An Angus performer is encouraging others to reach for the stars as he sets his own sights on achieving his top stage ambition — playing Judas – to crown an 11-year year career.
Llandyll Gove, from Montrose is advising aspiring local performers to bid for a scholarship opportunity being offered by a Glasgow performing arts school to a young male looking to make their way in musical theatre.
A professional for the past 11 years, Landyll has sung, danced and acted since the age of three in a journey which has taken him from global Highland Dancing competitions as a youngster to the stage of London’s West End.
The 32-year-old trained at GAMTA, a performing arts school in Glasgow, which has opened its scholarship opportunity to disadvantaged boys wishing to train as a musical theatre performer.
“I feel lucky that I have achieved a lot of what I wanted to already,” said Llandyll, a former pupil of St Margaret’s Primary School and Montrose Academy.
“I’ve been in the original West End cast of a musical, on an original cast recording, played a lead role, been a dance captain, and performed in number one UK tours in shows I’ve always wanted to be in.
“I would love to play Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar — that’s my number one role.
“The show is my mum’s favourite film and musical and it’s always been mine, too. We used to watch it a lot when I was a kid. I was obsessed with Carl Anderson who played Judas and I always said I wanted to do what he does.”
He has encouraged school-leavers and aspiring performers to consider the path he took to success in the theatre industry, with auditions at GAMTA open for a September start and one remaining boy’s scholarship available for 2020/21 after the school found a successful candidate for a funded female place.
“Training at GAMTA was tough but hugely gratifying,” he said. “I made the best of friends who are all still as close as ever today and it made me realise that I didn’t want to do anything else.”
Shaaron Graham, who established GAMTA in 1994, said: “We’re so proud of Llandyll, who was so driven and ambitious from his first day here.
“We’re committed to doing our bit to help address ongoing gender imbalance in the performing arts industry and encourage other boys like Llandyll to train for a career as a successful performer.”
GAMTA graduates have performed in London’s West End, on UK and European tours, in film and television, on cruise ships and for national and regional theatres in the UK.
