A Big Help with the Big Top

11:15am Tuesday 30th October 2007

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It is no mean feat erecting a 500 seater big top, but for Stage Management and Technical Theatre students from Kidderminster College, it was all in a day's work.

The students were part of a 20-strong team whose job it was to prepare the stage' - a big top theatre tent, for Midsummer Night's Dream, which is being performed by the Footsbarn Travelling Theatre at the Glasshouse Arts Centre in Stourbridge, as part of the International Mask Festival 2007.

The task took the team a day to complete: once the big top was up it was time to get down to the technical bits, such as lighting and sound rigging, plus the many other tasks required for stage preparation.

It is invaluable work experience for students who are studying for their National Awards. Tutor Alan Clarke, commented, There's no substitute for real, hands-on work such as this and we always ensure our students have the opportunity to get involved in important projects because it gives them an excellent grounding in the industry."

The International Mask Festival is a week-long event, running 19 - 27 October at the Glasshouse Arts Centre and Stourbridge Town Hall.