Millfield student pursues Events Management and starts own company after illuminating Somerset landmark during global pandemic

After using his stage management experience from school to illuminate local landmark Glastonbury Tor on Thursday evenings after the national clap for carers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Millfield Upper Sixth student Sam Wardell from Glastonbury is now going on study part-time in Events Management at the Events Academy in London, as well as starting his own events company.

The teenager lit up Glastonbury Tor in blue as a tribute to key workers by placing two small LED lights at the tower, with the effects visible for miles around. Sam studied for three A levels in Drama, Photography and Product Design at the independent school in Somerset.

Eighteen-year-old Sam, who joined Millfield Prep in 2012, has been learning the art of lighting and stage management with Millfield’s theatre technical team since his first production of Arabian Nights in 2015. He has now worked on almost 20 productions, including his A Level Drama Devised Piece ‘Iridescent’, where he designed and operated both the lights and sound for the entire show.

The Drama student has developed his skills in the School’s 400 seat multifunctional entertainment space, the Meyer Theatre, which includes a professional standard lighting and sound desk overlooking the stage.

Sam says, "I had seen some houses and Windsor Castle had been lit up in blue, so I wanted to do something bigger to show my appreciation for everything the NHS has been doing. I’m really lucky to have had the experience at Millfield, where I discovered my passion for theatre and learned how it all works behind the scenes. We had a mobile phone chat for the residents in the close and everyone said they thought it looked nice."