Imogen Bailey - Stage scholarship winner, Sylvia Young Theatre School

Published Wednesday 3 May 2006 at 11:05 by Paul Vale

Imogen lives in Hackney, trained at the Variations Dance Studio in Leytonstone and has recently gained a Stage scholarship to the Sylvia Young Theatre School. Aged ten, she is currently appearing in Billy Elliot and performing voiceover work for a new Disney production.

How are you enjoying working in the West End?

It’s very exciting. We started rehear-sals in January last year and while it’s been hard work it is really great fun. My mother is very supportive and school has been very understanding with time off for auditions and rehearsals as I am still in Year 5.

Is this your first big show?

No, before this I was in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Palladium playing one of the children. I got to work with Gary Willmot and Lionel Blair played the Child Catcher. He was really good fun to work with.

You are very young to be a veteran of the West End. What do you have planned next?

I have an audition in May for The Lion King at the Lyceum. It’s a great show so I really hope I get to perform in it. And I shall be starting at the Sylvia Young Theatre School.

Tell me about your audition for the school.

There were three parts. First there was the dance test followed by an academic test, which consisted of exams in maths and English. Then we had to perform a musical number - I chose God Help the Outcast from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. After that I performed two dramatic pieces, one classical and one modern. I’ll be studying at the Sylvia Young Theatre School until Year 11.

Does acting run in your family?

My mum Aniela is very supportive and she teaches piano and singing, so that has to have been a big influence. I hope I’m able to keep performing for as long as possible but I do enjoy my school work - especially maths.