Drama Student to join National Youth Music Theatre

Sixth Form Churcher’s College drama student, Kirsty Foreman, has successfully beaten off fierce competition from across the UK to win a role in the National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT) summer production, Growl. Over 1,000 students from across the UK auditioned for just 30 places in the production which is an original take on the Big Bad Wolf. 

Kirsty will be in the ensemble, playing a variety of different characters and spending a large part of the show on stage.  To succeed, Kirsty had to attend two rounds of all day workshops at NYMT where her drama and musical talents were fully tested.

“I’ve always told myself that if I can believe I will achieve” explains Kirsty.  “I’d like work in the West End eventually so this is an amazing opportunity and experience for me.”

Stacey Carty, Head of Drama at Churcher’s College, said: “I am delighted that Kirsty has achieved recognition for her talent from such a respected National institution.   She follows in the footsteps of several other Churcher’s pupils which is a huge honour for our Drama Department and more importantly, illustrates the high standard of drama talent and potential the pupils have to offer.  This is no doubt just the beginning of an exciting journey for Kirsty – congratulations!”

Kirsty is a keen drama student and has had roles in the highly acclaimed Churcher’s College productions, most recently including Les Misérables as well as singing in the acclaimed anti-bullying video ‘Beautiful’ by Christina Aguilera, where Christina herself retweeted the video along with Miranda Hart and Amanda Holden.  Kirsty has been acting since she started at Churcher’s College Junior School at 7 years old and has enjoyed taking part in all kinds of productions, concerts and performances throughout school.     In 2018 she joined Petersfield Youth Theatre and performed in both ‘Guys and Dolls’ and ‘Oliver’, also taking part most recently in the Petersfield Musical Festival.

Other Churcher’s College pupils who have achieved national recognition with the NYMT include George Renshaw, Jack Titley and Spin Glancy.   NYMT alumni include Idris Elba, Jamie Bell, Gareth Fry, Sally Hawkins, Tom Hollander, Jo Hughes, Michael Jibson, Toby Jones, Jude Law and Jamie Parker.

About the National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT)

The National Youth Music Theatre offers exceptional opportunities in pre-professional, musical theatre training for talented young people of all backgrounds aged 10 to 23 years through skills workshops, master clases and residential courses led by industry professionals, through commissioning and presentation of exciting new work and – in collaboration with some of the UK’s leading creative minds – producing bold, new realisations of major works of the core repertoire.

These opportunities exist for stage performers, musicians, technicians and stage crew and, through our Creative Team Mentorship programme, for aspiring directors, musical directors, choreographers and designers.

The National Youth Music Theatre represents the very best in work with young people through musical theatre enabling thousands of youngsters across the UK to develop both their creative and personal potential, leading Andrew Lloyd Webber to dub it “the best youth music theatre in the world”.

 About NYMT production Growl

We all think we know the story of the Big Bad Wolf... how he's mean and greedy, and likes blowing down the houses of innocent little pigs, and gobbling up grandmas just for the wicked fun of it. But that’s a fairy tale and the truth is a whole lot more surprising! In this hilarious, action-packed new family musical, you’ll get to meet the real Wolf: the guardian of a beautiful forest and all the creatures who live there...

When a smooth-talking Woodcutter and his gang of henchmen turn up with deforestation and redevelopment on their minds, the Wolf is the only one standing in their way. But once they’ve sown the seeds of doubt among his friends, the Wolf - and his woodland family - will be tested to breaking point, and even the gentlest of creatures will learn that there are times when you just have to be Big and Bad.