Two talented young performers from local schools have been crowned Bath Young Actors of the Year 2026 following an evening of outstanding performances at The Rose, the drama centre at King Edward’s School in Bath.
Thirteen-year-old Ella O’Mahony from Hayesfield School won the junior title, while Henry Parr, a Year 11 student at Stonar School, was named senior winner. Both received their trophies and prizes from the Mayor of Bath, Cllr Ruth Malloy.
The competition, a highlight of the Mid-Somerset Festival calendar, featured six talented young actors selected from the festival held in March.
Ella impressed the adjudicators with her interpretation of ‘The Passage of Time’, using the persona of an ageing actress to link her performances. Her repertoire included an extract from Living with Lady Macbeth by Rob John, Ophelia’s ‘madness’ scene from Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Noël Coward’s poignant and witty poem Epitaph for an Elderly Actress.
The adjudicators praised Ella’s strong sense of imagery, compelling performances and the engaging way she linked her pieces to create a rounded repertoire.
Junior runners-up Sophia Edwards and Caspar Harrison also received high praise. Sophia, whose theme was ‘What You Wear’, was commended for her ‘beautiful vocal tones’, while Caspar entertained the audience with his ‘Villains – Boo! Hiss!’ repertoire and conversational, easy style.
In the senior competition, Henry Parr impressed the adjudicators with his performances on the theme of ‘Behind the Mask’.
His repertoire included a moving rendition of Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem about racism, We Wear the Mask, and a passionate performance from Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, in which Chris confronts his father.
Henry also delivered a modern interpretation of Benedick in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, with adjudicators praising his ability to convey the scene’s humour and his ownership of the role.
Senior runners-up Pepper Woods and Maude Morgan were also recognised for their impressive performances.
Pepper presented her pieces on the theme of ‘Mad, Bad or Misunderstood’ with great confidence, including a disciplined and convincing portrayal of Queen Margaret in Henry VI, Part 3. Maude explored ‘Past Pain’ through contrasting performances, culminating in a poignant scene from A Real Pain.
Adjudicators Marcia Carr and Rebecca Thompson praised the exceptional talent of all six young actors, offering detailed critiques and encouragement.
Marcia, who had travelled from Southend for the event, described it as ‘a joyous evening – thoroughly worth the long drive!’
Sandra McDowell, representing the Speech and Drama Committee, thanked the students, teachers, parents, adjudicators and sponsors, particularly King Edward’s School for hosting the competition.
The Mid-Somerset Festival, which was founded in 1902, will return to venues across Bath in March 2027. Volunteers are always welcome to help support the event.
For more information, visit www.midsomersetfestival.org.
