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Actors Learn the Welsh Guards Drill

25 March 2015

Filed Under:

Acting

RWCMD actors were put through their paces by a Sergeant Major as they prepared to perform in a special concert to celebrate 100 years of the Welsh Guards.

The concert, which took place at RWCMD, was directed by regular visitor and collaborator Bruce Guthrie.

Second year acting students George Naylor, Connor Vickery, Ross Foley, Jack Hammett and Rhys Whomsley each represented a soldier from a different era throughout the 100 years of the Welsh Guards, performing a mixture of poetry and song, alongside the RWCMD brass ensemble and the Band of the Welsh Guards.

With high-ranking army personnel in the audience, it was essential that the actors performed the drills and marching with the highest level of accuracy. The actors were given drill sessions outside College in the dark by Sergeant Major Steven Boika, who was part of the regiment and had toured with the Guards in Afghanistan.

For his role as a Commanding Officer, actor Connor Vickery’s preparation included reading the 2014 Officer’s Handbook and watching the Changing of the Guards. He said:

The show was absolutely terrifying because the Dora was completely packed and you knew, looking out, that these people knew every fact and every command that you were saying. It would be a bit like doing Hamlet with the RSC in the audience. We did a mini-tour around all the tables and met some childhood heroes, as well as some very complimentary veterans. We heard some incredible stories and I am very grateful I could be a part of it.”

Ross Foley said:

We got really positive feedback from the Guards – many of them saying they thought we were actually in the Welsh Guards as our Drill was so good. This was a massive compliment to us and to Steve for having trained us. They seemed to have enjoyed the night and were extremely grateful to us for being a part of the Centenary performance.”