22 October 2008
Over two hundred students and staff crowded into the new outdoor performance space at Farnborough College of Technology on Monday lunchtime for an open air concert. The launch of the refurbished ‘Japanese Courtyard’ was the reason for the event which was delivered by Performing Arts students. Over 50 students took part in ‘Swing the Show’ which was a medley of musicals from Greece, Hairspray, ChorusLine and Saturday Night Fever.
The space is used by staff and students for eating their lunch and socialising and the performance space, which was added during the summer holidays refurbishment, has made it much more of a focus for events. The space includes the ’Keyhole Pagoda’ at centre stage and adds another venue for the college’s Performing Arts students. College Principal Christine Davis said ‘I was delighted to see how the event brought everyone together and the show was excellent’
The college added a Foundation Degree in Performing Arts this year and puts on at least 6 shows each year which are open to the public. Head of Media and Creative Arts, Lawrence Magee said, ‘The performance was excellent and added a wonderful energy to the college, we are really going from strength to strength in Performing Arts, I can’t wait for the next performance.’
Students are planning a monthly lunchtime concert which will be weather dependent; there is a plan to do Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’ in the space during the summer term. The college is well known for its Media and Creative Arts department which runs a Live FM Radio Station in March each year and has an Internet TV Station which also goes live in the Spring term.
Everyone agreed the space was a welcome area to relax between lessons.
