DRAMA school Imagine Theatre in Cirencester is celebrating after four of its students were selected to join the prestigious National Youth Theatre (NYT).

Bella Maxwell (15), Alexander Britt (17) Alana Cook (18) and Katie Mitchell (17) auditioned in Bristol and were given the good news a few weeks ago.

Often people will only get accepted by NYT on the third or fourth audition and the audition process is extremely competitive, with 5,000 people competing for places. Many people never even get past the audition stage.

The NYT alumni includes Orlando Bloom, Hugh Bonneville, Daniel Craig, Daniel Day Lewis, Colin Firth, Helen Mirren, Matt Smith and David Walliams.

James Rushbrooke, artistic director at Imagine Theatre, said: “We are so unbelievably proud of our Imagine Students; we know how hard it is to secure a place at the National Youth Theatre and were so happy to hear so many of our students have auditioned and successfully for a place with them.

“It’s an absolutely fantastic start to what will hopefully go on to be a great career in the world of theatre or film, you only have to look at the list of alumni for the National Youth Theatre to see they’re joining ranks with some of the UK’s leading theatre professionals.”

Once Bella, Alexander, Alana and Katie complete their training courses they become NYT members and have the opportunity to audition for the company’s own productions and engage with the wide variety of opportunities it offers.

Bella will join the two week Junior Acting course, Alexander and Alana are both on the two week Acting course and Katie is on the four-week Epic Stages course.

Katie said: “I'm very excited and slightly overwhelmed by my acceptance into the National Youth Theatre. I'm really looking forward to taking part in the summer course with so many like-minded young people and NYT is a great step towards a professional acting career.”

Alexander said was “thrilled” and added: “I owe a lot of my success to my time at Imagine, where I have honed and learnt more about my craft, gained a lot of confidence in myself and worked meticulously in a fun and active group environment.”

Bella was “shocked” on hearing the news. She said: “I've been very lucky to have the support of James and Emily at Imagine Theatre, a brilliant new stage school in Cirencester - I've learnt so much from them. It's been a lot of work but I've enjoyed every minute.”

Alana added: “I think the four of us are quite proud to be representing our Cirencester drama school in London this summer.”

Once the four students have completed their training courses they become National Youth Theatre members and have the opportunity to audition for the company’s own productions and engage with the wide variety of opportunities it offers.

Often people will only get accepted by National Youth Theatre on the third or fourth audition and the audition process is extremely competitive, with 5,000 people competing for places. Many people never even get past the audition stage.

*Imagine Theatre runs from 10am-1pm for young people aged 14-20 and are opening a new school for children 11-14 from September this year to take place on Saturday afternoons.

They will be running a trial day on June 20 for prospective new class members. Anyone who is interested should email admin@imagine-theatre.co.uk, or call 01285 706121 / 07815 761428 to book a place.