Actor Training Academy

Thank you and goodbye to our wonderful second year students.

Today, they were the latest to follow that ATA tradition and they took their headshots off the wall, and left us for their next adventures. Been a long road since that welcome day 2 years ago.

They know exactly what they've meant to us.

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Some images from our 2026 Production of THE SKRIKER by Caryl Churchill.

Finish the week with a real highlight, our monstrous underworld Skriker, in all her large faced glory, spectacularly performed by Clara Redfearn and an ensemble of Skrikers operating the mask...

What started as a wild idea from JMR in the pre-show planning, was created and executed to perfection by Daisy, Tasharna and Olivia from Preston College Creative Arts, bringing a mad-cap idea into realisation.

Thank you to SL.Photography , , and Louis Faragher for their images!

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Some images from our 2026 Production of THE SKRIKER by Caryl Churchill.

Just a small selection of the amazing photos of our Underworld Characters...

The biggest thank you to Saskia Lincoln for her incredible mask work.

Thank you to SL.Photography , , .pilkington_photography and Louis Faragher for their images!

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Some images from our 2026 Production of THE SKRIKER by Caryl Churchill.

And now a selection of the two sisters, Lily and Josie...

Thank you to SL.Photography , and Louis Faragher for their images!

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Some images from our 2026 Production of THE SKRIKER by Caryl Churchill.

Here are a selection of images of THE SKRIKER themself...

Thank you to SL.Photography , and Louis Faragher for their images!

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THE SKRIKER by Caryl Churchill, produced by ATA, 2026.

We have shared all our words of appreciation as a cast, crew and company to each other.

Know that we are grateful beyond belief for the attitude and commitment you have shown to this incredibly challenging but rewarding project. A special group of students, and you're all very much appreciated.

And after all that... it was dustbin...
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FIRST REVIEW IN!!

Thank you to John Waterhouse from Number9 Reviews, who attended the opening night of THE SKRIKER, and concluded his review with these positive words.

Now we get ready for one last show, to another sold out audience.

Read the full review here:
https://number9reviews.blogspot.com/2026/06/theatre-review-skriker-preston-college.html?m=1

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ONE WEEK TO GO!!!

Get your tickets if you haven't done, don't want to miss this one!!

www.preston.ac.uk/tickets

Our Actor Training Academy show 'The Skriker' opens next Wednesday. With performances from our Level 3 first and second years with support from six Level 2 Performing Arts Students, and theatrical media make-up students.

Get your tickets here 👉 www.preston.ac.uk/tickets

📅 Wednesday 3, Thursday 4 & Friday 5 June
🕢 7.30pm
📍 Preston College Studio Theatre
❌ Age restriction 16 years

THE SKRIKER by Caryl Churchill
The Skriker is one of the strangest and cruellest plays of Caryl Churchill’s extraordinary collection, it reminds us what magic actually is. You can be sure: this is the world of the uncanny, the cruel, the unhuman, the heartless. The Skriker draws on ancient English and Irish folk and fairy tales to look at some inadmissibly dark truths about fertility, motherhood and damaged human nature & impulse.
The play follows the Skriker, 'a shapeshifter and death portent, ancient and damaged, in its search for love and revenge as it pursues two young women to London, changing its shape at every new encounter. Along with the Skriker come Rawheadandbloodybones, the Kelpie, the Green Lady, Black Dog and more, till the whole country is swarming with enticing and angry creatures that have burst from the underworld.

“Don’t you want to feel global warm and happy ever after? Warm the cackles of your heartless. Make you brave and rave. Look at the colourful, smell the tasty, won’t you drink a toastie with me, Josie?”

Special thanks to our art and construction apprentices for their help and support.

GREAT NEWS reached us today.

Last year's end of year production of AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, our version of Laura Eason's adaptation, has been awarded the NODA All District Drama Award for the North West!!!

That gives us the award for the best amateur Drama in the entire North West from last year, competing against both youth and adult productions.

It was already a production we were proud of, and this gives us another reason to be.

Thank ALL of the students and staff that helped our vision become award winning reality. And thank you NODA for the recognition.
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SUCCESS!!
CONGRATULATIONS to second year student Katie Bashforth who has been offered a place to study at the University for the Creative Arts, from September.

A great achievement on a wonderful journey. Been brilliant to see you grow. We're all sure you'll do great there.

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