Best known for starring in BBC comedies Him & Her and Bad Education, actress and writer Sarah Solemani recently joined the board of the National Youth Theatre where she began her career.
The organisation are about to begin their 2016 auditions; the application process allows applicants from all backgrounds across the UK the chance to join the National Youth Theatre to build careers in the industry working with other young people whilst the courses provide extensive training on theatre and theatre practice. Alumni include Dame Helen Mirren, Daniel Craig, Chiwetel Ejiofor CBE and Sir Daniel Day Lewis.
Sarah’s television credits include: The Borgias, Skins and Psychoville; she is set to appear in the upcoming Bridget Jones’ Baby film whilst her theatre credits include The Graduate (West End) and The House of Bernarda Alba (Almeida). Sarah has penned and starred in The Secrets - The Conversation, part of a series of drama films produced by Working Title for the BBC.
She is under commission to write original comedy with FX Studio in the US and has work in development with Kudos, Tiger Aspect and Working Title. Sarah’s first play was produced by the NYT and since then her plays have been performed at the Soho Theatre, Lyric Hammersmith, Arcola, Southwark Playhouse, Old Vic, Theatre503 and the Public Theatre, New York.
I recently spoke to Sarah about how the NYT kick-started her career, who should be auditioning to work with the organisation and what she thinks about the buzz surrounding new writing in London…
The National Youth Theatre kicked off your career, do you remember what it was that inspired you to audition in the first place?
I used to go to a Saturday morning class at Mountview in London where I grew up; I really enjoyed it but it was only a few hours and some of the kids didn’t take it seriously and wouldn’t always turn up. I wanted more, and heard about the National Youth Theatre. When I started reading about the NYT and looking into the courses and training and opportunity to be introduced into the industry I thought ‘I have to be a part of this’. I remember preparing my speeches religiously each night – I had no experience or family in the business. At the time drama school was hugely expensive and not an option for me. I remember very clearly the audition and the recall and then the letter arriving on the mat telling me I’d got a place. Then I did the training, the following year I was asked to do a production, then I got an agent and the following year I was in The Graduate in the West End!
