Bad Girls star gives drama students the inside track on prison drama musical

AWARD-WINNING actress Nicole Faraday has been helping to coach students who are putting on a performance of the show that made her famous.

She was one of the stars of TV prison drama Bad Girls and then went on to appear in a West End musical version, Bad Girls: The Musical in 2007. She visited Richard Taunton Sixth Form College’s drama studio to give them some inside information on performing the show.

The Southampton college is staging its own version of the musical at Southampton City College’s Hub Theatre on April 29 and 30 and Ms Faraday came to give the students who are performing it some tips.

She had a special word for student Hollie Martin, who will be playing Ms Faraday’s role of troublemaker Shell Dockley. “I’m excited and a little scared to be playing this role and actually working with Nicole has been amazing, I hope she will be pleased with my portrayal,” said Hollie.

The show will feature second year students studying for a BTEC Extended Diploma in performing arts in the major roles and first year students in the ensemble.

Ms Faraday, who now works with schools and colleges, gave the performers insights into the characters and the story, as well as some tips on a career in showbusiness. She said: “It’s always very exciting for me to see the new generation keeping the stories and life-affirming messages of Bad Girls alive. I’m delighted that a show we worked on in 2002 is still being performed and enjoyed all these years later.”

Tutor Amber O’Connell said the students have been working hard in rehearsals and were thrilled to have one of the original stars there to pass on advice. “We are incredibly honoured to have Nicole working with us,” she said. “Her amazing experience in the theatre and TV will be a major influence for the students.”

She said the drama department at the sixth form college, which has just been rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted, focuses on giving students an insight into every aspect of performing. “We want the students to see all sides of it so they can make the most of their potential,” she said.

“Putting on shows like Bad Girls and then allowing them to meet talented people like Nicole, who have been there and done it, is all part of that.”

More details about the college and its courses at richardtaunton.ac.uk. Read the full Ofsted report at ofsted.gov.uk.