Lichfield College students given frightfully good opportunity at Midlands Halloween scare park
October 2022
Performing arts students from our Lichfield 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 this month.
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 over 100 live actors to bring the Halloween event to life.
More than 50 Midlands performing arts students from South Staffordshire College and Burton and South Derbyshire 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, who is one of only a handful of actors in the UK to hold a Masters in Performing Arts with Scare Acting, has been running a series of unique ‘scare schools’ to help get the students ready to deliver the ultimate fright night experience.
Ivor Robinson, joint owner of the National Adventure Farm, said it was a great opportunity for local performing art students to gain unique experience in the industry.
He said: “As a scare attraction we love being able to work with local colleges in supporting the next generation of live actors. Their enthusiasm and talent amaze us every year and we are fortunate to be able to offer students the unique opportunity to learn skills and gain experience in a very different acting arena.
“This year’s line up of attractions will bring the ultimate mixture of fears to recreate your worst nightmare. Think blood, gore, zombies, clowns and shock with the usual mix of Screamfest scare and laughter.”
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.
Each year over 100 actors work across the scream park to bring screams and laughter to visitors in search of the ultimate fright at Halloween.
Chris Hopkins, Director of Faculty for Creative, Arts, Digital and IT at South Staffordshire 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 a rare 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.”
This year’s Screamfest will see the return of five fan favourites for one year only to mark the 10th anniversary.
Screamfest is a scary experience and not recommended for under 16s. Under 16s will not be admitted without an 18+ year responsible adult and must be supervised at all times. For more information, visit www.screamfest.co.uk
