A GROUP of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students from Bradford College performed in front of a famous playwright as part of Refugee Week.
Award-winning dramatist David Edgar made a special trip to West Yorkshire to attend the performance of his script, Because. The play was released without copyright restrictions to mark Refugee Week and follows the poignant story of an ESOL teacher learning about a student’s past.
The Bradford College students put on a stellar performance, with all participants speaking English as a second language and many refugees or asylum seekers themselves - some arriving in the country as recently as January.
Entry 1 and 2 students also performed an edited version of Twelfth Night with simplified scripts, while Entry 3 and Level 1 students delivered their scenes in Shakespearean English.
Bradford College has a successful history of working with marginalised groups and was named the first College of Sanctuary in West Yorkshire by City of Sanctuary UK.
Playwright David Edgar, who has had more than sixty of his published plays performed worldwide, said: “I was so pleased to hear Bradford College ESOL department were working on my script. I lived in Bradford from 1969 to 1974 - a really thrilling time to be in the city, theatrically and in so many other ways - so I’m particularly keen that you’re doing it.
“Yesterday was so moving. It will really stay with me. I’m so pleased I was able to come.”
Bradford College ESOL Lecturer Esther Wilkey added: “We were beyond thrilled at the thought of David Edgar coming to the performance.
“Many of the students performing have first-hand knowledge of the ‘Because’ storyline and, at times, the process of working on the script has been humbling and inspiring as students have shared their experiences as refugees and asylum seekers with each other.”
Following the performance, the group travelled to London to perform the same script at The United Nations High Commission for Refugees fundraising event Moving Stories on Sunday at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
BRADFORD City Football Stadium is set to host a special Bradford College Apprenticeship Recruitment Fair on Friday June 30. The event, at the McCall Suite, 12 noon to 5 pm, welcomes anyone interested in starting an apprenticeship.
Attendees can speak to local employers actively recruiting for apprenticeship vacancies across sectors, including Jet2, JCT 600, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Bradford Council, and Gough & Kelly. The award-winning Apprenticeships team will speak about qualifications on offer, including construction, dental nursing, early years, engineering, hairdressing and barbering, healthcare, motor vehicle, pharmacy, plumbing and electrical, and professional services. Businesses can find out more about employing apprentices or apprenticeship funding available.
Book a free ticket at bradford.college.ac.uk or email apprenticeships@bradfordcollege.ac.uk
THE Bradford School of Art annual Summer Show is now open to the public.
The spectacular exhibition in the Dye House Gallery at the College’s Lister Building celebrates work across creative disciplines, including Art & Design, Media Make-Up with Special Effects, Creative Practice, Textile Practice, and Fashion.
Angela Loftus, BA (Hons) Fashion and BA (Hons) Media Make Up Programme Leader at Bradford School of Art, said:
“I’m so proud of all the work our Bradford School of Art students have produced - as always, the standard of output is extremely impressive. It’s amazing to see students show off their talent and get recognition for their superb dedication."
The Bradford School of Art Summer Show will be open to the public on weekdays at the Bradford College Lister Building until 30 June from 8.30am to 4.30pm.
BRADFORD College is taking applications for a free graduate workshop to help polish CVs, sharpen interview skills, and plot dream career paths.
The three-day Graduates First programme is designed to guide recent graduates to their dream roles.
The course is ideal for individuals who have recently graduated and are looking for support with career planning and realising their next steps.
Bradford College will host the informative sessions at the Advanced Technology Centre (ATC) and virtually in July.
These training units will include CV writing, application forms, interview skills, career planning, social media for promotion, and mock interviews.
To take part, applicants must be a graduate (or have graduated in the last five years), live in the West Yorkshire region - can have graduated from any UK university - and be employed in a non-graduate role or claiming Job Seekers Allowance.
* Find out more about the Graduates First programme by emailing d.mistry@bradfordcollege.ac.uk
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