Professional Stage Production

This term our year 13 students worked with performers from BOA Creative Digital and Performing Arts Academy to produce the Christmas Show, ‘Beauty and the Beast’, at The Old Rep Theatre.

BOA Stage and Screen Production Academy students worked with industry professionals this term to design and build the set, costumes, props, hair and make-up, lighting design and sound. They production-managed the show, staffed front of house, created marketing and promotion content, and captured a live multi-cam broadcast of every cast. The show ran 52 times over 4 weeks. Huge credit must go to those dedicated staff, industry practitioners and student crews, who worked incredibly long hours at a professional standard to make this a reality.

The musical adventure follows Belle, a beautiful and intelligent young woman, as she finds herself trapped in an enchanted castle in the depths of the forest captured by the grotesque Beast. Will she learn to love him for who he truly is and break the spell.

From the creative team behind last year’s Alice in Wonderland, comes a seasonal adventure for the entire family. With spellbinding storytelling, set to an original score and a few magical surprises along the way this re-imagining of a classic fairytale will excite, entertain and leave you spellbound.

You can check out a short behind-the-scenes documentary put together by our year 13 broadcast crew below.

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Professional Screen Production

This term our year 13 students have been working with indie production company Threewise Entertainment on a ground-breaking collaborative feature-film project.

BOA Stage and Screen Production Academy students have worked with industry professionals this term to write and workshop a range of story and narrative ideas, generate sizzle-reels and concept art, experiment with MoCap technology, and plan promotional campaigns for this ground-breaking project. The official press announcement went out in November as an exclusive on deadline.com. You can expect to hear more in the new year in local and national press!

The film is due to go into production this June 2023.

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Professional Contemporary Production

This term our year 13 students have been working with Voices of the Holocaust and AJR to write, devise and produce a contemporary mixed- media stage-based performance. 

Pages is a verbatim play based on the testimonies of Holocaust survivors. This show follows the testimony of Czechoslovakian survivor Irene Safran, a 21-year-old woman who was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1944, alongside her family. Interwoven are several thought-provoking narratives, including that of Kitty Hart-Moxen.

Pages uses a combination of live action, filmed media, and innovative on-stage technology to educate the audience as well give a platform for stories that should be heard, ensuring that these voices will not be forgotten.

Produced by BOA Stage and Screen Production Academy in collaboration with Voices of the Holocaust and the Association of Jewish Refugees.

Adult: £12:00 Concession: £10.00

Running Time: Approx 1 hour. (No Interval)

Show times: 27th January 7:00pm 28th January 1:30pm

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Year 12 Skills Development

Our year 12 students are now 3 months into their two-year programme and have been working to develop their core technical skill-sets. We are extremely pleased with the pace at which they are developing! Here are some examples of what they have been up to…

Technical Theatre and Live Events (lighting design 101):

Writing, Directing, Screen-craft (screen acting 101):

Broadcast, Film and Content (short-form promotional film):

 

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Student News Room:

Halloween Costumes For Prom?

- Gracie Hale (Year 12), BOA Stage and Screen STUDENT NEWS ROOM

Although Halloween was on a school day this year, it did not stop the students of BOA Stage and Screen academy celebrating in style. In an attempt to fundraise for the year 13 prom, students dressed in typical- and some not so typical- Halloween spirit. After not being able to have a year 11 prom due to Covid, 4 students on the Student Voice Board took it upon themselves to organise their first fundraising event- ‘BOA Stage and Scream’. Students travelled to school from all over the Midlands: on trains, on buses, on trams, head to toe in fancy dress.

From this event, the students raised £156.60 through a £2 dress up donation and a bake sale at break and lunch. With this money, the students will contribute to the cost of the prom venue and food. Alissa Aldridge on the Student Voice Board commented, ‘[we’re] really passionate about the idea of having a prom to conclude our school years, especially considering our college specifies in training students to head straight into the industry.’

They also expressed how putting together fundraisers ensures the academy doesn’t end up putting schooling money towards the prom. BOA Stage and Screen academy is a new academy specialising in the technical and production skills required for theatre, film and tv industries. Having only moved into their building in April 2022, they have yet to establish events such as a prom. The current year 13 students on the Student Voice Board are aiming to set a standard by making sure everything runs smoothly, in the hope that a prom can continue for future year groups.

The next fundraiser is set to be around Christmas time- including a raffle, a bake sale and a Christmas jumper dress up. So, if you see a bunch of teenagers wearing crazy Christmas jumpers on your train into Birmingham, you can take a guess where they’re heading to.

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Beyond the Basics

Community Impact

Our students this term put their fundraising skills into action. In October, in conjunction with World Mental Health day the academy raised £100 for the charity CALM. In addition to £61 for our learning support and well-being hub. In November, £111 to support Children in Need and in December, £72 was donated to Crisis, a charity that helps give homeless people a warm meal for Christmas Day and £26.95 for Save the Children.

Placements and Industry Engagement

We have seen a huge number of students undertake work placements with our partners this term including Birmingham Royal Ballet, the Hippodrome, The Rep, The Old Rep, Mission Accomplished to name just a few. In addition, one of our year 13 students has even secured a paid casual contract with the Rep this month!

Our industry partners have also been in the academy working with our students on a regular basis. We have had workshops from ScreenSkills, BFI film School, Clive Meldrum Sound, BBC Drama Village, BBC The Archers, PRG, Rokoko, Threewise Entertainment, The RSC, and many more!

Cultural Celebration Day

On Wednesday 11th January 2023 all students and staff will be taking part in a culture day. Students are invited to wear their traditional clothes or something that represents their culture. The day has been organised by our Equality and Diversity Student Ambassador team and students will take part in a variety of workshops. Some of the exciting ones on offer include Caribbean dance, South Asian make-up traditions, Henna, Pysanky, Poetry and Folklore to name a few. We are very much looking forward to celebrating many of the cultures in our community.

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Info for Students, Parents and Carers

Term Dates

• Students return after Christmas on Wednesday 4th January 2023.

• Students will work remotely 15th - 17th February 2023 (when we run our aptitude workshops for new applicants)

• Half-term break falls 20th -24th February 2023.

   

UCAS Applications (for year 13 students)

• All UCAS applications must be fully submitted by the academy by 25th January 2023.

• We asked students to complete their online application forms in advance of the Xmas break.

• Staff are now checking student applications and adding their references.

• Note that if a student does not submit a full application by the date, then they cannot apply until the clearing process begins in the summer.

 

Snow and Rail Strikes

• We recently wrote to you about rail strikes and the potential impact of bad weather.

• We will always relax the late code on rail-strike days. The next strikes that could impact students getting to and from the academy are planned for 4th and 6th January 2023.

• We will always notify you by text and email if we need to close the academy due to extreme weather.