Three Bedford School students accepted to National Youth Theatre

Three aspiring young actors from Bedford School were recently overjoyed to learn that they have been accepted to join the National Youth Theatre (NYT).

Sami Humdal and Max Pearson both in Year 10, and Ishaan Mukherji in the Upper Sixth, received the news after auditioning for a place in February at the prestigious theatre group.

All three have been invited to join the NYT over the summer, albeit remotely until social distancing restrictions are lifted, after which they will have the opportunity to audition for future productions and workshops backed by patrons such as Daniel Craig, Matt Lucas and Dame Helen Mirren.

Sami Humdal, 15, said: “The school has been a major part of my passion for acting. Ever since I joined, this has always been the one thing I felt I was good at.

"I remember saying in my final year in the Prep School, ‘I might actually be pretty good at this acting stuff.’ Mr Hooley and Mrs Keane, when I was in the Prep School, were really good at pushing me, and giving me the encouragement to give the best performance I could.

"Mrs Keylock in the Upper School keeps driving me to keep my focus and to be a better performer.

"I feel the school gives a lot of expert opportunities when it comes to theatre; the productions are very professional and you are taught a lot at an early stage, that you just carry with you.

"The school has not only encouraged acting but also writing, as I have developed another interest in writing play scripts and short film screenplays.”

With an aspiration to one day perform in the West End, 15-year-old Max was thrilled to learn he had been accepted.

He said: "Bedford School helped me find a passion for drama; this passion was hugely helped by performing in five plays last year."

The three boys join a long list of Bedford School boys who have trodden the boards at the NYT. In the last five years the boys’ school has seen at least one boy every year join the company. The school has wished the boys the best of luck.