MARTIN Coat, a young actor who will be remembered by local audiences for his many fine performances with Frome Drama, has been chosen to take part in a special day at Shakespeare's Globe in London next Sunday, 21st March.

The fifth annual Sam Wanamaker Festival, staged at the re-created Shakespearean theatre on the South Bank that was the American actor's life work, brings together drama students from all around the country.

Martin is now a third-year student at Oxford School of Drama, and he will perform a scene from Macbeth in front of an audience of casting agents, artistic directors, friends, family and the general public, alongside other students from 22 of the UK's leading drama schools.

Martin performed many times at Frome's Merlin Theatre before deciding to train professionally in Oxford.

"I am so excited and honoured to get the chance to stand on one of the world's greatest stages and as one of the greatest ever characters – as Macbeth. To think it was not all that long ago I was scared to death to even read Shakespeare out loud.

"Now after three years of top training and because of the support of so many friends and family I will get to realise one of my biggest ever dreams," he says.

Few who saw his John Proctor, or George in Of Mice and Men at the Merlin will forget the experience, and he showed the comedy side of his talents in Arsenic and Old Lace.

The Globe festival also brings students from the Exeter based Cygnet Theatre and from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School to the thatched theatre in London.

Patrick Spottiswoode, director of Globe Education, says "The festival celebrates the remarkable talent that is being nurtured in our drama schools. There will be no Simon Cowell or panel of judges in the audience – there will be a spirit of celebration rather than competition".