Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Students showcase their creative talents at Lift Off Festival
The annual mixed-programme celebrates the creative work of undergraduates from the School of Film, Music and Performing Arts.
Highlights include dance performances which were held at venues across the city including Northern Ballet, Yorkshire Dance and Leeds Beckett’s own studios at both Headingley and city campuses; whilst Music students showcased at The Library Pub, Hyde Park Book Club and the Brudenell Social Club.
Carl Flattery, School Head of Student Experience, who was leading on the festival, said: “The Lift Off festival has grown to include work from all areas of the school over the past few years and is now a fantastic showcase of our students’ talents. We have big plans to grow the festival and reach out even further across the city.”
Senior Lecturer in Performance Practice, Alexander Kelly, added: “The Lift Off festival is really exciting because it takes our students’ work out across the city to many different venues, and to meet real audiences. This year we presented work in our studios and found spaces on Headingley and city campuses plus Yorkshire Dance, Northern Ballet, Studio 24, and at Live Art Bistro – an amazing venue, run by Leeds Beckett graduates.
“The work ranged from stand-up comedy, immersive theatre, live art and durational performance to contemporary dance, dance theatre and performance lecture. Excitingly, several pieces of work have already been seen at other festivals in Leeds, Sheffield and Preston.”>
BA (Hons) Filmmaking and BA (Hons) Animation students from the Northern Film School celebrated with an evening of premiering their work on the silver screen at Hyde Park Picture House and screenings on the video wall on Portland Way and the Big Screen in Millennium Square.
Dean of the School of Film, Music and Performing Arts, Andrew Fryer, said: “I am always amazed by the professional quality of the work presented by our students at their final year showcase, from immersive contemporary performance to dance that interacts with technology, from the glittering film awards ceremonies at Hyde Park Picture House to rocking the audience at the infamous Brudenell Social Club - our students know how to make an impact.
“This year we were able to extend our impact on the city by screening films on the video wall in the wonderful new University entrance on Portland Way and linking these to the Big Screen on Millennium Square.”