Audiences are wowed by Time Warp display
STUDENTS with a range of physical and learning needs have wowed audiences with a winning trip through time at Loughborough College.
‘The Time Warp Team’ was a year in the making for the 15 performers from the Transitions programme at the college and offered highlights from history - as well as a ‘commercial break’ with spoof adverts.
Loughborough College performing arts tutor Vicki Calvert-Gooch said: “There is a range of complex needs within the group and they came together to create and develop an outstanding performance on stage and film.
“Their starting point was an interest in Loughborough College’s establishment in 1909.
“The students were keen to look at history since then and to explore it through music – so basing the performance around a time machine was ideal.
“One student wanted to look at when her parents were younger, so we watched lots of videos of people dancing in the ‘sixties and the students picked their favourite moves to incorporate the era into the performance – we even projected a photo of the student’s parents together at the time.
“The audience sang along to ‘It’s A Long Way To Tipperary’ when we visited the time of the First World War and we closed the show in the 1920s. Some of our students who use communication aids talked us through a host of inventions from the era, including traffic lights, sliced bread and cotton buds, before we moved into a big finish with ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ and a huge Charleston with flapper dresses and period costume.
“Our ad breaks have become an annual favourite at this show and this year was no exception with the students’ take on the Andrex puppy and the seemingly endless sofa adverts proving a huge hit with the audience.
“The months of preparation have done wonders in boosting the students’ skills and confidence and their excellent team work really paid off with the parents, carers, friends, staff and students who packed our arts academy theatre thrilled with the performance. We all had such a great time.
“It was also fantastic to end with a presentation to Gwyneth Mabbutt who has been a learning support assistant with the college for 18 years. She is such an important part of the team and it was wonderful to be able to mark her contribution.”