BSDC Students prepare to scare at Screamfest!

Students at Burton and South Derbyshire College have been given the chance to try their hand at the unique art of scare acting as part of a popular Staffordshire scream park this Halloween.

Performing Art students from Burton and South Derbyshire College, will be transformed into demons, zombies and scare clowns, as well as blood-thirsty farmers and malevolent spirits as part of a gore induced festival of horror at Screamfest.

The series of 15 terrifying fright nights based at the National Forest Adventure Farm in Tatenhill, near Burton on Trent, attracts over 23,000 visitors every year and sees five bloodcurdling scare attractions filled with 100 live actors to bring the Halloween event to life.

More than 50 Midlands performing arts students from Burton and South Derbyshire College and South Staffordshire College are among the scores of actors delivering the frights and screams thanks to the unique training of the UK’s first qualified scare acting trainer, Rosie Redvers Jones.

Screamfest has been held at the National Forest Adventure Farm since 2012. Now in its 10th year, the event is spread out over 15 terrifying nights in the run up to Halloween and includes five immersive scare attractions, as well as an extended array of extreme performers taking to the stage for a full night of outdoor entertainment.

Catherine Palfreyman, Performance Arts Lecturer at Burton and South Derbyshire College, said: “We are thrilled that our students are yet again getting the opportunity to participate in Screamfest. The event gives performers the chance to showcase their skills and learn new techniques in the world of scare acting.

“It is a varied and unique experience and an opportunity for students to work alongside professional actors and producers that are experts in their fields. This knowledge and experience is invaluable in supporting our young people with new skills and experience for their future careers.”