A group of performing arts students from Suffolk New College got ready for the upcoming Oscars by saying their favourite film lines said by previous winners of the lead actress category to celebrate International Women's Day. 

The learners did so as part of the college's activities based around the annual celebration of women on Friday 8 March.

They also reflected on what International Women’s Day (IWD) means to them.

Hannah Burman, 18, Ipswich is on a level three performing arts course. She chose the classic line ‘a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down’ from Mary Poppins, said by Julie Andrews in the classic musical.

Ipswich Star: 3 Hannah Burman thinks IWD helps move us forward to a more equal future3 Hannah Burman thinks IWD helps move us forward to a more equal future (Image: Suffolk New College)

Hannah is a champion of IWD and hopes it helps us ‘move forward to a more equal future’. She cites ‘my tutors at college, my mum and my sister’ as being her female role models.

Reflecting on what she would do if she was in charge of the world and could make things more equal, Hannah said: “I’d put every woman in the world in education.”

Caitlyn Geraghty, 18, from Great Yarmouth is on the same course as Hannah and chose the iconic line ‘most serial killers keep some trophies from their victims’ said by Jodie Foster playing Clarice in the film called Silence of the Lambs.

Ipswich Star: Caitlyn Geraghty from Great Yarmouth wants equal opportunities for healthcare and education Caitlyn Geraghty from Great Yarmouth wants equal opportunities for healthcare and education (Image: Suffolk New College)

On IWD, Caitlyn said: “I think it’s important as it reminds you of history and even now some women are fighting in different countries to get the rights we have.”

Caitlyn, said her mum, nan and tutors were her female role models and if she was in charge of the world, she would make things more equal by ‘making sure everyone has an opportunity for health care and education - and would also make sure women have an opportunity to speak up because some environments are quite oppressive’.           

Ipswich Star: Gemma Wall would make period products free if she was in charge of the worldGemma Wall would make period products free if she was in charge of the world (Image: Suffolk New College)                                                                       

Gemma Wall, 18, from Ipswich is on a level three performing arts course and said the line ‘after all – tomorrow is another day’ quoted by Vivien Leigh who played Scarlett O’Hara in the film Gone with the Wind.

On IWD Gemma said: “It (IWD) is important as I’m a woman myself and I feel very passionate about it and I like being educated.”

Gemma said all her female family members were really hard-working and that was something that she aspires to be.

In terms of being in charge of the world to make things more equal she added: “I’d make sure period products were free.”

For IWD, the college also made a number of videos getting feedback from students on why the day is important to them and also created a collage in college.

The theme for this year is #InspireInclusion and the IWD website features people creating a heart pose. Suffolk New College wanted to create their own version with staff and students doing a heart pose and this will then be made into a giant collage (in the shape of a heart). . 

Hannah, Caitlyn and Gemma will all be starring in two double bill of shows at Suffolk New College called ‘Your name is Dead’ and ‘Coppélia / in search of perfection’ that will be out on Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 March 2024 – starting at 7pm in the college theatre.

You can buy tickets: www.ticketsource.co.uk/suffolknew