Performing Arts students work with local theatre company 

A group of students from Milton Keynes College recently worked with a local theatre company to perform a play about unsung football heroes. 

The learners, who are currently studying Level 2 and Level 3 Performing Arts at the College, worked with the Pepper’s Ghost Theatre Company on “Not A Game for Girls”, which was performed over four nights at the Stantonbury Theatre. Pepper’s Ghost kindly offered to fund and produce this play for the Performing Arts students’ work experience placements. 

“Not A Game For Girls” by Benjamin Peel tells the dramatic story of the Dick, Kerr’s Ladies – one of the most famous and successful women’s football teams during the First World War – so popular that the Football Association tried to ban them. 

Using a mixture of real life and fictional characters and blending drama, songs and choreographed games, “Not A Game For Girls” captures the spirit and camaraderie that led the Dick, Kerr’s Ladies to ignore the prevailing social attitudes and prove most emphatically that they were wrong to dismiss football as “Not A Game For Girls”. 

Pepper’s Ghost is the community arm of professional theatre company The Play’s The Thing, which has a long history of offering opportunities to MK College’s Performing Arts students. This includes making six films with MK College students in 2020, facilitating an exhibition of students’ work at MK Gallery in 2021, supporting students in working with the Haste Theatre Company on a devised piece for a prestigious festival at MK Gallery and offering free performances and a workshop of the then touring show “Hidden Stories” about miscarriages of justice. 

Colin Bloxham, Course Team Leader of Performing Arts at Milton Keynes College, said: “It is with great pleasure that we acknowledge the collaboration between our learners and Pepper’s Ghost Theatre Company on this remarkable production. The opportunity to accrue Performing Arts work experience hours is a rare and valuable one, and we consider ourselves fortunate to have had Rosemary’s support in securing these hours for our committed learners. Consequently, our students have acquired a substantial amount of experience in the local theatre industry, which I’m sure will enhance their essential employment and performance skills, preparing them for the broader acting profession. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Rosemary for her invaluable contribution.” 

Chelsea Nathan, one of the students from Milton Keynes College involved in the project, commented: “I have enjoyed working with Rosemary and it has been a great experience of learning about the professional standard in a community theatre company. The experience feels very professional and from this process, I have learnt to accept constructive feedback as this was something that I struggled with. It has been very fun getting to know the rest of the crew and gaining a strong professional working relationship to ensure we create a fantastic production for audiences around Milton Keynes”. 

Rosemary Hill, Director and Producer of the Pepper’s Ghost Theatre Company, added: “It has been an incredible journey working with the students over twelve weeks to produce this heartwarming play. It has been very rewarding to see how the students have grown in confidence, skill, knowledge and resilience as we have progressed. It’s also been wonderful to see how the students have really warmed to this story and owned it. They have seen the importance of not erasing women from history!” 

To find out more about Performing Arts at Milton Keynes College, click here. 

Serena Robb, also known as The Isle of CC, studied the BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Performing Arts, followed by the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Music at MK College from 2011 to 2014. We caught up with her to hear how college helped her to pursue her dream career and to find out what she’s been up since we last saw her; from her favourite memories at college to how her tutors supported her in achieving her goals.

Serena’s Story

“Attending MK College definitely helped me creatively. I actually wanted to dance, act and sing, and maybe go to an Academy afterwards. Studying Performing Arts boosted my confidence and I enjoyed being in various theatre shows, from being in the chorus to having main parts. I realised I shined the most whilst singing and I think other people realised this before I did, and encouraged me to pursue this. I think that was one of the reasons that lead to my decision to move on to the music course.

I have lots of good memories of college but I think my three favourites were learning about Foley Art for film and making my own, going on a trip with the music class to watch The Lion King and performing at our final major performance.

When I first went to college I had no desire to go to University. I had it in my head that I wasn’t academic enough to do something like that. I didn’t even know that Music universities existed until my tutors told me. I remember Caroline helping me with my acceptance letter and giving me some really good tips. She helped me showcase who I was, why I should be accepted and most importantly – what made me different.

Thanks to her support, after MK College I went on to study at The British and Irish Modern Music Institute (Brighton Institute). I chose BA (Hons) Professional Musicianship in Vocals and graduated in 2017. Since graduating, I have my thumbs in many music pies. I’m a Solo artist, Radio Host, A director of MK Fringe, Sync Writer and Wordplay Magazine Writer.

While studying at MK College, I was able to get involved in lots of different projects and meet like-minded individuals, some of whom I still speak to. This definitely helped me, as I don’t think you ever stop learning in a creative industry.

My advice to anyone wanting to join the Music industry would be to go to gigs – especially the grassroots ones as you’ll be surprised how many people you meet. Try and network as much as you can and learn from others. If you show a willingness to learn and grow, people will help you.

Try and learn the basics of an instrument, even if it’s just simple chords and the basics of recording software. It does make it that bit easier when approaching a producer and explaining to them what you’d like to do. Research 2-3 different artists/musicians a few steps ahead of you who are doing what you want to do. See where they have performed before, who their target audience is, who has written about them, their radio play etc. It can help you to figure out where to start.

If you want to be a session musician, practice, practice practice – surround yourself with like-minded people and research function work. Function gigging might not feel like the best thing in the world, but it helps you think on your feet and learn songs in a short time frame. Once you’ve done this for a while you can start approaching networks such as GO2 Entertainment and Alive Network.

I’ve noticed that there’s a lot of camaraderie,  especially with indie labels. At the end of the day, we are all in the same boat and helping one another, which I believe is important. Don’t be afraid to ask for help too, I’m a bit introverted at times but sometimes don’t overthink it – just go for it, otherwise, you’ll never know.”

We’ve loved hearing about Serena’s journey since leaving MK College and can’t wait to see where she goes from here. If you want to check her out for yourself, follow her on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, as well as YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music.

Want to study Music or Performing Arts? Check out our range of Creative Arts courses and turn your passion into a career.

Georgia Mallory, Performing Arts Alumnus

“I’d achieved some good grades in my GCSEs and my teachers at school tried really hard to convince me to stay on rather than go to college,” says Georgia Mallory. They told me I’d never get to university or Drama School if I left and I felt really pressured about it. Today I’m in my second year of a degree at Central School of Speech and Drama.”

Georgia Mallory knew what she wanted and she knew that studying Performing Arts at Milton Keynes College was the way to go about it. Today she produces art house films and other performance artworks alongside her studies, writing, performing, producing and directing.

“College exceeded my expectations,” she says. “The staff all had really impressive industry experience and clearly knew what they were talking about. The big thing for me was how much more like an adult they treated me. College is a really inclusive place and everyone is really valued as an individual.”

Georgia is convinced she made the right choice. “If I’d stayed at school I might have ended up doing a degree somewhere which maybe wouldn’t have taken me in the direction I wanted. College has given me exactly what I wanted from it – best decision I ever made.”