College Students Launch Olympic Torch Relay

SOUTH DEVON COLLEGE art, textiles, performing arts, music, and hair & beauty students put on a special performance to 20,000 people at the Devon carnival procession in Exeter for the Olympic torch relay.

Forkbeard Fantasy multi-media theatre company devised the procession performance for the opening ceremony of the Olympic and Paralympic Sailing and surf competitions in Weymouth. Earlier in the year, Forkbeard performed an exclusive show at South Devon College’s Vantage Point campus in Paignton, and asked College students to collaborate with them on the project. They were invited to help with the Devon section of a procession performance called ''Battle of the winds'', originally created by Bristol art companies Cirque Bijou and Desperate Men. Their performance premiered in the sunshine in Exeter on Sunday May 20 and will be repeated at the official opening ceremony in Weymouth to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

South Devon College’s fashion, textiles and art students managed the whole project -designing, creating and producing all the costumes, accessories and props for the procession. Theatre and performing arts students were 'dancing' and modeling, music students put together a street band, and hair & beauty students providing makeup and hair for models.

“We’re all still buzzing about how well it went!” said South Devon College Level 3 textiles student Cat Moore (18, from Torquay), “We worked hard on costumes designs including chefs, Devon maids as waitresses, fashion catwalk girls, with ascot style cream tea hats plus ‘sea and waves’ costumes. We even produced some amazing large scale headdresses, sculptures and puppets. It was great to see all our hardwork come to life on Sunday, the performers did a fantastic job and the whole day was a huge success. The feedback we received was incredible. We’re so proud to be able to showcase it at the spectacular opening ceremony in Weymouth and we all feel so privileged to be playing such a big part in it.”

“It was such a privilege and honour for both the students and for South Devon College to be part of a fantastic day,” said Textiles lecturer Sam Aspden, “The chance to work on the opening celebrations of the Olympic Games is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity and an invaluable experience I’m sure they’ll never forget. We are all very excited.”

The performance will feature at Weymouth’s opening ceremony on Friday 27th July. The ceremony will even link live to the national TV coverage of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games opening ceremony.

For more information on courses at South Devon College call free on 08000 380 123 or visit www.southdevon.ac.uk.

For more information visit http://www.southdevon.ac.uk/