Media make-up students at Bath College transform actors for scare attraction

Media make-up students at Bath College are taking part in some scary work experience with Fear at Avon Valley this Halloween.

The scare attraction, just outside Bath, is up and running for a third year terrifying hundreds of visitors every night.

There are three different scare mazes, as well as a street theatre with stilt walkers and a fire show led by Frank the masked clown.

Level 3 media make-up students at Bath College are using their skills to get actors at the attraction looking as scary as possible.

Taking part has given them a chance to experience what it’s like to work as a team under pressure on a live event.

Bath College media make-up trainer and assessor Helen Eyre said: “There are three different mazes within Fear – anarchy, purgatory and phobia.

“They all have different make-up and there’s also a street team. Our big priority is making sure the street team looks amazing and to help with make-up changes.

“The first hour and a half is intense. You have ten to 15 minutes to do each design, but it’s really good fun and the girls have stepped up to the task.

“It’s a really great experience for them. Often within the college, we’re very generous with time. At the event they have to work under pressure and that in itself is a really valuable lesson for them. “

Students studying for Level 3 media make-up at Bath College are asked to complete 15 hours of volunteering and 30 hours of work experience.

On the course, they learn about cosmetic, photographic and camouflage make-up, as well as face and body art and how to cast small prosthetic pieces.

Last term, media make-up students worked with performing arts students at the college on make-up for their production of Sweeny Todd.

At Fear, they have been teaching actors some basic make-up techniques, including bruises and cuts, and how to make yourself look ill or gaunt.

Helen said: “The idea is that it’s a scare attraction and the designs are there to challenge people. The challenge is to make it as scary as possible within the time frames we have been given.

“Most of it is in darkness, so a lot of designs are strong and bold so that people can see them. As the actors go out of the gates, we flick fake blood at them as they walk past.

“There’s definitely a lot of screaming every night.”

Bath College is looking for more work experience opportunities for media make-up students. Please e-mail [email protected]