HILARY Pezet is well-known in the region’s theatre circles as both actor and Kendal College drama coach, cajoling and coaxing many young performers along the way.

This week the spotlight shines on Ms Pezet herself as she’s landed a place on the MA in Actor Training and Coaching course at London’s Central School of Speech and Drama.

“This is a dream come true for me,” said Hilary, who explained that Central only takes 14 people on the MA from all over the world: “When they told us at the audition that they had already taken four from America I thought my chances were slim, so to see the envelop offering me a place was just wonderful.

“Although I trained as an actress myself at the Royal Welsh College, the opportunity to train at Central at masters level is just like winding the clocks back to when I was a young actress starting out.”

“This is a great opportunity for the college as well, as I’ll be training with many of the leading practitioners from the UK and abroad, many of whom have written the theory that I teach.

Hilary said that its “perfect timing” as Kendal College’s new Wildman Street ‘Box Studio’ opens in October, which means that Hilary will be able to create new acting courses at college as a result of taking the MA.

Hilary mentioned that some of her students are also in the process of applying for places.

“Joe Jamieson, who has just played the lead in our production of Our Country’s Good, has had a second recall for RADA and a recall for Manchester Met, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed for him as he really deserves a place.

“Josh Richmond was offered a place on the spot at the Arden Manchester to study contemporary theatre and Jamie Lea O’Brien has been given an unconditional offer to study contemporary dance at John Moores University.”

Meanwhile, Hilary and the performing arts team are working on this year’s KC ‘big’ production Animal Farm, which will run at Kendal’s Brewery Arts Centre, from June 15-17.

George Orwell’s classic satire is adapted for the stage by Peter Hall, with KC’s Brewery show featuring a terrific score written by the college’s own music guru Tim Riley