FOUR Hampshire students will have the opportunity to spend the summer in London after winning places in the National Youth Theatre.

The group Theatre for Life, based at Itchen Sixth Form College, has teamed up with The National Youth Theatre’s Auditions Access Fund to provide auditions and workshops with the theatre company.

The fund is supported by patron Hugh Bonneville, who visited the college to guide and coach the students before their auditions, as well as helping them build their confidence.

Approximately £37,500 from the company will support free participation in workshops and auditions over three years at 30 schools and youth groups across the UK.

Lewis Tipping, Kerry Loclett, Grace Aluko and Elle Stokes will spend weeks working and performing with the National Youth Theatre for free, as all of them received financial support from the Audition’s Access Fund.

Lewis was the only one who was not accepted through Theatre for Life as he decided to audition independently with the support of his teachers at the college.

Dawn Hitchcock, Theatre for Life assistant director, said: "We hope to get maybe one child in every year, so to get four is an amazing achievement. Organisations like the National Youth Theatre’s Auditions Access Fund make the art accessible for everyone."

She added: "Without them, a lot of young people would never have the chance to follow their dreams. We would also be looking at a generation of middle class actors, with the working class talent getting no help or attention."

Between them, the Southampton students have been involved in the All in the Mind arts festival, Gecko Theatre and ZoieLogic Dance Theatre. They have also worked for the Nuffield Theatre and with comedian Elf Lyons before auditioning for the National Youth Theatre.

Olivia Panario, marketing officer at Itchen Sixth Form College, said: "For one school to get four students accepted is almost unheard of and they were all quite shocked when they found out. All four of them definitely want to pursue a life in the arts."

The National Youth Theatre has produced a number of actors, such as Daniel Craig, Catherine Tate, Matt Smith and Timothy Spall.