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Acting graduate makes West End debut in Peppa Pig Live!

Monday, 4 February, 2019

Bath Spa University BA Acting alumna Eleanor Aldridge has achieved one of her lifelong dreams by appearing on the West End. Eleanor, who graduated in 2014, recently completed a 15-month tour with Peppa Pig Live!, where she graced the stage as Mummy Pig and Madame Gazelle.

Eleanor said: “When we found out the show was transferring to the West End, I burst into tears and proclaimed it was a dream come true! Every day we would come to work and constantly question if this was really happening. It was everything I expected and more.”

Eleanor, who has always had a love of drama, enjoyed acting and singing in school assemblies and productions from a young age. When the time finally came for her to decide between an “everyday job” and pursuing her passion for acting, she chose to follow her heart. “My family supported me from the beginning, so I decided to go for it,” she said. “And I’m seriously glad I did!”

After graduating with her BA in Acting, Eleanor moved back home to Derbyshire for a year and took a role as a call centre worker in order to save up the funds to move to London. Once in London, it was not long before she was offered a job as understudy on Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom, followed by her successful audition for Peppa Pig seven months later.

Eleanor credits Bath Spa with giving her skills and experience to help move her career forward. “I gained a lot of knowledge during my degree that I definitely took with me into my auditions and performances,” she said. “We had a lot of fun [at Bath Spa] working with improvisation, singing, instruments and script work. It definitely opened my eyes to the world of children’s theatre and helped me fall in love with the characters!”

Eleanor is currently back on tour with Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdomin the role of Nanny Plum. A typical tour will see her shuttling back and forth from home to hotel to performance venue, with a day two off in between to go to the gym or take care of household chores.

Talking about what drives her enthusiasm, Eleanor said she finds inspiration in working with her fellow actors. “I’ve worked with a very talented group of women this year who inspired me every day and really spurred me on to do more for my career.”

“It can be a pretty cut throat industry - networking, emailing the right people and inviting casting directors and agents to come watch your shows,” Eleanor said. “But we do it because we love it!’’

Interested in studying BA Acting?

As a student on the BA Acting course, you’ll be part of the prestigious Bath School of Music and Performing Arts - a flourishing creative hub of ideas and collaborative practice. You’ll benefit from innovative collaborations with other courses in the school, including theatre and digital production, film and music students. Visit the course page to find out more.