Former Royal Wootton Bassett Academy pupil Harry Apps lands Les Misérables role

The 18-year-old, who only finished his A-levels at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy in June, has landed the role of Marius of the 2019 tour of UK and Ireland for his professional debut.

“I’m a bit of a rare case really because most people normally go and do three years at drama school when they’re my age,” Harry told the Adver.

“It’s going to be a really incredible year going around the UK. I’m going to see a lot of places I’ve never seen before.”

Harry went to an open audition in Cardiff in June before getting his results and after going for a third audition for the part of Marius got the call back.

“I took a deep breath in and I said, I would like to take it,” he said, “then I ended the call very professionally and screamed.

“It’s such a wonderful production and I think the audience are going to enjoy it so much.”

The young actor will make his first appearance alongside West End stars Killian Donnelly, Katie Ball, and Martin Ball, who have been playing the circuit for years.

Harry’s teachers have all brought tickets to see shows in the tour, which starts in Leicester in November before travelling the country and finishing in Newcastle in November 2019.

Liz Hodgson, head of music at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy, said: “To land a role like this is just unheard of at 18.

“We always knew that he was destined for big things, bigger than just university.

“We’re just so unbelievably proud of him. A student hasn’t achieved something like this at such a young age from Royal Wootton Bassett Academy before. I went online immediately and got my ticket for Leicester.”

Zoe Markham-Lee, head of drama at the school, added: “He was always very talented. He could sing, dance and act. Whenever he was working in groups, he was always the leader and director and wanting the best out of everything. He came with talent but we like to think we moulded him.”

The UK tour of Les Misérables opens in Leicester on November 3 at The Curve.