The world’s a stage for Stephen

The bright lights of London’s West End beckon for University of Teesside BA (Hons) English Studies graduate Stephen Uppal.

For Stephen, 23, from Middlesbrough, has beaten off strong competition to gain a place on a three-year course at the prestigious Arts Educational Institute in Chiswick, London. The Diploma in Musical Theatre course starts in September, and Stephen will spend his final year performing on stage in London's theatre land. He is following in the prestigious footsteps of Pop Idol winner Will Young, one of the Institute's former students.

Stephen first caught the performing bug at 14 when studying GCSE Drama at Nunthorpe School, and later joined acting classes at Cleveland Theatre School in Billingham. There, Stephen extended his range from acting to dance and then moved over to specialised dance classes at Justine Kavanagh's Theatre School in Middlesbrough.

"Previously I was only interested in acting, I was quite closed minded about dance. But the dance classes at Cleveland Theatre School opened up a whole new world of stamina and precision. That's why I chose the course at Chiswick, as it combines theatre acting, dance and singing," he said.

The course audition was a strenuous experience, with hopefuls competing for 40 places, allocated to 20 boys and 20 girls. There are 400 applications for the 40 places. Stephen's audition process started at 12 noon and finished at 7pm. The audition started with ballet and jazz dancing, followed by two acting pieces, one from Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' and the other from Willy Russell's musical 'Blood Brothers', in front of a former West End Director. For the singing section Stephen performed a piece from 'Miss Saigon' and Ronan Keating's 2000 chart-topper 'Life is a Roller Coaster'. At the end of the day a panel of three interviewed Stephen.

"When you're sat in the corridor hearing everyone audition before you it makes you even more nervous. I was worried about the singing as I'm not the best singer. I seriously didn't think I would get in this year; I was planning to work and try again so I was over the moon to get a place. A month later I was even more pleased when I found out I'd been awarded a £9,000 scholarship from the Dance and Drama Council on the strength of my audition, which is paid directly to the school. I'd like to thank Justine Kavanagh and Kelly Rowden, if it wasn't for their help in training for the audition I wouldn't have got in", said Stephen.

Away from performing, Stephen has enjoyed his University course. He added: "The degree gives me a back up to fall back on if I don't work in the Arts, I might go into teaching or journalism. I've really enjoyed studying Shakespeare, Romantic poets, Victorian Literature and a module on Second World War writing, where we looked at Agatha Christie and Graham Greene. The Lecturers are very enthusiastic and organised and the University's Learning Resource Centre is really good, it's been my second home. For now, I'm really looking forward to performing, something I absolutely love. My mother H.Kaur is very happy for me, she's always been behind me 110 per cent."

---