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Highlights: Winter Term
There’s really nothing quite like the energy at the LIPA Sixth Form College, especially in such a busy period, filled with regular performances, both on-and-off campus, as well as visits from some industry professionals offering words of inspiration and guidance to our students. Join us in looking back on the last term for all its highs:
Shows & performances
Our Musical Theatre students took to the stage for their Children’s Theatre project, as they captivated an audience of local, year 3 primary school children who had been invited to our Willy Russell Theatre to enjoy the show. Our students not only wrote their own magical stories, reimagining classic fairy tales but also integrated elements from the Year 3 school curriculum to create engaging, educational scripts. The production of this performance was elevated by the hard work of our Technical Theatre students who created all lighting and sound as well as running backstage operations, whilst our talented Design for Performance students designed and created all costumes and props! The showcases resulted in shining feedback from visitors.
Photography: Brian Roberts Images
The Spring Dance Showcase was a real extravaganza, driven by our first- and second-year Dance students. They incorporated a variety of dance styles, including jazz, ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, and commercial dance. Through this experience, they not only gained invaluable stage experience but also honed their technical and creative dance skills, while integrating research, analytical, and evaluative abilities. The production was truly brought to life by the Technical Theatre students who designed the lighting, ran the front of house, as well as running the backstage operations during performances. The showcase was a true display of the students’ talent and love for their craft, resulting in a sellout, final show!
Photography: Brian Roberts Images
What a term it has been for our Music students! We had the pleasure of a double-serving of musical nostalgia from our second-year students at Capstone Theatre where they turned the room into a time capsule of music, pinned to the iconic year of 2005. Between the two performances, our students displayed their understanding of the genre and style being imitated, they also demonstrated a strong ability to collaborate in the aim of engaging a live audience. Everything from lighting, staging and production was curated by the young artists, injecting the stage with the energy it deserved.
Photography by @robinclewleyphotography
Our first-year Music students made a bang on the stage of Rough Trade, one of the largest independent record stores in the UK. They dished up music from influences such as Queen, Bon Jovi, TLC, Earth Wind & Fire, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fleetwood Mac, Foreigner and Britney Spears. This performance was a staple in their experience of music performance and production as well as working in a professional environment. They were also supported by the outstanding efforts of our production pathway students who acted as backline technicians for the show as part of their ‘Tech Crew’ lesson.
Photography by @robinclewleyphotography
The Musical Theatre Showcase was outstanding, with a series of performances lead by our students in the Willy Russell Theatre. It featured everything from dancing, singing, and acting, and some unbelievable work from our Musical Theatre and Technical Theatre and Design students who designed and programmed lighting, mixed the live sound, and set up all mic and props during performances. We cannot wait for the next performance.
Photography: Brian Roberts Images
Recent Guests
It’s a true privilege to be connected to so many talented people within the creative and performing arts world, as it means we’re able to welcome them in, to share any valuable insights with our budding artists.
Photography: Brian Roberts Images
Steve Parry, the arranger for ITV show, The Voice, spent the day with our Music students, consisting of a talk through Steve's journey from studying at Leeds College of Music, all the way through his local gigging phase, to being able to work with some household names such as Gary Barlow from Take That and now working on The Voice. All of this followed by a Q&A session, guided workshop on popular arrangement and performances by our immensely talented students.
Our Music students also took part in a masterclass lead by Carrie Birmingham on vocal health, vocal change and genre specific technique.
A number of acting masterclasses and workshops took place, led by a variety of industry professionals, some of whom we have as teaching staff here at LIPA SFC.
Second-year Dance students were lucky enough to have Liverpool John Moores University PGCE -Level Dance students visit, where they could learn more about how they as future teachers could create programmes and find teaching strategies. They also benefited from masterclasses from Margaux Eckert, Emily Marsland,Liverpool Hope University Dance department staff and students, as well as learning alongside other Dance groups at the Lowry Theatre.
Visits
A trip to the big smoke was a highlight for our dancers who attended “Move It”, the largest dance convention in Europe. They were also lucky enough to catch an inspiring performance of “The Devil Wears Prada” at the Dominion Theatre.
Students on the Acting and Technical Theatre and Design courses visited Stratford Upon Avon, where they attended the Royal Shakespeare Company’s performance of Hamlet and also took park in a workshop and behind the scenes tour.
Year one and two Dance students headed to LIPA to enjoy an inspiring performance by the third-year Dance students in their final showcase, ‘Destinations’.
Student & alumni success
On stage
One of our past music students, Elly Grice, featured as a backing vocalist for Myles Smith’s BRIT Awards performance. For our other music alumni such as STONE, Absntmind, Mica Sefia, Neve Zahra, Jack Gore, Carrick Morran and Maddie Hackett, George Baldwin we celebrate record deals, tours, prestigious job titles and gigs.
Our acting alumnus, Joseph Edwards, featured in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of “The Red Shoes” at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon as well as Reiss Barber playing in the 2025 Tour of “Boys from the Blackstuff”.
Previous Dance students shared their successes beyond LIPA Sixth Form College, including George Fryer, Onuri Smith, Dominique Eccles, Beth Hinchcliffe, Harry Privett, Brittany Feeney all performing in outstanding shows all over the globe.
Musical Theatre Alumna, Sophie Wolstencroft has joined the cast of “Girls Who War” as George at the Landy Theatre.
We’re thrilled to be hearing about our students earning places in some fantastic HE institutions such as ArtsEd, Leeds Conservatoire, Guildford School Acting, Rambert
Addict, and LIPA, so they can continue their passion for learning within the creative and performing arts world.
In other news
We spent International Women’s Day shining a light on the recent successes of our Dance Teacher, Lucie Pierce, who is also part of the LIPA Sixth Form College alumni, as she attained her teaching qualification in the very same place she learned her craft and is now teaching the dance students of LIPA Sixth Form College herself – a true full-circle moment.
Our students benefited from a session with the Anthony Walker Foundation as part of their Anti-racism education as well as a visit from Catherine McKone, Merseyside Police, on Drink Safety & Nighttime Awareness training.
We had the pleasure of welcoming some new faces for audition week after another over-subscription for the College.
“Both myself and the rest of the staff were thrilled to see our audition week attendees bring their all to their auditions. It’s a truly exciting time for us during audition week. We look forward to welcoming our new students in the new academic year.” – Charles Bartholemew, Principal.
Coming up
We kick started our Spring Term with our 40 Years of Live Aid Showcase at the Cunard Building in partnership with the British Music Experience. We also have our performance line-up locked and loaded with some thrilling shows which are open to the general public, such as Shakespeare’s ‘Measure for Measure’, ‘Fame the Musical’, ‘Let the Right One In’, ‘Summer Dance Showcase’, ‘The Last Dance’, ‘Sound in the Underground’ and ‘An Evening of Extraordinary Theatre’.
As well as friends and family of our students, and fans of LIPA, we welcome the general public to come along and join us at our performances both within our facilities on the LIPA campus, but also in local theatres.
Secure your seat here. What’s On In LIPA Sixth Form College, Liverpool | TicketSource
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