Student at Portfield School, owned by Autism Unlimited, moves closer to West End role

A STUDENT at a Christchurch school for children with autism has taken a step closer to achieving his dream of starring in the West End by landing a place on a BTEC theatre studies course.

Fenton Loader (17), who attends Portfield School, owned by Autism Unlimited, began performing while at a mainstream primary school, with his first ever role being Pumba in The Lion King when he was 10.

He is due to start at Brockenhurst College in September.

“It’s all been very exciting - I just can’t wait to get started and show everyone what I can do,” he said.

“I want to be an actor one day and, of course, my ambition is to star in the West End.”

Fenton, from Bournemouth, said being on stage helped him gain confidence.

“I felt I could really express myself,” he said. “But being at mainstream school was very difficult for me because my autism means I respond to some situations differently, and this meant I struggled with managing my emotions sometimes.”

Fenton said once he started at Portfield School in Parley Lane, he was “flying”.

“The teachers there understand me and have been able to help me learn and also discover my acting talent. They are amazing.

“When people find out I am autistic they are often surprised because they expect autistic people to be shy and quiet, which I am not.

“All autistic people are different. We still have the same ambitions and dreams, and we love fun. But mostly, people think about what we can’t do.

“My autism actually helps my acting because I am an expert at learning lines, and the organised way I think means I can go over and over them in my head, wherever I am.”

Fenton is a member of Stagewise School for Performing Arts at The Lighthouse Theatre in Poole, where he has just appeared in Macbeth. He also completed a week of work experience at the theatre.

Patricia Vaughan, Fenton’s teacher at Sixth Form said: “I have had the privilege of being Fenny’s teacher for the past academic year, and have witnessed first-hand his ceaseless enthusiasm, passion and motivation for acting, singing and musicals.

“I have been educated by his phenomenal knowledge of musicals and films, and entertained by his eclectic choice of music, which he plays on our minibus journeys, making tedious journeys uplifting ones as we all follow Fenny’s lead and sing along.”