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In Fog and Falling Snow: York students go behind the scenes

Posted on 8 July 2015

Students at the University of York have produced a behind-the-scenes film documenting the community production In Fog and Falling Snow at the National Railway Museum (NRM).

Part of the University’s @Work careers programme, students attended auditions and rehearsals to interview participants involved in the production. Featuring interviews with community cast and crew, the films aim to showcase why York is successful in hosting such large-scale theatrical experiences.

Following on from the successful York Mystery Plays and Blood and Chocolate, In Fog and Falling Snow is a specially commissioned piece of theatre produced by York Theatre Royal and the NRM. Involving over 200 voluntary members of the community, it charts the rise and fall of railway financier George Hudson, and takes place among the collections and auditorium of the NRM.

In preparation for the behind-the-scenes project, students produced storyboards and a timeline for interviewing participants and editing footage. They will post the finished films onto YouTube.

Jonathan Fry, project volunteer and an undergraduate in the Department of English and Related Literature at York, said: “I've found the whole project really rewarding, to have a hand in a project like this all the way from initial idea through to production. I particularly enjoyed the evening we spent gathering footage at the National Railway Museum - we had access to the entire space they were rehearsing in!”

Sarah Leith, Volunteering Project Officer in Careers at the University of York, said: “University of York students have a lot to offer the city and community in terms of enthusiasm and skills. The @Work scheme is about helping students to develop their skills, enhance their employability and gain valuable experience in the sectors that are of particular interest to them, such as the heritage and cultural industries and the education sector.”

The In Fog and Falling Snow project is one of many student-led schemes, all organised through the @Work programme. Other projects include ‘Mapping York’s literary scene’, led by students producing a report on local author and bookshop activities, and ‘Crowdfunding the arts’, a student-produced guide for how those in the arts can use popular websites to market themselves for funding.

Coordinated by the University’s Careers team in partnership with academic departments, @Work allows student volunteers to demonstrate their commitment to the local community, while gaining valuable work experience to enhance their future career prospects.

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