Two Cheshire College students have been successful in securing a lighting crew position for lighting designer Nathan Wan at the 2023 TPi Awards.
Technical Theatre students, Liam Fox and Lewis Bradley, will demonstrate their skills whilst working alongside the production team for the entire awards ceremony.
Regarded as one of the highest profile evening events of the industry calendar, the annual TPi awards pay tribute to the incredible achievements of those working behind the scenes in the world of live touring.
As part of the selection process, Liam, a Level 3 Production Arts student and Lewis, a Level 4 HNC in Technical Theatre student had to take part in a national competition which consisted of creating five ‘renders’ from Lead Creative Designer, Nathan Wan’s, designs using software WYSIWYG, and they also had to attend an interview. Their innovative take on the brief and clear passion for the industry helped them ultimately be chosen as official crew members.
Nathan Wan is the Lead Creative Designer at ROBE UK, a leading light manufacturing company recognised worldwide for its innovation and high production values featuring at a myriad of diverse events such as Eurovision and Strictly Come Dancing.
Speaking of the upcoming opportunity, Liam Fox said: “I’m really excited and grateful that I’ve been picked for this. Part of me hoped that I’d be selected but another part wasn’t sure it would happen, so I just tried my best and I was rewarded for it in the end.
“When I joined Cheshire College I fell in love with Technical Theatre, particularly the live events side of things, so getting this position feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Lewis Bradley added: “It was quite a surprise to be chosen. We all knew that ROBE were coming to see us but then there was an additional interview and application process, so to be selected for this is incredible. I’m really excited to use their equipment, because there are some items which we’ve never used before and it’s a great learning opportunity.”
Head of Theatre Operations, Angie Berwick, commented: “This is an amazing achievement for Lewis and Liam who have worked really hard to create exciting and innovative lighting renders. Their commitment and talent is inspirational to the next generation and other students on the course, demonstrating the exciting career opportunities it can lead to.”
As competition winners, Liam and Lewis have also been invited to visit the Czech Republic for three days in May 2023 and visit ROBE’s Headquarters; an opportunity only a select few in the UK have had over the years.
There’s currently an unusually high demand for skilled workers, creating an enormous opportunity for people to gain employment within this industry and receive a diverse range of training and experiences.
Cheshire College’s Technical Theatre courses, ranging from Level 3 up to Level 5, provide students with the practical experience they need to become fully qualified and skilled employees.
Cheshire College are now accepting applications for September 2023.
Visit www.ccsw.ac.uk to find out more.
