Stoke-on-Trent College Students
Break into the Movies

Two performing arts students at Stoke-on-Trent college are to make their debuts on the the big screen.

Issak Gray and Symone Robinson have won parts in a new film being made by the acclaimed Co-operative British Youth Film Academy (BYFA).

The duo wowed film maker Kevin Atkinson during auditions for Henry IV Part Two. He described their auditions as “every bit as good as any professional actors I have worked with.”

The BYFA has received rave reviews for its work with budding actors, directors and film crew, with the stars of a recent full length feature rubbing shoulders with the likes of Robert De Niro on the red carpet at Cannes.

Issak and Symone were picked out for praise following recent auditions with the BYFA.

Kevin Atkinson said: “Issak was extremely self conscious the first time we saw him but there was something incredibly watchable about him.

“He left for lunch and wouldn’t come back because he had no confidence. It took his tutor two weeks to convince him and build him up.

“He wrote his own piece for his final audition and delivered it in front of a production team of six professionals – by the end of the piece not one of them had a dry eye.

“Symone was more confident and had a real grasp of her performance style. When we got them acting together it was incredible and as a result we decided to create two significant supporting roles for them in the film. They are both a credit to Stoke-on-Trent College.”

The film will be a gritty reinterpretation of Henry IV Part Two set on a housing estate.

“Symone and Issak have worked incredibly hard and deserve all the praise they are receiving,” said Charlotte Dobson, a lecturer in performing arts who works with performing arts students at the college.

“Issac would not have got up in front of even a single person to perform when he first came to us, so for him to be doing screen tests is amazing.

“The BYFA is a major force in the production of the screen actors and film crews of the future and we are delighted to be able to work with them.”

Symone said: “This is an exciting opportunity for us. It is a modern version of Shakespeare which is great because I get to dance and to rap which I love doing.” 

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