Regional premier launches Performing Arts Centre

Just before Christmas students from Cronton Sixth Form College and Riverside College Widnes and Runcorn performed a regional premier of Alan Mekins’ broadway musical ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens to mark the launch of the new Performing Arts Centre of Excellence.

Performed in the new Centre Stage Theatre at the College in Widnes, the show was a complete sell out success with every seat taken at all three performances.

The talented cast of college students were supported by an orchestra which included students and talented individuals from across the community.

One of the performances was a matinee attended by some local school pupils from The Bankfield High School, Wade Deacon High School and Chestnut Lodge School.

Principal Michael Sheehan said, “A Christmas Carol is undeniably one of the most famous and unforgettable of Christmas stories and I am delighted that it had its first regional premier performance at our College to mark the launch of this outstanding new Centre of Excellence.

The Centre of Excellence for Performing Arts has been developed though the recruitment of some of the best reaching staff in the country, investment in state of the art facilities and the expansion of extra curricular activities.

Already achieving 100% pass rates and 80% high grades across our vocational courses and 99.2% pass rate and 70% high grades in our A level programmes, the centre is producing outstanding results for our students including progression to some of the country’s most prestigious universities.”

Leanne Robinson from Bankfield High School said, “Thank you so much for having us at the performance! It was superb! The students really enjoyed it and it was lovely to see some of our ex students doing so well in your college. Please pass on our best to all of the performers who executed an outstanding performance at professional level!”

Jane Goulding from Wade Deacon High School added, “Thank you so much for having us!We’ve very much appreciate the effort that yourself and your pupils went to.”

Matt Plant, Head of the Centre of Excellence said, “The students put on a tremendous show, all the performers brought each character vividly to life and the audience responded so enthusiastically. It was pleasing to see so many students participate in this production, whether it is on stage, in the orchestra or in the backstage roles.

The Centre of Excellence for Performing Arts aims is to support students to achieve outstanding success, we aspire to fulfill every dream, every goal and every ambition. We do this through a rigorous and empowering variety of courses that meet all needs within the subject area. Together with a wide curriculum base, we also run a hugely successful extra curricular performance programme that generates high energy, industry standard productions.”