Kim BriscoeA student actress from Norwich has fulfilled her dream of performing Shakespeare at the Globe Theatre in London.Kim Briscoe

A student actress from Norwich has fulfilled her dream of performing Shakespeare at the Globe Theatre in London.

Rachael Jennings, from Thorpe Marriott, was one of two students from her drama school selected to perform at the famous theatre as part of the fifth annual Sam Wanamaker Festival.

The 24-year-old, who is a third year student at Sir Paul McCartney's Institute for Performing Arts in Liverpool, performed a scene from the play Othello in front of an audience of casting agent, artistic directors, friends, family and the general public.

The former Taverham High School pupil took part in the festival alongside students from 22 of the UK's leading drama schools, with just two actors or actresses chosen from each school to act out a Shakespeare scene.

Miss Jennings performed a scene from Othello, playing the part of Emilia, the attendant to Othello's wide Desdemona, who was played by her classmate Katie McIvor.

She described the scene as a 'hidden gem' and said it was an exciting interaction between two women of a different status.

'I simply adore presenting the works of Shakespeare, in the way and in the location they should be presented,' said Miss Jennings. 'Acting on the stage of the Globe has been a dream of mine for years.'

The pair also took part in a weekend of classes, lectures and workshops at the Globe, as well participating in a Q&A session with the artistic director Dominic Dromgoole.

The Sam Wanamaker Festival is inspired by the Globe's founder, the actor Sam Wanamaker, who worked tirelessly for the last 23 years of his life to rebuild Shakespeare's Globe on the banks of the River Thames in London.

Previous participants of the Sam Wanamaker Festival include Thomasin Rand, who starred as Rosaline in the Globe's 2009 production of Love's Labour's Lost, and Rachel Winters, who is about to appear in Globe Education's upcoming production of Macbeth for schools.

Patrick Spottiswoode, director of Globe Education, said 'The festival celebrates the remarkable talent that is being nurtured in our drama schools.

'There is no Simon Cowell or panel of judges in the audience - there is a spirit of celebration rather than competition'.

Do you have a story for the Evening News? Contact reporter Kim Briscoe on 01603 772419 or email kim.briscoe@archant.co.uk.