Page 29 - Issue No. 80 Summer 2019

“The atmosphere of the performances 23
is what motivates me”

Performing Arts

Ryan is Engineering a Sound Future

Year 11 student, Ryan Bailey is indeed an inspirational student. Whilst
he worked on the technical sound and lighting side of College
productions such as ‘Billy Elliot’ and the Gym and Dance Show, at the
same time he has been setting up and running his own company,
Plymouth’s ‘Unity Production’, working with celebrities and providing
sound and lighting systems for a variety of shows, productions and
festivals.
Ryan, who would like to be a sound engineer in the future, joined the
College’s Technical Theatre Group at the start of Year 9, under the
guidance and encouragement of the College’s Performing Arts
Manager, Mr Simon Whitehorn.
Ryan says, “the Technical Theatre Group, led by Mr Whitehorn at
Ivybridge Community College, has definitely helped me by properly
educating me in all aspects of the technical, lighting and sound
set-ups.”
Ryan designs sound and light displays, managing mixing desks and
lighting booths, mostly using his own kit. He recently spent £2,000 on
new equipment, paid for by earnings from his events.

Students Gain Valuable Experience and Qualifications

Do you ever watch the College’s spectacular productions and wonder how the fabulous scenery, lighting,
sound, props and costume are created? The work is done by a small but dedicated team of students, across
all years, who are members of the College’s Technical Theatre Group. They all share a passion for theatre, but
perhaps are not so keen on performing.
The senior members of the group have years of experience of running performances and managing
performance spaces, both at the College and in other venues. Students have the opportunity to gain a Bronze,
Silver or Gold Award; a qualification validated by technical theatre’s governing body, the Association of British
Theatre Technicians. Our more experienced students undertake a formal qualification in Working at Height to
enable them to safely and legally use ladders and access equipment.
For many members of the Technical Theatre Group working backstage on shows is just a hobby, but for some,
such as with Year 11 student, Ryan Bailey, it becomes their career. Simon Whitehorn, the College’s Performing
Arts Manager, said, “Ryan has always been at the core of the Technical Theatre Group and his expertise is
growing rapidly. He is a very accomplished theatre sound operator and musician and we are always pleased
to have him working on our shows.”