We have announced scholarship support of three students training at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

The postgraduate students, Sanjana Nagesh Doddamani, who is studying Design for Performance, and Hollie Morrison and Luis Yacto, who are both on the Stage and Event Management course, have all benefited from support towards the cost of their studies, thanks to scholarship funding made available by Bad Wolf, with match-funding provided by Arts and Business Cymru.

The funding shows our ongoing commitment to nurturing young, diverse talent and opening up opportunities to access the world-class training provided by the Royal Welsh College.

As part of our support the three students were welcomed for a rare backstage glimpse of the studios and met RWCMD graduates, who are now in trainee positions with Screen Alliance Wales, the Bad Wolf-supported education and training organisation. The students also met Bad Wolf COO and RWCMD Board Member Natasha Hale and Rachel Jones, Chief Executive of Arts Business Cymru.

The film and TV industry is booming in Wales and demand for highly-skilled creative practitioners is greater than ever, with the College playing a big part in feeding this industry. We have a long history of partnership, with students going on regular placements which often lead to full-time employment when they graduate. No less than 30 RWCMD graduates worked on our award-winning His Dark Materials, featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also came to the College for a visit during filming.

Bad Wolf supports RWCMD’s Young People’s Production Arts programme (YPPA) which introduces young people aged 11-18 to crucial ‘back stage’ specialisms such as stage management and theatre design, through masterclasses and summer schools. We’re also supporting the promotion of its new Foundation Degree in Scenic Construction, developed in response to the acute shortage of suitably qualified entry-level Scenic Construction Technicians to work in the rapidly expanding stage and screen industries.

“We’re delighted that Bad Wolf, together with Arts and Business Cymru, are partnering with us to open up pathways into creative industries in Wales,’ said Sean Crowley, Director of Drama at RWCMD. “Production companies are screaming out for new talent and the College is uniquely positioned to produce highly-skilled, industry-ready graduates. Scholarships like these help us to ensure talented individuals from all backgrounds can access our training, and help us to promote a diverse workforce for the industry.”

Luis Yatco, who has come to Cardiff from the Philippines said, “The industry is full of successful RWCMD alumni and the College fosters a deeply nurturing environment for its students that is conducive for their preparation for a professional career. With its esteemed mentors, the most up-to-date equipment, in the best facilities, I’m certain the MA programme will allow me to reach heights that I wouldn’t have been able to before. I’m so grateful to Bad Wolf and Arts and Business Cymru for the support which has helped me make it to Cardiff from the Philippines, and now I can’t wait to be a part of the thriving industry here.”