Manchester Campus graduates celebrate achievement at Aviva Studios
In a memorable ceremony held at Manchester’s prestigious Aviva Studios on Tuesday 26th November, ICTheatre’s (now Performers College Manchester) Class of 2024 celebrated their graduation alongside friends and family. The ceremony, which marked a significant milestone for the performing arts graduates, was shared with Screen and Film School Manchester (now MetFilm School), showcasing the creative synergy between the institutions.
Emmy-nominated cinematographer Fabian Wagner delivered an inspiring keynote speech to the graduates. Wagner, renowned for his work on acclaimed productions including Game of Thrones, Sherlock, and The Crown, shared his insights with the next generation of performing arts professionals. His presence underscored the ceremony’s celebration of creative excellence across the performing arts and media sectors.
John Harrison, Head of School at Performers College Manchester, addressed the assembled graduates with words of encouragement:
“After all your hard work that has brought you here today, you now have another, larger, opportunity. That is, to take what you have learned, what you have experienced, and the networks you have developed, and be out there now, making a positive difference in the world.”
The graduating class represented the BA (Hons) Performing Arts course, with students specialising in either Acting for the 21st Century or Contemporary Musical Theatre pathways. Among the successful graduates was Zinnia Cham, who described her time at ICTheatre Manchester as “the best three years of my life.” Since graduating, Zinnia has already put her training into practice, co-creating and performing in One Day and One Night in the Hotel at Work for Change in Hulme, alongside several other graduates from her course.
Reflecting on her student experience, Zinnia particularly valued the institution’s industry connections and practical approach:
“They brought in so many different people to help us. We worked with the same cameras they use for Netflix productions, and our puppetry teacher was from War Horse. The opportunities were amazing. In second year, they gave us so much opportunity to explore our own ideas and bring them into the picture with performing.”
The ceremony concluded on a high note with a moving performance. Graduate Charlotte Leeming delivered a powerful rendition of A Way Back to Then from the musical [title of show], accompanied by talented BIMM Music Institute graduates, creating a fitting finale to the celebrations.
This graduation represents a significant milestone in ICTheatre’s history, coming at a time when the institution begins an exciting new chapter through its merger with Performers College. This union of two prestigious performing arts institutions marks the beginning of an enhanced creative journey for future generations of performing artists.
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.
