The last thing the 12-year-old St Mary’s Primary School student expected was to walk away with four medals for performance, including gold for verse speaking and Australian verse and bronze for overall best actor in the 12 to 14 age category.

“I went simply for the challenge of it, to give it a go and see what the standard was,” Zachary said.

The competition, which is the largest competitive festival of its type in the world, has been dominated by Orange performers.

Thirteen-year-old Maddison Wong, who trains with Zachary at Express Yourself Speech and Drama Studio, also placed second in costume recital and former Orange resident Andrew Guy took out the musical theatre category.

The competition will run until September and organisers say they’ve been more than impressed by Orange’s contenders so far.

“Your city will make a big dint in our medal tally,” Sydney Eisteddfod media liaison and public information officer Jennie Lees said.

With plans to pursue drama in high school, Zachary says he is already considering acting as a career.

“I’d really love to do that, that would be my dream,” he said.