Micheal Ward has teamed up with EE for the Stage Is Yours campaign.
The “Top Boy” star is aiming to inspire secondary school kids to get involved in the arts by finding a young actor to feature in the film Naz, a biopic of British boxing icon Prince Naseem Hamed.
The campaign will feature a TikTok improve competition where performers ages 13 to 17 will have the chance to demonstrate their acting ability alongside Ward.
In addition, Ward — who won the EE BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2020 — has teamed up with EE to develop a series of workshops aiming to inspire secondary school pupils to build self-confidence through the arts.
It follows a recent YouGov survey of secondary school students commissioned by EE that found that kids who regularly take part in drama and the arts were more than twice as likely (32 percent) to feel confident in their everyday life skills compared to those who do not (14 percent).
It was also revealed that passion for the arts wanes as teenagers grow older, with 16-year-olds (11 percent) a third less likely to take part in drama classes than 11-year-olds (44 percent).
“As an actor, I am very passionate about inspiring young people to get involved in the arts because of the incredible benefits it can bring to their confidence and other key life skills. Throughout my career, I’ve had times where I’ve struggled with my confidence and it’s a pleasure to share what I’ve learned along the way with the next generation, whether they’re looking to pursue a career in the arts, or just a boost in their daily lives,” Ward commented.
