to students aged 16 - 25 and they select the shows they consider to be the best they have seen, with a true sense of ownership and the ambition fully realised.

Head of Drama, Katie Ravenscroft, commented "This is the first time in the school's history that our students' talents have been recognised in this way and it is a great honour to be chosen. The experience of being part of the National Student Drama Festival and attending all that the Festival pass offers will be an amazing opportunity for our talented young people. When I told the students the good news, they could barely breathe with excitement!"

Rory Hobson, one of the cast of 'Fete' added "this is a wonderful opportunity for me, particularly as I am intending to study Drama at University next year. Performing at the festival enables me to be amongst university students and professionals in the field of theatre. It really is remarkable that we have got this far and I can't wait!"

To find out more about the Festival go to www.nsdf.org.uk