South Downs College Travel and Tourism tutor, Laura Moore, took the opportunity of a special offer arranged by Sandra Smith, Group Booking Manager at the Kings Theatre, to take a group of thirty four students on a combined tour of the Spinnaker Tower and a matinee performance of the Kings Theatre Christmas 2009 Pantomime, Aladdin.
Commenting on her experience of the offer Laura said, 'It was a chance to combine two half- day trips in one and it was really good value for money. I didn't have to do much persuading to get the students to agree and everyone enjoyed the experience. The organisation of the package was very good, as was the show, even if the students were amongst a whole crowd of younger children. It didn't seem to stop them making the most of the show!'
Asked if she would repeat the package she said, 'Oh yes. We did it the year before and it works very well, so we will try to do it again. We might consider combining a tour of the Spinnaker with another show, not just the pantomime.'
Alison Bertram and James Spearey, two of the students who took part in the trip, were very pleased with the opportunity. Neither had been to the Spinnaker or the Kings before so, although this was part of their Travel and Tourism coursework, the whole day was a new experience for them.
Alison said, 'It was foggy on the day we visited the Spinnaker, but we did see quite a bit and I plan to go back in the summer. I looked around some of the Gunwharf shops over our lunch break. I had not been to the Kings before and thought it a very nice place.'
James equally enjoyed the experience. A first at the Spinnaker for him, he said, 'I went to the very top of the tower, which was great. The Kings was such a big venue, the show was good too. Between times I went with my friend to Cafe Le Rouge for a baguette.' (Boys looking after the inner man there!)
It was clear that the whole package went down well and the students spread the word to their families and friends.
The Kings Theatre is working closely with South Downs College in developing opportunities for students to gain work experience across all aspects of business and the performing arts as part of the theatre's expanding educational programme within the City of Portsmouth and beyond.
