Former Cirencester College student finds success on stage

Barbara Diesel, who studied performing arts at Cirencester College between 2017 and 2019, is due perform at the Sundial Theatre in Cirencester next month.

During her time at college the actress, who is from Cheltenham, gained a double distinction star in performing arts and an A in A level film studies.

She is due to go on tour with her one-woman show Dear Eliza - which was shortlisted for the Best Newcomer Award at the Greater Manchester Fringe - over the next few weeks.

Ms Diesel will perform at Manchester first and then go onto Bristol, Liverpool, and London, before her final performance at the Cirencester College’s Sundial Theatre on Tuesday, February 27.

She said: “Dear Eliza is a short, one-woman show exploring the deterioration of friendship under the strain of ill mental health.

“It’s very raw and cynical and candid, but it’s playful and funny too.

"There are so many underlying messages, but what I want to emphasise most is the exploration of learning to live with a mental illness and learning to be okay with being mentally ill.

“Finishing my tour at the Sundial Theatre feels fitting in so many ways, and I can’t wait to return.

"My two years at Cirencester College were some of the best years of my life! 

"Dear Eliza is a tribute to the reality of life as a person living with a long-term mental illness and I wrote it as a person now completely comfortable with owning that fact about myself. 

"A huge part of that journey happened at Cirencester College.”

Kelly Domaille, one of Barbara’s former performing arts lecturers, said: “Barbara was an amazing student.

"I remember her enthusiasm for all performance disciplines. 

"She consistently worked hard and was an absolute pleasure to teach. 

"A highlight of her time with us was her fantastic final performance of Pippin. 

"We are so proud of what she’s achieved in her career.”

To get tickets to her Cirencester show visit tinyurl.com/5j3vfnem