Westbury drama pupils win ‘actor of the year’ awards

TWO drama students , who attend acting lessons in Westbury, have won ‘Young Actor of the Year’ awards at the Midsomerset Festival which was held in Bath on Friday 11th October. 

Anna Bagan and Megan Holloway, both students under Westbury teacher Lou Cox at The Drama Centre, were awarded Junior Actor of the Year and Senior Actor of the Year respectively. 

Organisers of the festival say, “Bath Young Actor of the Year, now in its sixth year, is a highlight of the Mid-Somerset Festival calendar. 

“On October 11th, six talented performers, chosen from the 2019 festival classes in March, competed for the junior and senior titles at The Edge, the University of Bath’s arts and creativity hub.

“ Each contestant had to provide a 10-minute repertoire on a theme of her own choice. Writhlington School student Anna Bagan’s exploration of the theme of ‘Parents’ won her the junior cup. 

“The 12-year-old was praised by adjudicators Katrina Mulverhill and Rebecca Thompson for her compelling performance, convincing them she really believed in what she was doing. She began with Sammy’s Consent, playing Sammy eyeing up her new stepmother for the first time. ‘A very brave opening,‘ commented Katrina Mulverhill, on Anna’s decision to begin the scene in silence which she maintained for a few minutes, establishing her character’s antagonism through the way she slouched in her chair. Her narration of an extract from Matilda had a ‘lovely touch of physicality’, according to Rebecca Thompson.

“The winner of the senior cup was Megan Holloway, a Year 13 student at St Augustine’s College. Her exploration of ‘Desire’ began with a scene from The Life and Loves of a She-Devil where she completely conveyed the mental unpredictability of Ruth’s character. In Wastwater she gave a chilling performance, described by Rebecca Thompson, as ‘sinister and brutal.’”

Westbury teacher Lou Cox said, “I currently teach both Anna and Megan in my studio in Westbury known as ‘The Drama Centre’. It gives students the opportunity to work on graded drama exams run by LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art). It is usually only available in private schools but myself and Freddie Underwood set up The Drama Centre to give the same opportunities to state school children.”