An aspiring actor who has been performing since the age of three is celebrating top grades in her A Levels before taking her next step towards a career on the West End.
Ella McFetrich, from Morpeth, achieved A grades in History, Psychology and Theatre Studies at Dame Allan’s Schools and will now join Newcastle Theatre Royal’s Project A actor training programme.
The 18-year-old’s passion for the stage began with dance classes at the age of three, before she joined Cramlington-based dance company Stepping Out at seven, appearing in productions of Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland.
Her dedication to performing continued when she joined Dame Allan’s in Year 7, drawn to the school by its strong drama department. The school also has a special family connection: her mother, Nicky Shiell, attended Dame Allan’s and took part in its productions, while her parents met while performing together in the Sheffield Medics Stage Review at Sheffield University.
Ella became involved in full-scale school productions from Year 10 onwards, taking on roles including Pugsley in The Addams Family, as well as performing in High School Musical and The Servant of Two Masters. Most recently, she played Fagin in Dame Allan’s whole-school production of Oliver!
“I’ve always loved performing. There’s so much joy in it,” Ella said. “When we couldn’t perform during Covid, it felt like I was missing something because there were no shows for years.
“The drama department was a massive reason I came to Dame Allan’s. My mum was at the school and involved in all the productions here, so she loved it too. Theatre has always been a big part of our family.”
Alongside her school commitments, Ella is also involved with The CAST agency in Morpeth. Her teacher there had previously taken part in Project A and spoke highly of the programme, encouraging Ella to apply.
Newcastle Theatre Royal’s Project A is a full-time, year-long actor training programme designed to prepare aspiring actors for the industry, covering areas including core acting techniques, Shakespeare, stage fighting, self-taping, audition preparation and the practical realities of working as an actor.
“I’m really excited about Project A because it feels like a great bridge before university,” said Ella, who also holds a Grade 8 with distinction in LAMDA acting. “It covers so many different areas of acting and the practical side of the profession. After that, I’d like to apply for a musical theatre degree.
“My ultimate dream is to perform on the West End. The energy there and the professionalism are incredible. I go to the theatre as much as possible because I just love it.”
Reflecting on her time at Dame Allan’s, Ella added: “I’ve met so many different people, particularly through the shows, and I’ve made friends across various year groups. I know I’ll stay in touch with them and come back to watch the shows next year.”