DRAMA students at Priestley College have played their part in a new professional production set to reach audiences this month.

Eight students from the college were given the opportunity to work with set designers, actors, stage managers and even the director of Not Too Tame’s next production.

And Jimmy Fairhurst, artistic director with the touring theatre company, said it had been a pleasure working with the talented young crew.

“They actively participated in helping us develop ideas for our new show whilst shadowing some the theatre industry’s most exciting talent in both on and off stage roles,” said Jimmy.

“It’s really important for Not Too Tame to create opportunities and route maps into the professional industry and with the talent we see coming out of Priestley, and our support, we hope to see an influx of numbers working professionally in the North West and across the UK.”

Among the Priestley students who shadowed the professionals was former Cardinal Newman Catholic High School pupil Megan Hollinshead.

She worked with the director, observing rehearsals in the hope of improving.

Megan said: “I enjoyed observing the way in which the director and cast interacted and hope to add many of the leadership skills and also rehearsal techniques to my own theatre practices.”

Not Too Tame had visited Priestley to answer questions from the college’s aspiring actors and back stage crew before running a workshops in the Costello Theatre.

A selection of students were then invited to their Warrington studios to gain further experience.

Martha Podmore, who hopes to secure a career in film, worked with the director and was inspired by the creation of one particular scene that was developed from a single line of dialogue.

“Whilst watching the scene that was created in such a small amount of time I was amazed by how much meaning could be conveyed with such a simple idea,” said the former Birchwood Community High School student.

Priestley drama tutor Helen Lowe said the experience of working with a theatre company was invaluable for the students.

She said: “You can’t put a price on the experiences our students have enjoyed thanks to our partnership with Not Too Tame.”