From reluctant beginner to confident performer – Vivaan’s five-year Trinity drama journey
When Vivaan stepped into his first Trinity drama class at age 10, it wasn’t passion or ambition that brought him there - it was his mum. Like many children, he was nervous, unsure, and a little bored. “Honestly, I was just another 10-year-old who’d rather be doing anything else,” he admits. But that single decision set Vivaan on a five-year journey that would not only awaken a lifelong love for theatre but also shape who he is today.
Vivaan has now completed multiple Trinity College London drama exams, including Acting Grades 1, 4, 7, and 8, as well as Grade 5 in Speech and Drama. From those early nerves to delivering Shakespearean monologues with confidence and passion, the transformation has been dramatic - both on and off stage.
“I still remember my Grade 1 exam as if it were yesterday. I was so nervous. But now, looking back, I realise how much those exams changed me as a person.” Despite his strong interest in science and mathematics, Vivaan found something in drama that he didn’t expect: a deeper understanding of himself and the world around him. “Acting wasn’t just a subject,” he says. “It was a part of me I didn’t know was missing. It challenged me. It brought me out of my comfort zone.”
Vivaan’s enthusiasm and dedication grew over time. He took drama as part of his IGCSEs and participated in local and national theatre competitions. As his skills evolved, so did his appreciation for the rigour and depth of Trinity’s drama qualifications.
“When I was younger, I didn’t understand what Trinity really meant. But as I got older and looked at the Grade 7 and 8 syllabuses, I realised how demanding they are. It’s not just about performance - it's about preparation, detail, and personal growth.”
“Don’t treat it like a school subject. Don’t do it just for the grade. Embrace the journey. You’ll learn so much, and you’ll miss it when it’s over.”
One of Vivaan’s most memorable exam piece choices was his decision to perform Mark Antony’s monologue from Julius Caesar. While most students avoided Shakespeare, Vivaan was drawn to the power and complexity of the speech. “Everyone at my centre avoided Shakespeare! But I was determined. That monologue has stayed with me since I first started looking into drama. By the time I performed it for Grade 8, I knew Mark Antony like an alter ego.” It was Trinity’s flexible syllabus that allowed Vivaan to select pieces that resonated with him personally. This freedom of choice helped him stay deeply invested in the material and encouraged him to explore a variety of genres and characters.
Vivaan is particularly proud of how he managed his time and his resilience - especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. With no in-person classes or exams, he took initiative: filming performances, seeking feedback from different people and continuing to refine his craft.
“COVID was tough, but it taught me to adapt. I learned to work independently, manage my time better, and push through even when things got hard.” These aren’t just skills for theatre. They’re skills for life. Vivaan credits his Trinity experience with helping him develop qualities like self-awareness, time management, perseverance, and confidence in public speaking - all of which have helped him in school, academics, and everyday life. “When you’re trying to portray someone else on stage, you start noticing all the little details that make a person who they are. That made me more reflective and helped me understand myself better, too.”
Despite planning to study computer science at university, Vivaan has no intention of leaving theatre behind. He’s part of his school’s theatre club and has already started developing an AI-powered app designed to help actors improve their performance through feedback - blending his twin passions of technology and the arts. “Trinity has given me the structure and the discipline I needed to pursue both fields in meaningful ways. And those certificates? They’re not just paper. They speak volumes about the work behind them.”
When asked what advice he’d give to others considering Trinity exams, Vivaan is clear:
“Don’t treat it like a school subject. Don’t do it just for the grade. Embrace the journey. You’ll learn so much, and you’ll miss it when it’s over.”
“Trinity has given me the structure and the discipline I needed to pursue both fields (technology and the arts) in meaningful ways. And those certificates? They’re not just paper. They speak volumes about the work behind them.”