Borehamwood actor explores new opportunity

8:04am Monday 12th May 2008

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An ambitious young actor from Borehamwood is appearing at the National Theatre in London this month.

Ronald Chabvuka, 13, of Shenley Road, is performing in the play Fram, which runs until May 22.The play, written and directed by poet Tony Harrison, is set on a ship and is about the Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922.Ronald was the winner of the inaugural Borehamwood and Elstree Times Stagecoach Scholarship in 2004 at the age of just nine.He still attends the Stagecoach drama school, based at St Teresa's Primary School, in Brook Road, Borehamwood, every Saturday.Ronald said: "This part is a big deal for me and I am really enjoying being involved in the production. At my audition for the role I had to read part of the script to the people who were choosing the actors."I also had to make up a monologue to perform in front of them."The play is on a few times a week, but I don't perform in all the shows as there are other boys with the same role as me that perform on other days."Ronald is part of the Hampstead-based choir The London Lads, for boys from ethnic minorities. Last September, Ronald sang in a concert at the Royal Albert Hall in front of international footballers Thierry Henry and Didier Drogba.The show was organised and starred singer Patti Boulaye and raised money for Football Reaching Out for Africa, a charity supporting people with for HIV/AIDS and malaria.The youngster performed gospel and pop music along with 3,000 other singers at the event.He said: "Although I am very much into the acting, dancing and singing sides of performing, I find I am drawn more towards singing. "When I was younger I became inspired by watching people like comedian Chris Rock who is a very funny person and a great performer."Another big inspiration from day one was Michael Jackson. He is also a great stage performer. He inspired me to want to become a great singer and dancer. "I hope I can be as successful in the future as these people."Even though I am more into my singing, the role in Fram was too good a part to turn down and I am very pleased that I am there."To buy tickets for Fram, log on to www.national theatre.org.uk/fram or, to join Stagecoach, call Beverly Hyman on 020 8958 3143.