Talented Kingsley student Ellie Coldicutt (13) has returned to school after appearing in a professional production of The Secret Garden in Edinburgh. She will attend lessons for just three weeks before flying out to Canada with the cast for a six week run of the show in Toronto.
The up-and-coming actress has already appeared in the UK tour of The Sound of Music and the feature film Nativity! and to her great credit throughout all her theatrical exploits has kept up to date with her school work.
In The Secret Garden Ellie shares the lead role of Mary Lennox with another child actress. They each perform five times a week and are on stage for most of the show.
As well as knowing her lines – the script was almost two centimetres thick! – Ellie has had to learn several songs and sing solo parts in most of them. She has taken it all in her stride and enjoyed every moment so far.
“It is a big privilege for me to have the opportunity to do this. The rest of the cast are fantastic and the whole experience has been amazing so far. The curtain call is awesome!” she says.
Ellie has been acting and singing since she was eight years old. When she is at school she enjoys being a member of the choir and piano lessons.
Her mother Mrs Jane Coldicutt acts as her chaperone when she is appearing on stage and will be travelling to Canada with Ellie.
“The Kingsley School has been a marvellous support to Ellie and thanks to her teachers preparing and sending her work she has been able to keep up to date with fellow pupils. It is very important that her academic development doesn’t suffer because of her acting and the approach taken by staff at Kingsley means this hasn’t happened,” she says.
Kingsley Head teacher Heather Owens adds: “The School is proud to have such a budding star in our community. Ellie works really hard to ensure she continues to make academic progress.”