Being a musical star is a dream that for most people remains somewhere between the audience’s seat and the Broadway posters. But Ava Brennan proved that even a girl from Liverpool can conquer the stages of London, Hamburg, and Hollywood. Her story is a mix of perseverance, talent, and the ability to change roles: from the lioness Nala in The Lion King to dramatic parts in The Secret Life of Bees. She is also a prime example of how a regional background is not a barrier to a global career, but rather a shaper of a unique character. Read more about it at liverpool-trend.com.
Liverpool Roots and First Steps on Stage
Ava Brennan was born on 7 January 1987 in Liverpool — a city that gave the world a special creative spirit, and it had a noticeable influence on the actress’s character. She attended Belvedere Girls’ School and later continued her education at the famous Loretta Legge Theatre School in Maghull, near Liverpool. There, Ava mastered ballet, contemporary dance, tap, acting, and vocals — everything that makes an artist versatile.
From an early age, the talented Liverpool girl stood out for her perseverance. Teachers noted her as one of those students who “shine on stage” and strive for perfection in every movement. This natural charisma was combined with a work discipline that would later become her main weapon in the world of professional theatre.
At fifteen, Ava joined the National Youth Music Theatre — an organisation that gives young talents their first taste of real stage productions. It was with this team that she made her debut in the show “Oklahoma!” in London. For the young actress, it wasn’t just a stage appearance but a moment of realisation: theatre had stopped being a hobby and had become a true calling.
Regular rehearsals, ensemble participation, and work with choreographers and vocal coaches all shaped her into a well-rounded artist. At the same time, Liverpool, with its working-class character and love for the arts, instilled in her a stubbornness and simplicity that helped her navigate the competition in the capital. This balance of regional grounding and theatrical sparkle became Ava’s signature style, which she would maintain on the big stages of the West End.
“The Lion King” and Ava’s First Big Break
After several years of training and working in youth theatre programmes, Ava Brennan got a chance that would dramatically change her career. She was offered the role of Nala in the legendary musical The Lion King on the West End stage. This role became her real springboard into professional theatre life, opening doors not only to the British but also to the European stage.
The preparation for “The Lion King” was extremely demanding. Ava had to perform the vocal parts perfectly, but she was also required to have a physicality that conveyed the grace of a lioness. Julie Taymor’s production combines traditional musical theatre with elements of mask theatre and African dance, so the actors literally “bring animals to life” on stage. For the young artist, it was a challenge, but also an opportunity to show all her stage flexibility.
The performances in London were so successful that the actress was later invited to join the production in Hamburg. There, she played Nala in German, proving her versatility as a person willing to learn new things for a role. Ava heard the audience singing along with her in German and realised that music truly knows no borders.
This experience became a real ticket to the world of professional theatre. After “The Lion King,” she started getting invited to auditions in the West End and beyond. She not only received recognition as the lead performer in one of the world’s most popular musicals, but also learned the main principle of the stage — to maintain a high tempo of work for many months without losing quality. It was thanks to this breakthrough that Brennan was able to expand her repertoire and move on to more complex and diverse roles.
Brennan’s Versatility and New Roles: From “Hamilton” to “The Secret Life of Bees”
After the success in “The Lion King,” Ava Brennan began to actively expand her repertoire, demonstrating vocal and dance skills as well as dramatic talent. Her next step was to move into productions that required acting depth and the ability to quickly change emotional registers.
One of her most high-profile projects was the musical “Hamilton” in the West End. In this show, Brennan played the role of Angelica Schuyler — one of the key female parts. This role required not only powerful vocals and stage presence but also the ability to convey the complex dynamic between the heroine and the main character. Ava admitted in an interview that “Hamilton” was a real test for her, as it combines rap, soul, and a classical musical — three genres that rarely meet in one show.
At the same time, the actress participated in more dramatic projects. One of them was “The Secret Life of Bees” — a stage adaptation of Sue Monk Kidd’s famous novel. Here, Brennan was able to show herself not only as a musical star but as a serious actress capable of working with the psychological nuances of a character. This work demonstrated her ability to go beyond her usual role and delve into the emotional world of her heroes.
Another interesting stage in her career was her participation in the legendary musical “Les Misérables” on the London stage. A role in such a cult show requires high discipline and impeccable technique, as the audience and critics know every scene, every note. This role cemented Brennan’s status, opening the way for her to even more ambitious projects, including in cinema.
International Stages and Tours: The Path Beyond London
After her success in the West End, Ava Brennan began to receive invitations to international productions, and theatre became her main ticket to the world. Her first outstanding experience abroad was Hamburg, where she again played Nala in The Lion King. Performing in another language and feeling a different audience was not easy, but it helped the actress become even more confident and flexible on stage.
The Hamburg period taught Ava a special discipline. Rehearsals were intense, and shows ran eight times a week. Ava later recalled that it was during her tours that she learned to protect her voice and physical fitness because the stage demands total dedication — even when the audience thinks you are singing effortlessly.
In addition to Hamburg, Brennan performed in other European productions and participated in special concerts and theatre festivals. She began to see the stage as a space for cultural dialogue. In each country, the audience reacts in its own way: Germans are precise and attentive, Britons are emotional, and tourists from all over the world create the feeling that theatre is becoming an international language.
This experience also helped Ava build a network of professional contacts. When she returned to London, she already had a reputation as an actress who could adapt to different stage conditions while maintaining her characteristic energy, which could be compared to the hydraulic power of the Merseyside docks. This period was a transitional stage from the roles of a “promising young artist” to the status of a full-fledged star of the theatre world.
Liverpool Character and Acting Philosophy
Despite her success on international stages, Ava Brennan always emphasises that her strength lies in her roots. Liverpool gave her a working-class resilience, respect for teamwork, and the belief that talent must be supported by daily hard work. Ava has often mentioned that the feeling of home and family support helped her endure the pace of the West End and touring.
Brennan’s acting philosophy is simple: the stage is a place of honesty. She believes that the audience can feel sincerity and always responds to genuine emotions. That’s why she strives to give her all in every performance, whether she is playing a lead role or appearing in the ensemble. For her, theatre is a way of telling stories that unite people, just as it once united important ideas for her into a single whole.
