Former Student ‘An Inspiration to Others’

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Vocational Performing Arts students travelled to London’s West End on Monday 26 November to see “Our Boys” at The Duchess Theatre, Covent Garden.

One of the cast was former student, Lewis Reeves, who plays a wounded soldier. The role is Lewis’ first major West End role and comes after just a year since graduating from drama school. Before that, Lewis was a student at The Henley College studying the Level 3 Diploma in Performing Arts.

The play is set in an army hospital and tells the story of six soldiers who are all being treated for injuries received in the line of duty. Despite the serious nature of the story, the play contains many light hearted moments. The play has received some very positive reviews and has a very starry cast including Laurence Fox, Matthew Lewis and Arthur Darvill.

The day after the students saw the play, Lewis came back to the College and spent over an hour answering their questions on a whole range of topics, including how he approaches his work and what life is like working in the West End.

Nic Saunders, Director of Drama, said “It was really kind of Lewis to come back to college and share his experiences with our current students as only 4 years ago or so he was sat in their place doing their course. It was great for them to see a former student now working professionally as he proves to them that they can succeed in this very tough profession. It was also good that Lewis reinforced the need to really work hard and value all the teaching and training they receive before they try and do it for real.”

Second year student Nienke Verwer commented “It was really inspirational to hear Lewis speak and see that it is possible I could become an actor.”

First year student Jordan Peedell added “Hearing Lewis speak has really motivated me to work hard and commit to my work. Lewis is where I want to be in a few years, so knowing he can do it really makes me to buckle down and do well in my studies.”