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When a group of Bury College Performing Arts students stepped into the eerie world of the Spooktacular Halloween event at the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Training and Safety Centre, they weren’t just there to scare; they were there to learn, perform, and support their community.
Taking on the roles of scare actors in the centre’s annual Halloween attraction, the students brought creativity and energy to an event that continues to be a highlight in the local calendar.
An important community tradition
Now in its 12th year, Spooktacular combines Halloween thrills with important fire safety education. The event raises money for charity and features stalls from local charities and businesses, a zombie apocalypse experience, and a specially designed space for families with special educational needs, making it a fun and spooky event for everyone.
Firefighter Christopher Foott, from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, spoke on how the event also acts as an educational opportunity:
“It’s good for the community because we have lots of different stalls here with fire safety information.”
He also praised the involvement of local college students, describing them as the heart of the experience:
“The students from the colleges are what literally makes the event. It’s good because they get experience acting in the public eye. There’s thousands of people that come here and do the walkthrough, and so it’s a real-life experience of getting up close and seeing the emotions and reactions of the public.”
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Learning through live performance
For the Bury College students, stepping into character as scare actors offered a unique chance to sharpen their performance skills in a busy and unpredictable environment. Level 3 student Jayden Wheeler said the experience allowed him to push himself in ways that a classroom can’t always offer.
“Opportunities like this give us more experience in the world of acting,” Jayden shared. “It’s more time in a scenario where you get to work.”
Jayden is also looking ahead with excitement, as the group prepares for a visit to Manchester, where they will be meeting producers and directors from ITV. An opportunity he believes will help him better understand the industry he hopes to work in.
For Maya Tunnicliffe, getting involved in Spooktacular felt like the perfect step toward her ambitions. She explained that taking on real performances builds confidence and resilience as an aspiring actor.
“If I actually want to get out there and perform one day, I need to start now,” she said. “It’s important that I put myself out there.”
Maya also offered words of encouragement to others considering trying out similar work experience opportunities, “Don’t hold yourself back… you’re doing it for yourself, and you can do it.”
Meanwhile, Wren Whalley said one of the highlights was being able to support the firefighters behind the event, while still developing their own skills. Wren described the experience as a balance of “work experience” and community spirit, feeling proud to be a part of the event.
Supporting the community through creativity
Through their involvement, the students not only entertained thousands of visitors but also supported important community education and charitable work.
The collaboration between Bury College and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service highlights how work experience opportunities can extend beyond the classroom, helping students develop confidence, creativity, and teamwork while making a difference locally.
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