BUDDING theatre stars at New College are to be offered the opportunity of a lifetime as a professional performing arts company declares the campus its new home.

Swindon-based theatre group Gatecrash which, for the past two years, has been coaching the town’s aspiring adult actors, is to offer top tuition to students from January.

The scheme is the result of a close partnership between Gatecrash and New College, and Laura Barnes, the theatre company’s artistic director, says she is hugely excited about working with the students.

Laura, who has worked in youth theatre for a number of years, said: “We think this will be a great opportunity for New College’s performing arts students. The prospect of giving them professional coaching and support has given us a real buzz and we are confident it will be of great benefit to the students.

“It has always been Gatecrash’s mission to support aspiring actors and artists across the region, and with a direct link to the college we can now offer mentorship, guidance and support directly to the performing arts students through workshops in their curriculum time, informal support and extra-curricular work.”

The partnership will mean that Gatecrash has a modern, well-equipped base for all their workshops and rehearsals.

Laura said: “It’s great because it will give us one place to meet rather than having to meet in community centres all across Swindon.

“New College is brilliant. It has bespoke theatre facilities and a specially built theatre workshop. It also has a massive design department, which will mean that art and design students can get involved as well.

“We could not be more delighted with this development and cannot wait to see how it unfolds in 2017.”

The company currently has about 45 members over the age of 18 who get together to rehearse each week. Their shows are always very well attended, with Saturday’s Wroughton Nativity completely sold out.

The company intends to involve the students in a wide range of skill -enhancing workshops, as well as offering them help with auditions.

“We want to give them a more professional outlook and build their confidence levels,” said Laura.

The students will be introduced to a different theme each term and it is intended that they will take part in a big performance in the summer.

Looking ahead to the new year, Laura and her team are very excited about their upcoming shows. After the sell-out show in Wroughton at the weekend they will next take to the stage at Swindon Arts Centre in March with a performance of Constellations by Nick Payne, which follows the story of two lovers played out across multiple universes.