Former National Diploma Performing Arts student Lauren Samuels| is currently playing the lead character ‘Scaramouche’ in the West End musical We Will Rock You.

To get the part Lauren had to audition live in front of Queen Guitarist Brian May and fellow former Stratford-upon-Avon College student Ben Elton|.

Lauren, 23, left the College in 2006 to study Musical Theatre at the Guildford School of Acting. More recently she reached the finals in Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production of the Wizard of Oz on BBC1’s show Over The Rainbow before going on to play the role of ‘Sandy’ in Grease, at London’s Piccadilly Theatre.

Take a look at this video from 2005 to see Lauren (better known to College staff as Lauren Bonner) appearing in a student ‘stars in their eyes’ as part of a BTEC National Diploma Performing Arts| assignment.

Feeling inspired by Lauren's success? Stratford-upon-Avon College Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull offers a range of  Performing Arts, Drama, and Musical Theatre diplomas and A level courses.|