Andrew Acts Up!
Congratulations to former student Andrew Fraser who has successfully auditioned to study for a BA Honours in Acting at LIPA.
Andrew, who joined Lamont Drama as a teenager, but quickly established himself as an excellent actor, will begin his 3-year course in September.
Said Andrew, “Around 2500 people audition for the acting course at LIPA and there are only 36 places awarded! People come from all over the world to audition so I am absolutely delighted to have been selected. In my first year I will be building on my acting techniques and in the second and third year, I will be focusing on professional performance. It’s a great opportunity and I can’t wait to get started.”
Andrew added, “I’d like to say a big thank to Lamont because the monologue work and, of course, the improvements to my diction, and all the many other things that you taught me, made all the difference on the day!”
Mrs Lamont, friends at the school and former duologue partner, Rory Rushton, wishes Andrew every success in this exciting next step in his career. We’re all looking forward to seeing you on the West End and in the movies. Go Andrew!
Hot damn! Francesca Sweeps the Board at Burnley Drama Festival!
Lamont Drama pupils had a whole lotta fun – and success – at Burnley Drama Festival!
Pupils all did particularly well in the Verse Speaking and Acting Classes. However, their success was topped by our lovely Francesca Medlicott (pictured), who had an exceptional festival!
Francesca’s infectious personality and talent for comedy-timing wowed the judges and gained her the highest mark of the festival for her brilliant solo acting piece. She was awarded The Lawrence Herbert Trophy , the Adjudicators’ Choice Burnley Gilbert & Sullivan Trophy and has been invited to represent Burnley Speech and Drama Festival at the North West Regional Championships 2015. Francesca will join fellow Lamont Drama School pupil Josh Reais at this prestigious event at the Festival Hall, Alderley Edge in September. Josh was nominated for this honour at the Southport Drama Festival and so both pupils will be representing drama festivals from the North-West.
Said Mrs Lamont, “I’m absolutely delighted with Francesca’s fabulous results from Burnley. She has been a pupil at the school for many years and always works hard and brings a fresh, creative energy to her drama pieces. Of course, I’m also immensely proud of all my pupils who performed at Burnley Drama Festival. Their professionalism shows in their excellent results.
Catarina Cardeira (also pictured) was congratulated on her performance by the Mayor of Burnley. Catarina was runner-up for the highest mark of the festival. She scored an impressive 90 for her solo acting piece but was just pipped at the post by Francesca. However, at Catarina’s young age, being awarded 90 is no mean feat!
NODA Awards for Anna & Lucas!
Lucas Frost
Anna McKenna
Anna McKenna and Lucas Frost’s superb acting abilities have been recognised by NODA (National Operatic and Dramatic Association).
Anna received her award for her performance in Be My Baby, a play by Amanda Whittington. Anna took the lead role of Mary, a 19 year old single girl who is seven months pregnant and who is sent away to a religious Mother and baby home to have the baby in secret. Anna played the part with great sincerity and authenticity despite only being 13 at the time! The play was reviewed by NODA and Anna was nominated for “best youth performer in an adult play”.
Lucas was nominated for Most Entertaining/Comedy performance in a Youth Musical for his part of ‘Fat Sam’ in ‘Bugsy Malone’. He was 12 when he performed the part.
At NODA’s recent awards ceremony, Anna and Lucas were voted as winners in their categories.
Well done, Anna and Lucas!
Top spot at Southport Festival!
Congratulations to 12-year-old Josh Reais who was chosen as the 2014 Southport Festival adjudicator’s pick.
Josh was selected by the Adjudicators from all the drama entrants to represent Southport Festival at next year’s North West Regional Championship. He will join a representative chosen from the festivals’ music section, to represent Southport at this prestigious event.
He has also been invited to perform at the at the festival’s Grand Final Concert.
“I feel very honoured to have been chosen by the adjudicators and I can’t wait to represent Southport next year. I hope I will do Southport Festival proud,” said Josh.
Said Mrs Lamont, “I’m immensely proud of all my pupils who produced some outstanding work at this year’s Southport Festival but special congratulations must go to Josh for being selected for this honour. Josh is one of the most popular pupils at the school as he’s a natural comedian and great fun in class. He is a regular on Hollyoaks (pictured above in an episode from Hollyoaks with his festival partner Charlotte Russell) and he’s equally loved there by all the production staff so I’m not surprised he caught the eye of the judges. We all wish him every success in the North-west Championship.”
Festival Fun!
CONGRATULATIONS! to everyone who took part in the Southport Festival.
You all really looked the part!
Dong, Owl and pussycat – were spectacular! (Lily, Loulou and Elizabeth).
Mr Toad – still smiling with a broken collar-bone – showed nothing was going to stop him! (Catarina and Lydia).
Alice and Humpty were gorgeous! (7-year-old Sadie and 6-year-old Lori-Jo).
Brian definitely ‘pulled it off’! (Amelia, Francesca, Josh and Charlotte).
And in the pink were……. Spiker and Sponge! (Francesca and Amelia). Fabulous!
Spooks Film Star!
Tori Hargreaves
Matthew Walker
Former Lamont pupil Matthew Walker is appearing in the new British spy film SPOOKS: THE GREATER GOOD.
Matthew, a firm favourite with pupils when he took on the role of assistant teacher at Lamont Drama before going to drama school in London, is playing an MI-5 agent in the film.
Due to be released in 2015, Matthew appears alongsisde Peter Firth (as Harry Pearce), Kit Harington (from Game of Thrones) and Jennifer Ehle.
The film is adapted from the hugely successful BBC series which ran from 2002 to 2011.
Says Matthew, “It was a fantastic experience filming next to such big names. My character, Adam Qasim, has a tense couple of moments as he gets held at gunpoint during the opening scenes.”
Matthew is also in high demand as a presenter and has worked alongside Caroline Flack, Alexander Armstrong and Ben Miller.
Congratulations Matthew – easily one of the most popular pupils (and much-adored assistant teacher) at Lamont Drama!
Matthew is not the only former assistant teacher from Lamont Drama excelling professionally. Another favourite from the school, Tori Hargreaves, is presently reprising her role in BLOOD BROTHERS for Bill Kenwright Ltd. Tori has also just finished starring in the national stage tour of ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL. Reviews described the show as a ‘surprising gem’ and Tori’s performance as a ‘revelation’. Well done, Tori!
Girl Power!
Congratulations to Christie Clark and Erin Clarke (pictured) for being awarded Arthur Johnson Memorial Fund Bursaries.
Christie is using her donation to fund her NYT summer school and Erin is taking up a performing arts school place in London.
Erin summed up their feelings, “We are over the moon to be awarded such generous bursaries. We will both train hard to be better performers and are looking forward to it immensely.”
Sadie hits the big time!
Seven-year-old Sadie Field could soon be as famous as Lisa Simpson or Minnie Mouse!
She has just provided the speaking and singing voice for one of the leading characters in a new cartoon for television.
Sadie took her professional recording debut in her stride (pictured above) and director Martin Hughes was delighted with her performance. “Sadie is a total star and was a delight to work with”, he enthused.
Sadie mum’s Jess, added: “We had a fantastic time and it was lovely to hear that the production staff thought Sadie was so professional.”
Talent runs in the Field family. Sadie’s older sister, 10-year-old Lily (pictured right) , recently won the Junior Challenge Trophy at the Sefton Festival of Performing Arts. She scooped the top prize after gaining the highest marks for verse speaking, prose reading and solo acting.
Well Done Sadie and Lily!
Lamont Drama Pupil Stars in Game of Thrones
Former Lamont Drama School pupil Luke Barnes is not only making waves as a small screen star but he is also making a name for himself as “a young playwright bursting with talent”.
Luke has been starring in TV’s massive hit series GAME OF THRONES as Rast. He started in the first series opposite Sean Bean and went on to appear in series three and four. He has also appeared on TV in SKINS.
During his time at Lamont Drama School, Luke had great success in local drama festivals and in his LAMDA exams. He also successfully auditioned for the National Youth Theatre where he appeared in several of their productions. At 18, he left Lamont to study at the Oxford School of Drama.
But Luke’s talents are not just in front of the camera, he is also a highly successful playwright. His critically acclaimed play BOTTLENECK had a successful run at London’s Soho Theatre and his first play CHAPEL STREET ran at the Old Red Lion in Liverpool and in Edinburgh where it won the Old Vic New Voices award. In 2012 he was short-listed for an Off West End Theatre Award for Most Promising Playwright. He has also written EISTEDDFOD.
When CHAPEL STREET was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival it wowed critics. Fringe reviewer Jake Orr, said: “If anything is clear, Barnes is a young playwright bursting with talent.” Reviewer Joe Miller, added: “CHAPEL STREET makes the most of every moment and is consistently entertaining… his writing is both inventive and amusing.”
Mrs. Lamont is immensely proud of her former pupil: “Luke began writing his own material when he was a teenager and performed them at local festivals. He’s not only one of the most talented pupils I’ve had the pleasure of teaching – but also one of the nicest. Keep the words flowing Luke – you’re a star!”
Join the Lamont Drama School!
If you would like to join the best of the best at the Lamont Drama School this September – then this is your chance!
The closely-banded-in-age classes have lots of boys and are all taught by award-winning teacher Mrs Diane Lamont.
Small and friendly, the classes cover all aspects of speech and drama and firmly place the emphasis on fun. They are great for boosting self-confidence and firing the imagination.
Pupils can go on to sit LAMDA exams, enter local drama festivals and appear on Hollyoaks.
Lesson fees can be paid in instalments if preferred. Classes are on a Saturday and through the week. All abilities welcome.
Please email diane@lamontcasting.co.uk for more details.