Swashbuckling Bucks UTC students make swords for Waterside Theatre production

Bucks University Technical College (UTC) Construction students recently made their '˜theatre debut', designing and constructing 60 wooden swords for a local school. The swords took centre stage in the musical '˜Play on Words', performed by children from schools in Aylesbury Town, and shown at the Waterside Theatre on 1 November.

‘Play on Words’ was written by local music teacher Jane Smith, and tells the story of school children discovering the joy of poetry. The swords were used by Buckingham Park’s Year 4 children as they danced to a song based on the poem, ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’.

Nick Waldron, Headteacher, at Buckingham Park School, said: “We’re really grateful for the support of Bucks UTC in preparing the 60 replica swords for our show. It is fantastic that our children were well equipped for ‘battle’, and that the students at Bucks UTC were able to use their skills and expertise to support our school. We look forward to further collaborative projects in partnership.”

As well as coming up with a practical and safe design for the swords, the students also had to manage a very tight budget.

Nicholas Han, Head of Construction at Bucks UTC, said: “The students were given a specific brief to minimise costs and they easily achieved this. Using off-cuts of timber, they only spent £3.00 on some twine, and 5 pence per sword – what a bargain!”

Bucks UTC, which specialises in Construction and Computing, is now recruiting for the September 2017 intake. A series of open events are being held during the next few months to explain its unique curriculum. For more information visit www.bucksutc.co.uk or call 01296 388688.