About us

Highlights: Autumn Term

Student DJing at Creamfields at a huge stage, arms in the air.

It’s been another exhilarating term at the sixth form, where we welcomed global superstars, performed across Liverpool and beyond, and benefitted from unique experiences to develop our students’ industry expertise. It’s times like this where we reflect fondly upon all of our highlights, so we thought we ought to shed some light on the moments from last term that you may have missed:

Shows & performances

Our actors, technicians and designers came together for a trio of plays, When They Go Low, 39 Steps and I Love You, Mum – I Promise I Won’t Die.

Students acting, peering through blinds.

39 Steps - Image copyright of Brian Roberts Photography and the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

Our technicians and designers also delivered the fantastic Heroes and Villains exhibition which transformed the Willy Russell Studio Theatre and helped them hone their skills in set, costume, lighting and sound design, scenic and props construction, and painting.

Students sat around a throne which is decorated with playing cards and a red curtain behind.

Heroes and Villains - Image copyright of Brian Roberts Photography and the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

In December, you may have seen our Musical Theatre students performing seasonal classics across Liverpool, at Alder Hey Hospital, St George’s Hall, Harvey Nichols and John Lewis.

And, of course, our Music students have been busy with our Welcome Gig and Own the Stage gigs.

Sound tech student at her desk working during a rehersal.

Own The Stage - Image copyright of Brian Roberts Photography and the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

Students performing in a band on stage with a full crowd and a disco ball above.

Welcome Gig - Image copyright of Brian Roberts Photography and the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

Recent guests

We are grateful to so many exceptionally talented people who have visited us to share their expertise with our students.

The legendary Elvis Costello joined us for a lively Q&A with students and generously gave us 18 VIP passes to his show (a show which also featured two of our alumni performing alongside him). Our alumni Megan Roberts reflects on what it was like to perform with Elvis in this short video.

Elvis Costello sat speaking into a microphone during a live Q&A.

Q&A with Elvis Costello - Image copyright of Brian Roberts Photography and the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

We also welcomed back the Crawlers, featuring our alumni, Liv May (formerly Liv Kettle), and Holly Minto, for an exclusive Back to School Sound Check.

Our dancers were treated to several masterclasses, including from SLP College, British Black Ballet Company, LIPA, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Dancebox Studios & Theatre Works, Arden School of Theatre, and Dance City. These masterclasses improved our dancers’ techniques and helped them decide their next steps once they leave the sixth form.

Our actors similarly gained expert advice from active professionals via our regular industry sessions. Six sessions brought in actors Edward Pinner and Callum Connor, TV director and producer Tom Lowry, artistic director Elinor Randle, producer and manager Rhianna Swyer, and lecturer and practitioner Graham Hicks.

A student vocalist standing in front of a microphone with sunglasses on.

The Crawlers - Image copyright of Robin Crawley Photography (X @BlueSky, Instagram @robinscamera, Facebook @robinclewleyphotography)

Visits

In addition to bringing experts into the sixth form, our students also benefit from engaging with Liverpool’s cultural scene and opportunities to attend events across the north and beyond.

We have taken students to performances across the country, including: 101 Dalmatians – The Musical at the Liverpool Empire, Rambert Dance Company's Peaky Blinders, the Redemption of Thomas Shelby at the Empire, Angela Carter’s The Company of Wolves at the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, and Why Am I Still Single? at the Garrick Theatre in London.

A group of actors stood in matching poses for Peaky Blinders performance.

Peaky Blinders – Image copyright of Brian Roberts Photography and the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

Steve Chaney – previous stage manager at Glastonbury – generously gave our musicians and technicians backstage access to the Leeds Festival, including a visit to the tech tower to observe sound and lighting. Steve also hosted us at the Co-Op Live arena in Manchester, letting our music production students observe the get-in for the Script’s performance.

To support students’ progression into higher education, we also took our dancers to Can You Dance? Super Convention in Liverpool and UCAS’s Create your Future fair in Manchester. Students were able to meet representatives from higher education institutions and explore possible post-18 pathways.

Student & alumni success

We are so proud of our students and alumni – who are excelling in a wide range of disciplines.

In the field

Bands featuring our alumni have performed at the Reading Festival (Crawlers and Baby Said), the O2 Arena (Absntmind), and toured the UK (STONE, Woo, The Dream Machine). As well as this, George Last took to the XXL stage at Creamfields where he DJ’d in front of 10,000 people. Alumni have also supported performers at Glastonbury and in concerts in South Korea and Switzerland.

Student DJing on stage at Creamfields in a packed out stage.

George Last playing to a packed XXL Tent of 10,000 people at Creamfields.

On stage

Our alumni can be spotted in Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare North and Theatre by the Lake), Book of Mormon (UK tour), Broken Boys (53two Manchester), Stocking Fillers (Royal Court, Liverpool), 8 Hours There and Back (UK tour), Play House (Liverpool Everyman), Starlight Express (Germany), Der Freischutz Opera (Bregenz, Austria), and The Greatest Day (P&O Cruises). You’ll also see our dancers at Disneyland Paris, Royal Palace Kirrwiller in Alsace, and in shows aboard Saga, Ambassador, and Celebrity cruise ships.

Alumni are also working in technical and production roles, including at: Leeds Heritage Theatres (as Deputy Stage Manager); the Paris Olympics and Paralympics (lighting and rigging); and Disney Cruise Lines (in-house production team).

On screen

A current first-year has been cast in a leading role in TV drama Extra Geography by Miriam Battye (Dead Ringers, Beef, Succession), while an alum will appear in a new, as yet untitled, Jimmy McGovern television drama.

We were also excited to see Campbell Wallace starring as Ringo Starr in the film Midas Man, which is now available on Amazon Prime.

Many students dancing on stage, all in the same pose with their arms bent.

Musical Theatre Showcase - Image copyright of Brian Roberts Photography and the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

In other news

Our students and alumni are also sports starts (9th World Junior Wushu Championship held in Brunei), playwrights (Tell Me How it Ends from Methuen Drama), marketing professionals (supporting Chase & Status achieve a number one album).