‏Simon Manyonda‏

Growing up in and around Brixton, from young age Simon developed an insatiable curiosity and compassion for the colorful people of the area. With that compassion came a burning desire to tell their stories, whether they be true or what he had dreamed up in his imagination.

At the age of 11 Simon moved away from Brixton with his parents and younger brother and sister to leafy Surrey and was no longer exposed to the eclectic characters of inner city South London. It was in Surrey that Simon began acting in school plays and won both the Key Stage Three and Four Drama awards for his performances. He was encouraged to join a youth theatre group and after striking up a relationship with David Lan, the Artistic Director of the Young Vic Theatre, while on work experience joined the youth theatre there and found himself back in South London once again. Simon went on the play roles in "The Fall" the young peoples version of the David Lan/Jude Law production of "Doctor Faustus" and 'Lear' in "King Lear" the young persons production of the main house play in which Nonso Anozie played the title role.

After finishing high school Simon went on to Manchester Metropolitan University. Although he continued to take leads in student plays he spent most of his time writing poetry, creating art installations and working with 'at risk teenagers' at foster homes.

It was after spending time working with young people at a film school in New York during the summer of his second year at University that Simon got the acting bug again and decided to go to drama school. Simon's audition for LAMDA went so well that he was recalled on the spot and asked to come back for his second round the following day. For his full panel audition Simon had to prepare a Shakespeare scene and a song in less than twenty four hours, a challenge that he relished and consequently secured him a place at one of London's most prestigious drama schools.

In the second term of his final year Simon auditioned for Sir Richard Eyre at the Royal National Theatre to play the part of Haemon in his production of Moira Buffini's "Welcome to Thebes", which he won and subsequently graduated from LAMDA a term early to take the role working along side great British actors such as David Harewood.