Career in theatre beckons for talented teenager

Sofie-Rose White, aged 17, auditioned earlier this year for the National Youth Theatre and gained a place on the junior course.

The year 13 student at Mark Rutherford School sixth form is studying an extended diploma in performing arts, specialising in musical theatre.

Sofie-Rose said: “I’ve known for a long time I’ve wanted to be in entertainment and as I’ve got older I’ve understood that acting is the discipline that inspires me most, and makes me the most inquisitive.

“I’ve gone to Act One Theatre School for the past five years, starting off as just a Saturday morning student, then progressing to their private LAMDA examination lessons, and now to a youth helper to all the students.

“Last year my director suggested I applied for the National Youth Theatre and I took her up on the offer, not fully understanding what I was signing up to. With other drama school auditions on the cards, I wasn’t very intimidated by the audition process- it was a textbook audition, the only notable difference being I wasn’t the youngest in the room for once.

“The gravitas that comes with the National Theatre, from its connections to its alumna, meant the prospect of being accepted was never a real possibility. When I got the acceptance email, I didn’t know how to react. I still don’t think it has hit me. I just know it’s big.”