Gino Nicholson wins a place at RADA

Gino Nicholson

Gino Nicholson, 22, from Heywood, has been offered a place to study at one of the world's most famous acting schools.

Six thousand 6,000 people applied from all over the world and only 32 students are accepted. Through hard work, passion and determination, Gino won a place at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).

Gino said: “This is a massive opportunity for me and I believe that the level of training and expert guidance I could receive at RADA would provide me with the specific skills and tools needed to lead a successful career in theatre, TV drama and film.”

RADA is regarded as one of the world's leading drama schools and is a place where a long line of great actors and actresses first began learning their craft. Famous names such as Dame Helen Mirren, Sir Kenneth Branagh, Ralph Fiennes, John Thaw, Sir Roger Moore and Sir Anthony Hopkins all trained there.

Gino joined an amateur dramatics society at university and has since performed in a number of productions and has recently been awarded Best Male Actor for his efforts.

He auditioned for a part in a play titled ‘Broken Youth’, a gritty northern play which was based on the novel by bestselling author, Karen Woods and won a role in the stage adaptation which was performed at the Lowry theatre on the 29 June this year.

Gino added: "I genuinely believe that the training I would receive and connections I would make at RADA would help lay the foundations and be a huge stepping stone towards a successful career. I am ready to dedicate the rest of my life towards becoming an actor and mastering this craft which is why I applied for RADA.

"The course is a one year long foundation course in acting, this is ideal for myself as I am new and need that introduction in order to build and master the craft.

"With just a year’s experience, I have already come further than many actors with years of experience dream of and I do not intend to stop any time soon. With the best possible training and expert guidance I could receive from a school like RADA the sky is the limit and the possibilities are endless."

The fee for the 24 week long course beginning in September, is £11,440 and on top of this he will also need funding to support himself whilst studying in London.

Student loans/grants and career development loans are not available for this type of course and hence Gino has worked hard since being offered his place in order to raise the funds and has so far raised a total of £6,500.

Gino remains determined to raise the further funding needed and has an agreement with RADA of a payment plan to pay his course fee off over a year via monthly instalments.

As a regular volunteer at Heywood Youth Link, Gino has the support of many locals and is trying everything he can to raise the money, including a fund raising event at Veenas Restaurant.

Founder of Heywood Youth Link, Jenny Kennedy is helping Gino co-ordinate the appeal and said: “We’re very keen. He has just three weeks left to get the money together.

“We’re trying to raise the money from local businesses on his behalf.”

Fundraiser event: an evening of food and entertainment at Veenas Indian Restaurant, Heywood on Thursday 5 September at 7:30pm

Tickets: £20 per person
Contact Veenas resaurant for tickets: 01706 366822

If you cannot make the night and you or your business would still like to help, whether it be by sponsorship of Gino or one of his events, you can do so by contacting Jenny Kennedy from Youth link - a Heywood based charity which specialises in supporting young local people - 07977 048896.