Educating Rayyah – with a little help from Manning Stainton!

On to the next stage – Rayyah McCaul with Manning Stainton Director Andrew Butler.

13th March 2007

A young Leeds actress, Rayyah McCaul, described by a leading Artistic Director as “talented, conscientious and a pleasure to direct” is hoping to reach for the stars with the help of family, friends and local companies.

In recent years Rayyah has gained valuable experience within theatre-in-education and with touring companies – occasionally playing larger venues including the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

So when she asked Manning Stainton for assistance in funding a one year intensive acting course at London’s Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA) the company was delighted to provide a £350 cheque from its Community Fund, as well as bringing Rayyah to the attention of a wider audience.

Rayyah (28) says her passion for acting began at the age of ten: -

“I was offered the fairly nondescript role of the innkeeper’s wife in the school nativity,” she smiles, “A little disheartened, I thought I would add a few touches to make it my own and quite unexpectedly ended up getting the biggest laugh of the night…and a lead part in the next school play!”

The ALRA course, which attracts no grants or assistance from the local authority in West Yorkshire, will develop her physical and vocal skills, says Rayyah, enabling her to take on more challenging roles.

Thanking Manning Stainton she says the encouragement and financial support she has received from many sources makes her even more determined to make that final push for acting success.

Manning Stainton Director Andrew Butler has his fingers crossed for that success: -

“Rayyah has a tremendous presence and is clearly destined for bigger things in the future. Me too, as I’ve never been to an Oscar Awards ceremony!”