It’s all go this springtime at INTO Newcastle University – a couple of weeks ago, students gave an enraptured audience a magical wake-up call with a brilliant pantomime adaptation of the classic fairytale, Sleeping Beauty.
Thirty students from the International Foundation and International Year One programmes participated in the show, which was written and staged by maths teacher, Yvonne Wancke. After the show, Yvonne said: “The students did a great job, the audiences were lovely and we are all very excited for our next show!”
The performers and participants had this to say:
“The rehearsals were great and I made many friends from different countries who have become a meaningful part of my life at INTO” - Zeqin Xie (the Herald), a Chinese student who is studying on the International Foundation Humanities programmes.
“I really enjoyed my time in drama it helped me become more confident and much more happy” - Avanthika Nanda Sanjay (Fairy 6), who is on the same programmes.
"Taking part in the Sleeping Beauty drama is one of the most enjoyable experiences I've had in INTO. I am so grateful for the valuable friendships I have made through the drama, along with the opportunity to take part in a performance” - Wenjie Seow (Fairy 2), an International Foundation Business student from Malaysia.
“Whenever world news is getting me down, being part of a performance with such a lively and talented group of international students is so uplifting and fun!” - Hedley Sugar-Wells (The Dame), a teacher at INTO Newcastle.
Later this spring - in early May - INTO Newcastle students will join forces with the Indonesian Student Association in Newcastle to present Discover Indonesia, northeast England’s biggest annual Indonesian Festival.
In the run-up to the event, INTO Newcastle students are helping to organise a two-day cultural bazaar - or ‘Semarak’ - featuring cultural workshops (one of which involves making and flying a traditional Indonesian kite), games and food and drink stalls. Kim, who is 19 and on INTO Newcastle’s International Foundation in Finance and Business management, had this to say: “It’s been really fun working with other Indonesian students because we’re like family and at the same time are promoting Indonesian culture.”
Other students are busy rehearsing for the many dances and drama performances which will take place as part of the festival’s ‘Retorik’ evening event and will be held at Northumbria Students Union. Humanities and Social Science Foundation student Sekar, 18, is participating because, she says: “I like dancing and want to introduce Indonesian culture to local people. It’s challenging to keep the balance between practicing and study, but it’s really fun as I have met new friends.”
That INTO Newcastle teaches international students to be all-round performers in the classroom as well as on stage was recently amply demonstrated by former student Shaun.
Having arrived in Newcastle from Indonesia six years ago, Shaun passed the International Foundation in Engineering and went on to obtain a degree in Civil and Structural Engineering and a Master’s degree in Structural Engineering at Newcastle University.
Shaun has recently become a Graduate Bridge Engineer with Ramboll, the engineering firm behind the Gateshead Millennium Bridge. You can learn more about the story of his success here and find out more about the programmes and opportunities at INTO Newcastle and our other UK centres at INTO Study.