2024 acting graduates share screen with Anne-Marie Duff in BBC Four’s The Read
Seven BA (Hons) Performing Arts (Acting for 21st Century) graduates from our Manchester campus (formerly ICTheatre Manchester) have appeared in the festive edition of BBC Four’s The Read, a series where acclaimed actors perform readings from classic literature.
In the episode BAFTA winning actor Anne-Marie Duff, known for roles such as Fiona Gallagher on the Channel 4 drama series Shameless, and Queen Elizabeth I in The Virgin Queen performs Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The episode was filmed on campus earlier in the year during the student’s third-year, using the stage of our 400-seat auditorium in The Dancehouse.
Seven of our training actors were given supporting artist roles on the filming day – Sebastian Derby, Nico Martin, Olive Ryder, Faith Martin, Sharna Stanley, Matas Kidelis and Via Dykes Almond. Graduate Sebastian Derby reflected on the opportunity:
“What a fantastic day of filming this experience was. Working with director Kieran Stringfellow & Tasha Williams was a pleasure from start to finish. It was incredibly impressive how effective the crew were when it came to filming the episode. Even though they had so much blocked out, they still encouraged us actors to have our own ideas on set to help bring these characters to life. Truly an experience I won’t soon forget.”
Head of school Dr John Harrison commented on the opportunity for our students:
“It was such a valuable opportunity for our students to work on a live set while still studying. To graduate having already had that professional experience, not to mention a legitimate acting credit, has put them ahead of other graduates in the acting industry. We’re so proud of our students and their achievements and can’t wait to watch the finished product. Thanks to the production company Rural Studios for working with us – you’re welcome back any time!”
The Read: A Christmas Carol with Anne Marie Duff was broadcast on BBC Four on Sunday 22nd December at 7:45pm and is available now on iPlayer.
To discover more about Performers College, including auditions and how to apply, contact us at [email protected] or book an Open Day on our Events page.
