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Reach for the Stars

Stage-struck PGS pupil, Michael Roderick, is impatiently waiting in the wings for his chance to tread the boards alongside some of the nation’s best young dramatists at the National Youth Theatre.

Michael’s drama teachers encouraged him to audition for a place and he was helped to prepare in school by attending audition classes run by guest actor and speech coach Mick Hayden. ‘Without these classes I doubt whether I would have got in,’ said Michael.

A day in Brighton saw Michael acting in group workshops followed by a one-to-one audition where he performed his prepared speech and monologue. After a tense six weeks Michael received the letter telling him he had been accepted.

‘When I first heard about the NYT it was just a dream,’ said Michael ‘Then PGS brought me closer to that dream and now it has come true. I can’t wait to get started!’

Michael has been heavily involved in school productions so far; in the musicals Guys and Dolls and My Fair Lady and in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He also played Toad in Wind in the Willows and Fagin in Oliver Twist.

Mark Smith, Director of Drama, said ‘This is wonderful news. We have encouraged Michael to stretch his abilities and look forward to seeing him blossom and inspire others to follow suit’.

Michael joins a small but growing band to go to the NYT from PGS. Sam Tyrell and Ellie Williams both went there having first starred in PGS musicals at the King’s Theatre. Ellie played the lead in Annie whilst still in the Middle School and Alex played Nicely Nicely in My Fair Lady. He also went to the Edinburgh Festival last year with PGS’s Peter Pan.

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Portsmouth Grammar School, High Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 2LN

Tel: Senior School (023) 9236 0036Nursery & Junior School (023) 9236 4219