THE IT by Vivienne Franzmann - on Tour

As part of the Performing Arts BTEC Diploma course, the students take their skills on the road and tour a variety of local secondary schools. This year they chose to perform ‘The IT’ by Vivienne Franzmann, a contemporary piece about teenage mental health, anxiety and anger, that they felt highlighted and supported Mental Health Awareness Week in May.

The Diploma Company set out to explore ways to visualise the building anxiety and anger that the central protagonist Grace feels. They choreographed and directed the performance and were able to truly showcase their skills and creativity. The result was both unique and striking. One of the audience members commented that “visually there was so much going on, and the overwhelm from social media was so clearly felt."

This part of the course hands the responsibility back to the students, allowing them to take control of their performance and experience the associated freedom that comes with independent learning. They have the chance to take on different roles available in the industry, such as Stage Management, Production Management and Technical Support, giving the company a taste of the real world of Drama and Theatre. Our Head of Department, Andy Pullen said:

“Our BTEC Diploma Company learnt first-hand what it's like to tour theatre and create work to serve and enrich the community; to meet the needs of their clients and to create theatre that speaks to identified stake-holders. This empowers them to continue developing into the artists of tomorrow. ‘The IT’ was shared within the local community, and will continue touring this half term, making lifelong connections and deepening the artistic understanding of a new set of students who see the work.”