Hemel Hempstead actor selected for World Monologue Games European Regional Finals

A woman from Hemel Hempstead has qualified for the European Regional Finals of the World Monologue Games.

Actor Rhianna Thurgood will be taking part in the Monologue Games this weekend, one of 14 global events featuring the best international competitors.

Theatres and film sets around the world are closed for business but this did not stop Rhianna's passion for performing.

The 20-year-old actor submitted an entry to the World Monologue Games, a global event with competitors from over 80 countries vying for prizes and glory.

When Rhianna received an email announcing that she was one of only seven actors from the UK in her category that had made it to the European Regional Finals, she was over the moon.

She said: "I’m so excited to be competing for my country in this amazing event.

"It’s an honour to be selected.”

World Monologue Games is only in its first year but already attracted thousands of international performers.

Event founder Pete Malicki from Sydney, Australia said: “COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on people’s lives, the global economy and many different industries including arts and entertainment.

"I wanted to create an opportunity for actors around the world to show how resilient they are.

"The response was massive – I’m not sure if this many actors have participated in one event before!”

Rhianna is currently training at the world renowned Identity School of Acting in London and will be performing a piece from the play ‘Orphans’ by Dennis Kelly.

Nicky Thurgood, her mum, said: "We are so proud of her she has put in so much work to make sure that she gives her best performance.

"There will be a judges vote and a public vote, so two will qualify for the world finals and I hope with all my heart that she wins one of these places so that she can then perform against the rest of the world."

The European Regional Finals will be livestreamed in August and September, with the winners of each category competing in the Global Finals in front of hundreds of thousands of

performing arts fans.

You can watch and vote for Rhianna’s entry starting from 11am on Saturday, August 29, at: youtu.be/Q0aSEdB3-c8. Voting is open for 48 hours.

For more about the Monologue Games, visit: monologues.com.au/WMG.