A Warwick Academy student has been accepted into one of the most prestigious and competitive performing arts programmes in Britain.

Zion Mills, 18, auditioned for the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London last month and found out he was accepted into the school’s three-year Bachelor of Arts with Honours acting (musical theatre) programme one day later.

It is understood that only 24 students are accepted into this programme every year.

Mr Mills said: “I did a lot of research about the school and found out that it aligned with a lot of my goals of becoming a screen actor and an actor that can sing.”

He never saw himself as a performer, but caught the theatre bug after helping out backstage during Warwick Academy’s production of Matilda, which he backed out of performing in.

Mr Mills reflected: “I regretted [not being in that show] ever since and made a promise to myself that I would do school plays every single year.

“I then did the Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society’s 24 Hours to Curtain and Gilbert & Sullivan shows, and I fell in love with it. It turned into a passion.”

He was in the Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory last year and was in the Warwick Academy shows Legally Blonde, Grease and his personal favourite, Oliver!, where he portrayed Bill Sykes.

Mr Mills applied to about ten performing arts schools in Britain, including Arts Education Britain and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and was accepted into four.

He encouraged other aspiring Bermudian actors to follow their passions and not listen to the critics.

He said: “A few times people have told me they’re looking for this and that — don’t listen to those people and just go for it. Even if the odds are slim, just keep going.”

Mr Mills thanked his mother, grandmother, drama teacher Sarah Bowers and singing teacher Joy T. Barnum for their support throughout his journey.