It takes teamwork to produce a great show, and sometimes those teams are made almost entirely of RWCMD graduates!
From writing, acting and stage design, many of the team behind the emotive Peggy’s Song by National Theatre of Wales have graduated from the College over the last 20 years.
From left to right: the RWCMD Peggy’s Song team consists of Lighting Designer Katy Morison; Stage Manager Bethan Dawson; Sound Technician Nick Laws; Relight Technician Cara Hood; Actor Christian Patterson; Set and Costume Designer Carl Davies; Writer Katherine Chandler; Costume Supervisor Amy Barrett and Producer Sarah Cole.
Actor Christian Patterson, who plays the lead role as radio DJ Danny Walkman, reflected on how his College days gave him so much confidence:
“The biggest lesson I learnt was to not be someone you’re not. Be you! And I have to thank my mentors at the College who made me believe in myself, that I could be an actor.
The College not only rounds off the rough edges as you as an actor, but also as person.
It changed my life.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2hXVwgABGH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Christian is supported by an army of RWCMD graduates behind-the-scenes, with Stage Manager Bethan Dawson playing the important role of bringing DJ Danny Walkman’s show to life.
Beth not only learned how to organise a stage, but also to cook!
“My favourite memory at the College was cooking a three-course meal to be served as part of August: Osage County.
My time at the College really pushed me in many ways as I worked for numerous theatre companies all across Wales.
‘But the most important thing I learned was to always carry cereal in your bag for those emergencies!”
Bethan Dawson, Stage Manager
Fab to spot @radioglamorgan and Denzel 🐥 outside the @RWCMD today! #HospitalRadio #Cardiff #PeggysSong pic.twitter.com/OTTj5u3l2v
— Helen Ward (@RGMusicWard) September 9, 2019
Producer Sarah Cole, who set up SC Productions Ltd after graduating and has managed theatre productions for Wales Theatre Company and Wales Millennium Centre among many others, noted how valuable the students’ experience at the College is for an employer:
“I’ve been thrilled by the number of graduates I’ve employed, mentored and recommended over the last 25 years,” she said.
“It’s the perfect place to hone a variety of skills, developing students into industry-ready employees.”
Nick Laws is the Sound Technician:
“From very early on at College, you meet and are taught by industry professionals, so you effectively begin networking from day one, and so it sort of becomes second nature.
I think I also learnt not to take it all too seriously – in a good way. College showing me how hectic and crazy the industry can be at times, allowed me to realise the importance of separating your work and the rest of your life.”
Cara Hood, who’s relighting Peggy’s Song in collaboration with Lighting Designer Katy Morison, is the newest RWCMD recruit, only graduated this summer and joins the long line of industry-standard RWCMD graduates:
“The College helped me get my first couple of jobs, and I’ve been lucky enough to work with the National Theatre of Wales because of my time in Cardiff.
It’s great to be working with NTW so early in my career.”
Award-winning writer, and grad, Katherine Chandler describes the play as a ‘love letter to the NHS’.
“I really wanted to write something that celebrated the many people who work for and give their time to the NHS and are at the heart of why it’s a service that’s so treasured by us all,” she explained to Radio Glamorgan.
“I felt like I wanted it to be an uplifting piece about community and ordinary people.”
Check out behind the scenes of #NTWPeggy! It’s touring over the next few weeks, so be sure to grab your tickets! https://t.co/LVAiGV6QNa pic.twitter.com/vzkjYgOrIK
— NationalTheatreWales (@NTWtweets) September 26, 2019
Peggy’s Song is touring Wales until 11th October and will be performed at the Richard Burton Theatre on Saturday 5th October.
Find out more about our drama courses.
Photo credit: Glenn Edwards
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