Winter Showcase Success: Performing Arts Students Take Back the Live Stage
Rotherham College Performing Arts students showcased their talent and creativity as they played host to a live audience from Clifton School on Wednesday the 19th of January.
Level 3 students from the Performing Arts department displayed their hard work, innovation and flair to a live audience from Clifton School for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic.
The showcase, which was originally cancelled due to the rise in Covid cases before the Christmas break, included snippets of several different creative performances ranging from musical theatre to quirky comedy skits.
A combination of Musical Theatre, Dance and Acting students all took part in the fantastic afternoon that left the audience on their feet. Music technology students also took part in the mixing booth, where they directed the stage lighting and managed the performers’ microphones.
The Performing Arts students have been heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, as the government-imposed restrictions have meant they have not been able to perform to a live audience since 2020.
Ben Wainwright, who is a Performing Arts lecturer at Rotherham College, was incredibly proud of all the students involved in the showcase.
He said: “It was brilliant for the students to finally perform to a live audience at College. Its been especially hard for the second years, as the Winter Showcase was their first-ever live performance at College.
“However, they did brilliantly and it’s so nice for them to feel the buzz from a live audience and be really well received by the students of Clifton. Hopefully, we’ve inspired a few students to get creative and come and study with us”.
Musical Theatre and Dance students and aspiring performers Tierney Birch and Abi Lawrence both loved performing live for Clifton school and spoke about the importance of having a live audience.
Tierney Birch, Year 2 Musical Theatre and Dance student said: “It’s such a good feeling to perform to an audience again after such a long time. We’ve experienced a whole new atmosphere today with a live audience. It’s amazing to feel that adrenaline when you’re on the stage, and that’s what performing Musical Theatre is all about.
“Hopefully the Clifton students could see that we were enjoying ourselves on stage, and this will inspire them to choose to study Performing Arts too.”
Abi Lawrence, Year 1 Musical Theatre and Dance student added: “These kinds of events at College really help with our development, and having a supportive audience definitely boosts our confidence, and makes us want to try harder and give them more and more! I already can’t wait for the next one.”
The Year 1 and 2 Musical Theatre and Dance students’ next live performances will be Footloose on the 6th of June, whilst the Acting students will perform their final project Brainstorm on May 16th. Keep an eye on our College social media channels for ticketing updates.
Click here to find out more about our Performing Arts courses.