Hat-trick of performances please theatre audiences

A plethora of performances from Leeds City College’s Creative Arts students has wowed crowds across the city for their show-stopping productions.

A Christmas Carol

Using inspiration from ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’, ten Performing Arts Level 1 students devised their own adaptation of ‘A Christmas Carol’ at Quarry Hill Campus’ Chroma-Q Theatre.

The students put their heads together to produce the piece in four weeks, in which time they created their own props, including chains for Jacob Marley and event tickets. 

Level 1 learners joined forces with Theatre Design and Production students to source appropriate costumes and makeup for the show. A unique dance piece was also devised with tutor, Lydia Herbert.

Directed by programme manager, Emily Kecic, the show was a prime opportunity for students to perform in a theatre for the first time to 140 guests.

Student, Jayne Taylor, who took centre stage in the festive production, said: “The performance encouraged me to push myself out of my comfort zone. Being part of something like this gave me the confidence to perform in front of a large crowd; all of which we couldn’t have done without the amazing support of our tutors.”

Winter Wonderbands

In a bid to unify the creative talent within Quarry Hill Campus, students from across the Creative Arts department came together to host Winter Wonderbands, a three-day music event.

Students were encouraged to consider how each contribution collectively results in a great experience for the audience. By pooling their creative talent, the group organised an all- singing, all-dancing spectacle which celebrated a varied genre of music, including hip-hop, R&B, heavy metal, rock, reggae, pop and punk.

Led by Music Performance Level 3 students, each individual had a dedicated role in which they had to rely on knowledge, experience and teamwork to make the show a success. Over 100 music students performed across the three days, accompanied by a large backstage student workforce. 

The full student team included performers, stage managers, ushers, lighting, makeup, style coordinators, projections, stage design and construction, graphic design, social media and backstage management.

Matthew Howson, Music Performance student, commented: “This was my first performance at college which was a major success. I not only learnt how to put on a great show, but also how to work collaboratively with a big team. We received fantastic feedback from the show, with attendees commenting on how they were amazed at the standard of the show, the quality of the music and overall production value.”

Expressing through diverse dance styles

20 Dance Level 3 students performed four awe-inspiring shows in which they expressed a diverse range of dance styles. 

This was an opportunity to showcase to family and friends the variety of dances they had been learning since September. 

To drum up awareness for World AIDS Day, a contemporary dance piece was debuted at a youth platform at the Phoenix Dance Theatre.

Performed at Quarry Hill Campus’ Chroma-Q Theatre, the jazz performance was influenced by disco themes, while the urban piece explored a fast-paced and intricate exploration of hip-hop movement to Eminem track, Godzilla. 

For the final piece, students performed an interpretation of an iconic professional dance by Alvin Ailey called Revelations; a long-standing feature of the dance course.

The dance students worked hand-in-hand with a dedicated team of Theatre, Design and Production students, who carried out the lighting design and operation, sound, stage management and coordination of the project.

Dance enthusiast, Michaela Dawson, added: “Being a performer at the showcase was astonishing; we made sure we were all fully prepared so that the show went smoothly. Our tutors were constantly providing feedback to make sure we were the best we could be.”