YEAR 13 leaver, Orlando Squires, is off to East 15 Acting School after achieving the A Level grades he needed this summer.
We had a quick catch-up with Orlando before he starts his new adventure:
Orlando, in which year group did you join King’s Ely?
“I started my King’s Ely journey back in September 2012, when I joined Year 6.”
Which University/Institution are you going to and what will you be studying?
“I will be attending East 15’s Southend-On-Sea Campus as a student on the BA Acting and Stage Combat Course.”
What career path do you hope to pursue?
“I hope to continue with my passion for acting and combat, and turn it into a professional career. Ever since I joined King’s Ely Senior and attended my first combat masterclass, led by Squire Stage Combat (ironically not related to me in any way!) I have felt almost drawn to the art of storytelling through physicality. This has been encouraged and supported by Nick Huntington, Adella Charlton and other members of the school’s Drama Team. Ideally, I will find a role where I can do such a thing either on stage or on screen. Otherwise I’d hope to teach stage combat, leading masterclasses to inspire more people like I was.”
How do you think King’s Ely prepared you for University life?
“Certain members of the staff team at King’s have helped me grow immensely as I have progressed through the school – be that through supporting and encouraging my aims or providing me with constructive criticism and a more realistic outlook when I could not see such. Going into the world of professional acting, especially in a time like this, is always a gamble. Excuse the pun, but I know that the lessons I have learnt here will help me roll with the punches as much as I can. Given I am going to be the youngest on my course by a minimum of two years, I feel like these lessons will help me immensely in keeping up with my colleagues and competition.”
What will you miss most about King’s Ely and what did you enjoy most during your time here?
“I have many fond memories of my time at King’s! From winning a Silver Medal in my first ever Rowing Regatta, to being able to start up my idea of the Open Mic Nights to show off the variety of talents that exist in my fellow pupils. However long or short these moments were, I was able to immerse myself in any subject or activity I wanted to. Starting the day as an Outdoor Activities Instructor with Ely Scheme and ending it with a performance of our winter musical, for example. This range and openness to explore is one of the many things I will miss about the school. To pick a favourite moment would be so cruel to the rest, as so much of my time has truly been special. Yet if I had to pick one moment, it would have to be achieving my engraved stein on account of earning a total of 72 House Points in my time at Osmond and setting my own record as this has never been achieved before. As a leaving Head of House, I hope that my actions have inspired some of the younger pupils, much like my Housemaster, Mr Lott, inspired me.”