We are so proud of Selena R (U6) who has been offered a place at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art to study costume design. We caught up with Selena to congratulate her and find out more:
“I feel incredibly grateful and, honestly, a bit shocked. Studying costume design at RADA is something I’ve worked toward for a while, but I never truly expected it to happen. I am just so thankful for the opportunity.
The truth is, I almost didn’t apply. I simply assumed I wouldn’t get in, but the support at school changed everything. My teachers encouraged me and helped build my confidence when I couldn’t find it myself. Having the chance to be involved in productions and take on real responsibility made a huge difference in my preparation. I especially want to thank Mrs. Hebden, Mr. Bailey, and Miss Roux for believing in me, even when I wasn’t sure of myself. Their encouragement truly made the difference.
While I’ve spent time both on and off the stage, I’ve found myself drawn mostly to the world backstage. There is something so rewarding about helping everything come together and supporting the performers. I’ve always felt that you can never fully get into character without a costume. I remember watching the transition during rehearsals for Les Misérables; seeing the difference between the cast performing without costumes and then finally stepping into them was a massive shift. That transformation has always been one of my favorite parts of performing.
Being part of Tech Soc was a vital part of this journey. It’s a unique, supportive environment where you learn by doing – an opportunity you don’t get at many other schools. It gave me the chance to try different roles, build the shows from behind the scenes and understand how a production actually runs. Whether people are interested in being onstage or off, Tech Soc is filled with that shared passion for theatre and has such a lovely atmosphere.
That involvement, alongside external projects like working on pantomimes, helped me gain real experience and realise that this is exactly what I want to pursue as a career. Looking ahead, I’m most excited about developing my skills and collaborating with new people who are just as passionate about the theatre as I am. I can’t wait to keep growing and see where this path leads.”
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