A FORMER Rugby College Performing Arts student has landed her first lead role in a major musical theatre production and is now waiting in the wings to make her West End debut.
Georgia Anderson has been cast to star alongside Michael Ball in the original award-winning production of Hairspray the Musical at the London Coliseum.
The production, which will see Mr Ball reprise his Olivier Award-winning role, was scheduled for September but has now been postponed until April next year due to Covid-19 government guidelines.
Georgia, who celebrated her 24th birthday during lockdown at her family home in Monks Kirby, will play Amber Von Tussle in the revival of the smash-hit musical which is set to run for 19 weeks until August 2021.
The former Rugby High schoolgirl achieved a distinction for her extended diploma in Performing Arts at Rugby College, which is part of WCG, and during her time there, performed in productions including Les Misérables, Little Shop of Horrors and Chicago.
After Rugby College, she went on to study for a degree in musical theatre at the Guildford School of Acting and within just a few months of graduating last summer, successfully auditioned for the dream role.
Georgia said: “It is a complete dream come true. I was in shock for a really long time after I found out I had got the part and I think I still am to be honest! I am so grateful to have an opportunity like this after only graduating last year. It’s an iconic role in a brilliant show.
“Whilst I was at Rugby College, I was encouraged to join Rugby Theatre and I was in several productions there including in the ensemble for Hairspray. I could never have imagined then starring in the original production in the West End.
“I loved my time at Rugby College. It was so much fun and the productions that we put on were amazing. It was my first exposure to performing arts, and it made me realise that I could pursue musical theatre as a career.
“The teachers were great and the independence we had as students really helped me gain a lot of confidence which was so important.
“My advice to any performing arts student at the college would be not to give up and really put everything you have got into it. There have been times when it’s been so difficult and you have to keep pushing but if it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone!”
Hayley Glover, performing arts lecturer and course leader at Rugby College, was delighted for Georgia.
She said: “Whilst at the college, Georgia played ‘Audrey’ in our production of Little Shop of Horrors as well as many other roles in various shows.
“She has done incredibly well to be cast so soon in a lead role in the West End. It’s a fantastic achievement which I’m sure will inspire our students and we would like to congratulate her and wish her well for when the production opens.”
