‘Perspectives’ Lecture: Creative Careers

The February Perspectives lecture focused on careers in creative arts. Contemporary still-life and botanical painter Nicola Currie (née Darley, Class of 1974), Head of Development at Synchronicity Films Deanne Cunningham (Class of 2001), freelance actor and voiceover artist Luci Fish (Class of 2010), Eilidh Gibson (Class of 2016), Resident Assistant Director at Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, and student at the Royal Academy of Music Caroline Blair (Class of 2018) reflected upon the diverse range of career choices within the sector and the skills requires to succeed. As well as nurturing their talents, all are in agreement that Bolton School gave them confidence, not to mention lifelong friends!

Nicola studied Fine Art at Worcester University. Her oil paintings are inspired by the beauty of the natural world. She has exhibited widely in the UK and is currently Artist in Residence at Spetchley Park Gardens near Worcester. Her younger sister, Jane Darley (Class of 1981), also attended Bolton School. Nicola recalls a School concert where a group of girls, including Judith Hilton (Class of 1974), composed and played Das Sink-Unbunger Symphony with a small orchestra of kitchen sink unblockers and other domestic equipment in response to Malcolm Arnold’s Grand Overture which featured vacuum cleaners and floor polishers. However, unlike Arnold’s masterpiece, Nicola and Judith’s never received the acclaim they felt it deserved at the time! Nicola was particularly inspired by RE teacher Miss Chignell, who encouraged her to study Theology at Durham University. TV, film and theatre fanatic Deanne studied law at university and qualified as a corporate solicitor before realising her heart lay somewhere more creative. She moved into television via the BBC’s graduate Trainee Production scheme, and has worked across a variety of film and television productions. Both of Deanne’s younger sisters, Cherie (Class of 2005) and Philippa (Class of 2009) attended Bolton School, as well as their cousin, Jennifer Hildrup (Class of 2013). Memories of School are largely theatre related, in particular acting in a production of Our Day Out in Lower Fifth, and Mrs Hadjigeorgiou’s passion for literature and theatre was inspirational. Luci trained at the prestigious Drama Centre London and has worked in film, television, radio and on stage. Her work as a voiceover artist is very varied, from commercials to video games, narrating audiobooks to e-learning courses, and from animation to telephone systems. Luci is the first member of her family to attend Bolton School and her standout memories are of starring in drama productions, from being cast as Cinderella in Reception to portraying Éponine in Les Misérables in the Sixth Form – a theme was developing! She was particularly inspired by her piano teacher, Mrs Dewhurst, who taught her the meaning of hard work and dedication, qualities which have kept her going in a career which requires a lot of resilience. She is also grateful to Mrs Hadjigeorgiou, who not only made English Literature fun and exciting, but championed the girls individually in life as well.

Eilidh studied Drama at Loughborough University and is currently on the world-renowned Theatre Directing MFA at Birkbeck, University of London. She has also worked in regional producing house theatres across the UK. As her family was originally from Scotland, Eilidh was the first person in her family to go to Bolton School. Having attended from the age of four through to 18, she made many friends with whom she is still in contact today. She recalls her A Level English teacher, Mrs Lowe, being particularly helpful with university applications – she also encouraged Eilidh to pursue her creativity when completing coursework by supporting her in writing excerpts of plays. Bolton School offered a great network of brilliant women and Eilidh is convinced that without the help of those people she would not have been able to go on to achieve her professional goals. Soprano Caroline is an Academy Bach soloist. She has performed in the operas The Cunning little Vixen and Albert Herring with Royal Academy Opera, and has been involved with Tête-à-Tête opera festival, Vache Baroque Festival and Uppermill music festival. Caroline is an advocate for Oratorio and Choral music. The first of her family to attend Bolton School, Caroline has many happy memories of her time there, but looks back particularly fondly on her final Ceremony of Carols: it was great fun, but also quite emotional, as she and her friends knew it was their last one together. Aside from that, walking out to organ music from assembly with her friends in their Prefect gowns really sticks out in her memory. Caroline would like to thank Mrs Partington for coping with her terrible Latin and truly being a wonderful person to look up to – she can still remember passages from The Aeneid! She also recalls Mrs Wade and Mrs Price being unbelievably patient and motivating. Having now left School now, she fully appreciates the opportunities it presented. The sheer amount of support and guidance she received gave her the confidence – in a subtle way – to try to achieve everything she wants to be.

All of the Perspectives lectures held thus far can be watched in full on the School’s YouTube channel. Details of future lectures will be published on the School website, and on the Alumni social media channels, as they are confirmed.