Former Northampton College student treads the boards in Hairspray

All the world's a stage for former Northampton College student Vanessa Fisher, who is returning to the town that trained her for theatrical success by performing in Hairspray at the Royal & Derngate.

23-year-old Vanessa studied a two-year course in Performing Arts (Musical Theatre) at Northampton College in 2011. She's now playing one third of girl group the Dynamites in the production, which launched two weeks ago in Leicester to standing ovations. It hits the Royal & Derngate before continuing on a national tour currently booking until May 2016 ' not bad for Vanessa's first professional role!

Northampton College's professional approach aims to prepare performing arts students for careers on the stage, and Vanessa certainly credits its teaching with her current success.