85 INTERVIEW womanthismonth.com | FEBRUARY 2026 Early Foundations For Megan, performance has never felt like a distant ambition. It has been part of her everyday life for as long as she can remember. Born in Queensland to British parents and raised in Bahrain from infancy, her earliest memories are tied to being on stage and discovering what it meant to perform in front of others. It was in Bahrain, she recalls, that everything began. “I first started singing and performing here, and from the age of five I was working with Natalia Estanom at BelCanto Vocal Studio,” she says. “That was when I really discovered how much I loved being on stage.” A Lesson in Discipline Those early experiences laid the groundwork for a journey that has steadily gathered momentum. Singing competitions, vocal training and school productions soon gave way to larger stages and more professional environments, each one sharpening her discipline and deepening her understanding of what the craft demands. Performing in The Nutcracker at the London Coliseum marked a particularly defining moment. “It was my first time performing on stage in London, and doing it in the West End’s largest theatre was incredible,” she says. “With more than 2,300 seats and packed audiences twice a day, the energy was unlike anything I’d experienced before.” The production itself carried weight well beyond its festive familiarity. Dating back to 1950, The Nutcracker remains a Christmas institution, and Megan was acutely aware of the standards expected of everyone involved. “The level of dancing and production was on another level,” she says. “Being surrounded by that calibre of talent teaches you very quickly what professionalism looks like.” Crystalising Her Ambitions That perspective was reinforced back in Bahrain, where a series of standout roles helped crystallise her ambitions. In 2022, she was cast as Michelle in Elf The Musical at Manama Cultural Hall, performing alongside professional artists Dominic Andersen and Daniele Coombe. “That experience, followed by playing Oliver Twist in my school’s production of Oliver, really changed things for me,” she says. “It was after those roles that I knew I wanted to pursue performing arts as a career.” The next step took her to the UK, where she secured a place at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, an institution known for producing some of the industry’s most respected performers. Life there, she explains, is both demanding and grounding. “There’s so much talent around you that it keeps you realistic,” she says. “Every year we audition for the major production, just as you would for a professional show. It teaches you how casting directors think and what a role truly requires.” Next Steps Her next challenge is already on the horizon. “Our upcoming production is Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and I’ve been cast as the Narrator,” she says, a role that calls for vocal stamina, storytelling and confidence in equal measure. Beyond the stage, Megan’s creative world is expanding into music. In September 2025, she signed a three-year worldwide recording contract, a milestone she approaches with both excitement and focus. “I feel incredibly fortunate to have this opportunity,” she says. “I naturally gravitate towards softer ballads while playing the piano, but my producer encouraged me to explore more upbeat material for my first release.” With several original songs already shared, she is now refining lyrics and structure ahead of studio recording. “It’s a learning process,” she adds, “but one I’m really enjoying.” Songwriting, for now, draws more from imagination than autobiography. “At this stage, I’m drawing inspiration from imagined stories, as that fits better with the audience,” she says. “Although I did write a couple of songs based on school life, which was interesting in its own way.” Defining Priorities Balancing creativity with structure remains a constant theme, particularly as she prepares for her GCSE years. “At the start of the next school year, I’ll be choosing my GCSE subjects as well as deciding which performing arts pathway to focus on,” she says. “The options are Musical Theatre, Acting or Commercial Music, but while I hope to succeed on stage, my main focus will still be academics.” Her schedule leaves little room for complacency. Days begin early and end late, filled with lessons, rehearsals, songwriting and training. “Once GCSEs start, school runs from 8am to 5.45pm,” she says. “After that, it’s homework, singing lessons, extra dance classes and writing music. And yes,” she adds with a laugh, “fitting in sleep wherever possible.” Words of Advice For young girls considering a future in the performing arts, Megan is clear about the realities behind the spotlight. She points to Stage Stars, filmed at Tring Park and broadcast by the BBC, as an honest reflection of what the industry demands. “It shows the commitment required,” she cautions. “It’s not just glitz and glamour. It’s discipline and resilience.” Her biggest piece of advice is simple: “Turn up every day, even when it’s hard.”
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