Performing Arts students at the City of Bath College have had the honour of taking centre stage at Bath’s beautiful 200-year-old Georgian lido, the Cleveland Pools.
The students were invited to perform their own work in the first theatrical performance at the Cleveland Pools.
The Grade II listed waterside retreat, which is believed to be the oldest surviving open-air swimming baths in the UK, proved to be the perfect setting for the production by candlelight.
Students explored their thoughts on dying and experiences of bereavement through a series of short stories called ‘A Life Through Death’s Eyes.’
The 11 BTEC Level 3 students put on the public performance next to the main swimming pool and in the original changing rooms on Friday evening.
Members of the audience carried lanterns as students performed the piece of physical theatre, which incorporated singing, dancing, movement and monologue.
Performing Arts lecturer Dominique Fester said Cleveland Pools was one of Bath’s best kept secrets.
She said: “It was a lovely, intimate setting and everyone was really excited to be performing there. It was an honour to be the first performance, an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“The theatre piece lends itself to a surreal and abstract site. There was certainly a sinister side to the piece so it was all very atmospheric.
“We have been learning about physical theatre, in particular how you can use the body and movement to tell stories and share ideas.
“This piece of theatre was all the students own work, they were inspired by graveyards and had full control over the piece. They decided on the stories and how they were put together.
“I’m very pleased with how they did, I’m proud of them.”
The site, which is in the shape of a miniature Georgian crescent, is to be restored to its former glory after The Cleveland Pools Trust secured £4.1 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The restoration project will conserve the Georgian features and upgrade the facilities to allow for year-round swimming.
Students were invited to perform at Cleveland Pools after staff and students visited the site last month as part of the Heritage Open Days.
Student Bryony Blyth, 19, hopes to go on to study directing at university and said performing in such a historic venue was “a great experience.”
She said: “It was very exciting to perform in such a setting. We had worked so hard on everything and it all came together so well.
“It was about death but it wasn’t all doom and gloom. It was cleverly done so that people would learn new things. For example, it looked at suicide and touched upon the issues of forgiveness and letting go of guilt.”
