Leeds City College

“I couldn’t have achieved any of this without them’.

That is how Martina Lazzarotto has credited her teaching team at Leeds City College after winning a West Yorkshire Adult Learner 2024 award.

The 36 year old came to the college as a mature student who had previously completed a fine art degree in her native Italy.

Martina hoped that her Theatre Design and Production course would usher in a new career, and that is exactly what has happened. She has already enjoyed stints working on several big local productions including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Oliver! – and has now been offered work with Opera North and Leeds Playhouse this winter.

Her achievement is all the more impressive given that she had to juggle her college duties with significant work and caring responsibilities.

Martina had been nominated for the Adult Learner award by her course tutors at Quarry Hill campus and Assistant Principal of the School of Creative Arts, Richard Lee.

The value of great mentors

She said: “I was proud and happy just to be there and I didn’t expect to win so I hadn’t prepared a speech!

“But I couldn’t have been happier to share this victory with my family and friends, whose presence was, and still is, vital every step of the way – especially the support of my parents.

“During the ceremony, I heard so many interesting and inspiring stories. Getting back to education has been the best decision I have ever made, it has just transformed my life – I’m Martina 2.0!

“And I’ve been so lucky to find great mentors along the way, plus amazing people from the industry who trusted me.”Those industry mentors included key people from some of the work placements Martina took up through her course, including Chris Lloyd at Red Ladder Theatre Company and Victoria Marzetti at Leeds Playhouse.

An outstanding role model

She also had some very special words of gratitude for her friend Iain Greenwood, for the ‘massive impact’ he has had in helping her.

She said: “Iain is a friend I met in London eight years ago and we have so much in common in fashion, art and politics. He became a real mentor; he took me to visit Parliament, helped with my CV, LinkedIn profile and job searching, and trained me up.

“He really helped me reconnect with the creative world and discover what my purpose here in England was. That led to me deciding, after a number of years working in an office, that I wanted to do something more creative which led me to college and my course. I owe Iain a lot.”

Unfortunately, Iain’s health deteriorated a few years ago and Martina has been helping to care for him following his move to Leeds. The fact she managed to do so while also studying at the college, holding down a job and helping her fellow students is why her tutors also put her forward for a Star award this year. (She won the Upstander and Wellbeing category).

As for her team leaders at college, Martina credits them with providing ‘the best guidance and support, professionally and emotionally’.

Our Theatre Design and Production programme manager, Paul Graham-Bell, said: “Martina is an outstanding role model for all of our students and we are confident she will be a real asset to West Yorkshire’s creative industry.”

Martina received her award from the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin. Congratulating all the winners on social media after the ceremony, Ms Brabin said: “Education opens the door to life-changing opportunities at any age!”