Students from Rose Bruford College's Theatre for Young Audiences and Actor-Musicianship MA programmes have collaborated with Performing Arts (Acting) Level 3 Diploma students from London South East Colleges (LSEC) and pupils of Chatsworth Infant School, Sidcup, on a groundbreaking project exploring how classic theatre texts can be unlocked for a range of ages.
The project used Anton Chekhov's The Three Sisters as its focus, and even included a version of the play designed for 5 year olds. The collaboration culminated in LSEC students visiting Rose Bruford College's postgraduate centre in Sidcup on Wednesday 27 March, where they performed alongside MA Actor-Musicianship students, investigating how to integrate live music into performances inspired by the final act of the play.
LSEC student Joel Williams, who had the opportunity to display his acting and drumming skills, said:
“Working with the Rose Bruford College MA students has allowed me to think of a future beyond my course. I would like to be an actor musician and think I would be good at it.”
Fellow LSEC Acting student Riley Crabb added:
“When watching the MA students perform I could imagine the dialogue that the instruments made through the sounds. This is so much more than musical theatre, its actors using music to convey more than words.”
Rose Bruford College MA Programme Director Jeremy Harrison was delighted with the impact the performance had on the audiences. He said:
"This project has been a result of a longstanding relationship between Burnt Oak Junior School, Chatsworth Infant School and LSEC and forms part of the College's expanding postgraduate work in our community."
Useful Links
London South East Colleges
MA Actor Musicianship
MA Theatre for Young Audiences
Photographs by Michael O'Reilly