Marienella’s love of performing began in a school hall, fuelled by a big imagination and an encouraging teacher. Some of her fondest school memories involve preparing for grade exams and school shows—early experiences that laid the foundation for her studies in Music at the University of Bristol (2016), followed by a Master’s in Performance and a Master’s in Advanced Opera Performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (2018, 2020). She now works across theatre, musical theatre, and opera, with West End and touring credits including Tuptim and 2nd Cover Mrs Anna Leonowens in Bartlett Sher’s The King & I (2022 – 23), and alternate Cassandra and Clarice in The Fabulist (2024). She has also performed with Welsh National Opera and Longborough Festival Opera, where she’s been equally active as a performer and as a facilitator for outreach projects that bring music and drama into schools and communities. Marienella’s professional acting debut came in Henry V at the Donmar Warehouse (2022), part of National Theatre Live, where she played Alice and other named roles while also singing. This sparked a newfound passion for Shakespeare, leading to roles such as Jacquenetta and cover for the Princess in Love’s Labour’s Lost at the Royal Shakespeare Company (2023). Most recently, she was part of Hamlet: Hail to the Thief (2025), a bold, music-infused co-production between Aviva Studios and the RSC, understudying multiple tracks. One of the most inspiring aspects of her practice is working with young people. She’s passionate about nurturing expressive, curious performers in a creative space where kindness and bravery are always celebrated. She’s thrilled to be joining the CTA team and is excited to meet everyone!
