South Eastern Regional College’s future stars of stage, screen, dance, drama and comedy recently showcased that our small province is producing immense creative talent to match the growing TV, film and theatre industry. 

Enthusiastic performing arts students from SERC recently got the unique opportunity to perform against their peers and put their creative acting and dance skills to the test at the 3rd annual Performing Arts NI Competition and were awarded first place in three categories.

The prestigious event hosted by North West Regional College showcased the very best up and coming creative talent from across the province and featured high profile, west end judges and over 60 young students from across Northern Ireland who competed in categories including classical drama, devised drama, group and solo dance performances and musical theatre performances.

Shiona Croft Head of the School of Performing and Creative Arts at SERC commented: “With the construction of SERC's new Performing Arts, Computing and Engineering (The SPACE) facility well underway at our Bangor campus and planned completion for August 2015, this success is testament to the high quality teaching and learning on offer at our College.
“Competitions like this are an excellent opportunity for the students to develop specific skills that are essential for a practitioner in the performing arts industry such as; improvisation, vocal and movement techniques, networking with industrial professionals and experience within an audition setting.”

When the results were announced Performing Arts student Rachel Sofely was celebrating after winning the Musical Theatre category, while SERC’s Vicky Allen took home second prize in the solo dance performance. In the Devised Group Drama categories, team SERC were also celebrating having secured first place in both group performances.

The event was judged by well-known, high profile judges from across the country including Emma Jordan, the Artistic Director of Prime Cut Productions, Belfast.  Emma was joined on the panel by Dean McCullough, a Northern Irish actor, dancer and presenter, who has worked across NI and the UK on major theatre productions; and Paul Kennedy, Belfast actor and director with recent roles in The Fall, Game of Thrones, and his own feature, Made in Belfast.
Commenting on the event Emma said “this has been a really fantastic day – it is great to see such talented and accomplished performers, and it gives me great hope in the future of our industry. It is an honour to have been asked to judge and to see the local talent coming through the Colleges.”

SERC is committed to providing students with opportunities that will help them set themselves apart as they aim to secure a place at university or employment, and competitions are just one element of that.    SERC are now taking applications for full-time courses starting September 2015 which will be located at our new and exciting Space facility. For further information about studying at SERC, please visit www.serc.ac.uk or find us on Facebook, search: South Eastern Regional College.  

Pictured are the talented SERC Performing Arts group Vestibule who finished first place in the Modern Group Drama category at the 3rd annual Performing Arts NI Competition.