THERE are those who would say that rigging and politics go hand in hand but South Essex College students, having lessons at The Backstage Centre in Purfleet, were filmed rigging of a different kind for a BBC Sunday Politics East show that is set to be broadcast on Sunday 29 September.
The Level 3 Production Arts students were filmed rigging theatre drapes and using the new sound studio at the £13.7 million building, which has been designed and specified to the highest standards by experts in the theatre, music and live events industries.
South Essex College, which is a founder college of the National Skills Academy, and The Backstage Centre were chosen to be featured in the short film as their partnership and collaboration is regarded as a good example in the delivery of innovative, hands-on, vocational education.
Brian Warrens, Lecturer in Production Arts (Technical Theatre) & Creative & Cultural Apprenticeship Assessor for the College, who spends much of his time with students at the Centre, said: “I’ve worked in the industry for over 30 years and the opportunities these state-of-the-art facilities give young people looking at forging a career in this traditionally ‘hard to get into’ area are second to none. It really is outstanding and is essential in the delivery of the right skills using the right equipment to get our students in the right jobs related to their studies.”
As well as a rehearsal area, The Backstage Centre also doubles as a technical training facility for students to strengthen their existing technical and backstage skills and get practical experience of working in a large scale industry standard venue.
With the building acting as a meeting point for technicians, producers, creative teams and learners of all ages and at every stage of their career, students from South Essex College have the opportunity to work in roles including sound engineers, lighting designers and runners when professional companies hire the building.
