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UEL theatre studies student is on the road to success with a role in top RSC play

Thursday 4 March 2010

Michael Amaning

A UEL Theatre Studies student has landed a key role in a Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) production called, Dunsinane, which premiered as a new RSC production at the Hampstead Theatre on 10 February.

Michael Amaning, 20, from Queens Park in North West London is currently in his first year at UEL studying BA Theatre Studies, the parts he plays are one of the twelve soldiers and a Scottish Lord, Michael said: 

“I auditioned for the soldiers’ role in Dunsinane after my friend introduced me to the assistant director. It’s really exciting and challenging juggling acting with my course work. In this role, I am mostly in Parliament and singing a song about wanting to go back to England after being in Scotland so long, with the other soldiers. I had rehearsals every Saturday since January and then it was every day. My family have come to see me and they are really proud.”

The production is by the acclaimed Scottish playwright and theatre director David Greig and is about an English army taking over in Scotland after the death of Macbeth. The exhilarating play highlights the plight of the commanding officer as he attempts to restore peace amongst his inexperienced troops in an unfamiliar country.

Before choosing to further his studies at UEL in 2009, Michael was working at the National Youth Theatre (NYT) in Holloway from 2008; a previous noted role was to play Jamal, a young father in prison in Fathers Inside last September at the Soho Theatre in London.  The much-praised play was produced by the NYT, written by Philip Osment and directed by Jim Pope.

Michael is currently working hard on his studies but in the future hopes to set up a theatre company with Philip Osment and Jim Pope called “Playing Out”, it is also his dream is to get involved in writing and directing plays on completion of his degree.

He added: “I’ve always been interested in acting as I like to explain my stories through my plays and influence people on a positive level to think about the issues that matter, to open their hearts and minds further.”

Dunsinane is on at the Hampstead Theatre until 6 March. For further details visit www.hampsteadtheatre.com

Notes to Editors

David Greig is a multi award-winning Scottish playwright. His work is regularly produced by the National Theatre of Scotland and his most recent production for the RSC was The American Pilot.

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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