Meet Lauren Drew, a hugely successful musical theatre performer who grew up right here in Neath Port Talbot. Her career began in Neath Port Talbot College, where she starred in multiple productions and realised that her passion could become her livelihood.
Here’s what Lauren has to say about Neath Port Talbot and why it’s so special to her:
“Neath Port Talbot will always hold such a special place in my heart – it’s where everything began for me and no matter where my career takes me, I will always call this place home.
I’ve loved performing for as long as I can remember, putting on shows for my family when I was little and singing and dancing as much as I could. As I got older, conversations started to arise about drama schools, and I remember thinking, “Whoa, you can actually do this as a job?!”.
My experience at Neath Port Talbot College was amazing. I studied Musical Theatre which I absolutely loved, and it was made even better because of the number of productions that the department held each year. We were so lucky to have had that experience, and I think that if I didn’t have the opportunity to star in all the weird and wonderful performances in college, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Once I began to get audience reactions, I was sold! I knew that musical theatre was something that I wanted to pursue as my career and that’s exactly what I did.
A stand-out moment for me so far has been playing the role of Fantine in the UK tour of Les Misérables. I actually performed in the show while I was at Neath Port Talbot College, so it was a real full-circle moment for me.
Growing up in Neath Port Talbot was incredible. There’s something about the people here, and it’s rooted in the very foundations of who we are. There is so much passion and heart here that I haven’t found anywhere else. I think because it’s such a working-class area, everyone around you is so driven, loving and wholesome. It inevitably shapes who you are as a person.
This town has really been through the mill, but you will not find harder working, more passionate, more driven, kinder, or more loving people anywhere else.”