Jordan is a leading light

A YOUNG technician who has shed light on many a theatrical production in Warrington has secured a place at one of the UK’s top universities.
Jordan Simpson, from Great Sankey, has been accepted into the Royal Central School for Speech and Drama, which counts Dame Judi Dench, Stephen Fry and Carrie Fisher as alumni.
The 18-year-old, who is studying Production Arts at Priestley College, is one of only six per cent of applicants who secured a place at the London university.
The former Penketh High School pupil said: “I felt lucky just to get an interview. I’m so passionate about what I want to do that I think that came across when I spoke to them and in my personal statement.
“I told them I felt I was hitting my potential at Priestley and wanted to learn in more detail about production lighting.”
Jordan is on course for D*D* in his Production Arts BTEC at Priestley when he finishes this summer.
While at the college he has built up his skills as a lighting technician, illuminating and adding drama to numerous shows including a performance of “We Will Rock You” which he deputy stage managed.
He’s also thrown his talent and time into helping at local youth drama group CODYS Productions and in total has worked on 19 shows in Warrington.
It was while he was at Penketh High that he discovered his love of lighting when he was asked to take charge of the illuminations for “West Side Story” aged just 13.
“I enjoyed it so much I took the manual home and learned about it in more detail,” said Jordan.
For more than 100 years Royal Central has been renowned for producing some of the finest actors, designers, technicians, performance professionals and educators in the industry.
Professional directors and designers will often work alongside students, or as mentors on projects.
Other alumni include Lord Laurence Olivier, Vanessa Redgrave and Harold Pinter.
Priestley’s head of Performing Arts Sarah Graham said: “Jordan’s love for what he does has been obvious to everyone he’s worked with at Priestley. He thoroughly deserves the place he has been offered at Central.”