Musical Theatre students gain invaluable feedback from industry professionals


Updated 17/12/2020

Gower College Swansea’s HE Cert in Musical Theatre students recently gained instrumental feedback at their preparing to audition module.

The event was a performance of audition material in front of a panel of four industry professionals including:

  • Steve Balsamo (pictured), actor who played Jesus in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar in the West End to great acclaim.
  • Crisian Emmanuel, actress who has starred in theatre, TV and films like The Da Vinci Code with Tom Hanks, Very Annie Mary and Under Milk Wood with Rhys Ifans.
  • Viv Care, Head of Musical Theatre at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
  • Jackie Bristow, our own Musical Theatre tutor who used to work in the prestigious Arts Educational School in London for 35 years. As a performer she was in many West End shows.

All the panellists wrote instrumental and constructive feedback for each of the students, so they can make improvements to their future performances.

They were extremely impressed by the calibre displayed by the students. Steve Balsamo said: “I was blown away. Congratulations to students and teachers. Fantastic job.”

Vivien Care commented: “They really did a fantastic job! Well done all for a slick, engaging and really enjoyable showing.”

Crisian Emmanuel echoed: “They are the standard of specialist college already.”

Student Byddia Lewis (pictured) said "The evening was so much fun. It was so nerve racking but so wonderful to be able to perform in front of an audience again for the first time since March. Overall a really enjoyable and successful evening with wonderful feedback."

Speaking about the auditions, course leader Rhian Holdsworth said: “Students and staff were so excited to have such an amazing calibre of industry professionals to give feedback to our students.

“College staff were very proud of how the students raised their game and performed with such confidence and maturity.

“A big thank you to Michael Moorwood who has been working with the students since September. Michael teaches Musical Theatre in the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Thank you also to Andrew Simeon, West End performer, who has also been working with the lucky students since September.”

For more information about the HE Cert in Musical Theatre visit our Higher Education section of the website.

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