To be or not to be was not such a difficult question for one student at a school in Snaresbrook who has decided to pursue an acting career.

Paapa Essiedu has been taken on by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) following in the footsteps of acting greats such as Kenneth Branagh and Dame Judi Dench.

The former Forest School, College Place, student considered a career in medicine before he decided to follow his acting dream.Paapa said: “It really is a dream come true for me to get a job at the RSC.

“When you look at all the most successful actors that Britain has produced over the decades, the majority have worked with the RSC so I’m really happy to get the opportunity to follow in their footsteps”.

Paapa has been cast as Fenton in the Merry Wives of Windsor and Rat in The Mouse and his Child which finish today (Thursday).