Help get Ellie B to NYT REP 2022!

Hi – my name is Eleanor Booth, but most people call me Ellie. If you don’t know me, I’m a working-class, northern actor from Bury (Greater Manchester).

In September 2022, I’ll be leaving Bury - where I’ve spent the last 25 years - and making a big move 225 miles south to London.

Back in May, I got the news I had been waiting for since I started my acting career; I got my breakthrough.

I have successfully attained a place in the National Youth Theatre’s REP Company (NYT).

What is the NYT’s REP Company?

The NYT’s REP Company is repertoire training – the most traditional form of actor training, with a modern twist.

It’s full-time concentrated drama school training, spaced over nine months (imagine three years of drama school/university condensed into one) …

Over the course of 2022 – 2023, I’ll have the opportunity to work alongside and learn from industry professionals in the field, and by the end of the course I’ll have even performed three different shows in the West End! The first confirmed show being at the Theatre Royal Stratford East: ‘Gone Too Far’ by Olivier award-winning writer Bola Agbaje.

Why does it matter?

Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to secure small roles on the television in shows such as Coronation Street and Girlfriends (ITV), along with numerous short films, commercials and voice-over work. But my passion is in theatre. It’s where I started: on stage, in local pantomimes.

I’m sure a lot of people know what it’s like to be the star in a show…perhaps in your local panto, in the school leavers production, or the annual nativity… but to me, it means a lot more.

Acting is my passion. It’s where I found my talent. It’s where I found my voice.

I’ve worked as a freelance drama teacher, encouraging young people to find their voice and pursue their passion. And I’ve worked in a talent agency, helping to get others those starring roles.

It has been great to support and help others develop in, what I believe to be, one of the most creative and exciting industries to be a part of. And I’ve enjoyed my ‘sometimes-unofficial’ roles as a conductor, choreographer, prompter, understudy, critic, drama teacher and director.

But my dream is to be on the stage.

In 2016 I took part in the NYT’s ‘Epic Stages Course’, and since then I couldn’t shake the feeling: I knew where I was meant to be. When everyone got their personal statements done for university, I was travelling back and forth to drama schools across the county to audition.

Year after year, I did this. And I did get really close.

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, and the devastating impact it had on the arts, auditions were few and far between, and unfortunately, I ended up losing my job roles within the industry.

So, I decided to give it one last shot. This year was my last year to audition for REP.

This year around 2,000 people auditioned – for only 16 places. That’s a 0.8% chance.

After numerous monologues learnt, interviews prepped for, and four rounds of auditions, I finally got the news I’d been waiting for since 2016.

I’d be officially moving to London to pursue my dream.

NYT’s REP Company launched in 2012 in response to rising tuition fees, and over 150 performers have benefited from this free industry alternative route. Alumni of National Youth Theatre include:

• Daniel Craig

• Catherine Tate

• Dame Helen Mirren

• Daisy Edgar-Jones

• Chiwetel Ejiofor

• Sir Daniel Day-Lewis

But I’m a working-class, northern actor from Bury. 225 miles from London. And according to the Acting & Social Inequality Project, only 10% of actors are working-class (and maybe about 0.8% are working-class, northern actors from Bury).

What does this mean and where do you fit in?

Although the course is a free opportunity to pursue what I love, I will have to save to support myself throughout the nine months.

I’ll basically need to save around £7,200 (London rent £650pm x 9 / Food £150 x 9) for the year.

As I said, the course is intense and compact into a short amount of time, so each week I will be studying 6 out of 7 days a week and will therefore be unable to work to support myself.

Between now and September I’ll be trying to save/raise as much money as I possibly can:

• I’ll be fundraising in many ways (so keep an eye on social media)

• I’ll be selling handmade items on my jewellery page.

• I’m working four jobs!

So, every little helps. Any donation, big or small, would be greatly appreciated and will really go a long way.

Help get me centre stage as the star of my show.

Thanks,

Booth x