The budding Hartlepool actors who are bidding to follow in the footsteps of Hollywood stars like Daniel Craig

Juho Hankela and Teigan Gardham are second year students at The Northern School of Art and both have won places at the National Youth Theatre.

They took part in the highly competitive UK-wide auditions for the 2020 intake earlier this year and will follow in the footsteps of past students Daniel Craig, Daniel Day-Lewis, Colin Firth and Helen Mirren.

Jonny Bussell, the programme leader for the school’s BA (Hons) Acting for Stage and Screen degree, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that out of the thousands of people who audition for the National Youth Theatre two of our current second year students have been chosen.

“Teigan and Juho have both worked really hard during their time with us and the progress both have made has been great to see. They will have the opportunity to learn new skills and work with a wide range of different practitioners.

“I was lucky enough to join the NYT when I was 17 and it was a major factor in my development, it also gave me a big confidence boost and was a great experience. I’m sure both Teigan and Juho will get loads from their time working with the tutors there.”

Teigan said: “I was absolutely over the moon and I felt extremely grateful to be offered a place. I'm excited to meet creatives like myself from all across the UK and take advantage of the many opportunities the NYT will bring.

“My acting degree course is helping me develop the skills needed to able to audition for such things as the NYT. If it wasn't for the training I'm currently receiving from the School, I don't think I would had the confidence to audition.”

Juho said: “Without the training I've received from my tutors I doubt I would have been able to be as calm in the situation as I was, neither could I have performed my monologue to the standard that I did.

“It was also a very relaxed as well as lovely and supportive atmosphere, which was a fun afternoon creating and sharing work with other talented young artists.”

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