Young actress to tread the boards at Italia Conti

Plymouth College Preparatory School pupil, Mathilde Ellis, 10, has won a place at the prestigious Italia Conti Academy of Arts in London.

For her audition, Year 6 pupil Mathilde did a ballet dance – she trains with Nicola Costin who also teaches at the Prep School – and sang 'When will my life be mine?' from Tangled – her singing teacher is Vicki Green from Plymkids. She also did an acting piece from Little Women, which Prep School Headmaster, Chris Gatherer, helped her to choose.

In addition to the performing arts audition, Mathilde had to take a written test. The children were given scores in each area and those with the highest marks overall were offered places. The theatre arts school is for pupils aged 10 to 16 years and has about 75 children in total, with 15 in Mathilde’s year.

As well as Italia Conti, Mathilde auditioned for two other theatre schools and was offered a scholarship at Susi Earnshaw. She decided on Italia Conti because her family are moving to the area and she will be able to walk to school.

Mathilde has been going to Plymkids since she was 5 and at 6 appeared in her first professional show at the Theatre Royal as Molly, the youngest orphan in Annie alongside Su Pollard. She has since appeared in the Plymouth panto, Cinderella, and the Easter pantomimes with Bobby Davro. Mathilde has also appeared in shows with the Theatre Royal’s Young Company and Tavistock Musical Theatre Group as well as many performances at Plymkids and at the Prep School.

Italia Conti most recently appeared in the CBBC show ‘School for Stars’ and has had lots of famous alumni including in recent years, Russell Brand and Pixie Lott.

“Everyone at the Prep School is absolutely delighted for Mathilde,” said Headmaster, Chris Gatherer. “She is a very talented young lady and this is a fantastic opportunity for her. We very much look forward to seeing her name in lights in the future.”