AN ASPIRING playwright is celebrating a near perfect score in his A-level extended project.

Luke Cairns, 18 and from Braintree, wrote direct and starred in play The Phillips as his Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), receiving 49 out of 50 and a precious A* grade.

Now Luke is off to Bath Spa University to study Creative Writing, and has already started work on his second play.

He said: “I did not even know you could do a play for your EPQ until we went on a university visit and I found out.

“The Phillips was looking into the Madeline McCann story about how the parents were victimised.

“We performed it at Braintree Arts Theatre, it was crazy, everyone turning up, it felt professional. It was really good but hard work.

"Someone compared it to Tennessee Williams which is a huge deal for me."

As well as his A* in his EPQ, Luke received three C grades and a D at A-level and can’t wait to get started on his new course.

He said: “I have started writing a new play, I have already spoken to a few students in Bath and discussed it with them.

“I started writing it during exams, everyone else was revising and I was writing a play.

“I am definitely excited and I am a bit worried about the start."

“Everyone says they like writing because it is something you enjoy, but without trying to sound corny there is no point writing a play or a poem unless there is something you want to get across. That is my main goal.”

And Luke attributes part of his amazing success to the hard work and support of Braintree Sixth Form College and its staff and pupils.

He said: “The support network is great and because it is such a small college you know everyone.

“Everyone is always interested and the teachers are brilliant.

“I would like to be a writer, I have got an audition for the British Young Film Academy coming up.

“I have got a massive range of work and books full of poems.

“It would be awesome to be at the Oscars one day.”