Truro High’s Hollie Jennings, 16 from Newquay, is one step closer to making her West End dream a reality having earned a sought-after spot to study Musical Theatre at the world-famous BRIT School.

Competition for the course was fierce with over 3,000 students applying and only 50 earning a place.

Based in London, the BRIT School is the leading Performing and Creative Arts school in the UK.

Its alumni include Hollywood actors such as Marvel’s Tom Holland and Grammy, BRIT and MOBO award-winning artists such as Adele, Amy Winehouse, Ella Eyre, Jessie J, Kate Nash and FKA Twigs.

Falmouth Packet:

Hollie said: “I feel very lucky considering there were so many people who auditioned and very excited that I’ve been given the opportunity to learn at the college and get to know the people there. Truro High School has taught me to never be afraid to ask questions or make mistakes – I think that’s very important and will help me a lot when I move up to London.”

Hollie has been at Truro High since she was 4-years-old and has starred in a huge number of school productions but she really caught the acting bug in Senior School.

She said: “In Year 8, I got into my first proper theatre show which was with Hall for Cornwall doing their Christmas pantomime: Sleeping Beauty. I loved doing that show and the whole cast and I can remember how exciting it was every night we did a show. We also performed 20 times for that show which was tiring but also so thrilling at the same time.”

Her career has gone from strength to strength since then. Hollie has worked for Disney, was chosen to perform with the British Youth Music Theatre Company, performed on the West End stage and got into the Minack Theatre Academy just before lockdown.

A real team player, this year Hollie took on the role of assistant director for the school’s Year 7, 8 and 9 production of Terry Pratchett’s Wyrd Sisters. Social distancing meant that she undertook all the directing from the school’s drama sound booth.