A FORMER Priestley student returned to college to inspire the current cohort who are bringing magic to the theatre stage.
Darcy Bowler is now studying at RADA – one of the oldest and most prestigious drama schools in the UK – and is thriving on her production arts course.
On her return to Priestley the former County High School Leftwich pupil said: “I hadn’t realised courses like this existed until I started looking at colleges.
“The course I chose at Priestley was just the best. The teachers were incredible and everyone in my year was so lovely.”
Darcy is now working on stages once graced by RADA alumni including actors Sean Bean, Sir Kenneth Branagh, Taron Egerton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Wicked star Cynthia Erivo.
During her time at Priestley, where she also studied Criminology, Darcy worked on productions including ‘We Will Rock You’ and ‘Chicago’.
She said the grounding she received working in the Costello Theatre prepared her for RADA, in particular some of the support she received from her tutors.
“Something that prepared me for the next step was my teacher Deb who had worked in the industry and is very familiar with what it takes to ‘make it’ in the business,” said Darcy.
At Priestley students work with industry-standard equipment from the sound desk to the lighting rigs. By the time they leave they are able to fully-manage a theatre production and along the way pick up other skills including puppet making and make-up.
It means students like Darcy leave with the skills and ambition to succeed in competitive industries like the arts.
“I am hoping that in three years I will be working in stage management – maybe even on a musical in the West End,” she said.