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Back to the Future for Northbrook College Prop Making Student During Work Placement  

21 July 2026
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A Northbrook College student secured an exciting opportunity with theatre special-effects company Twins FX, working on high-profile projects such as the iconic Back to the Future DeLorean. 

James Wilday, a Prop Making & Special Effects student at the college, recently received a two-week work placement, allowing him to work on a variety of cutting-edge theatre-oriented projects.  

The standout project James worked on proved to be helping to restore the DeLorean from the Back to the Future musical, which has been used in the West End for the last seven years.  

When describing how he had found his time with Twins FX, he said:  
“I enjoyed working there, they had a good working atmosphere and regular breaks to pace the day. Everyone was so nice, and although some of the work was monotonous, a week’s work had enough variation to please me as a creative prop maker.”  

Twins FX offered James the work experience after he emailed them with his portfolio. He described how the college helped him secure the placement, saying:  

“The course told me how to go about contacting the company, and I believe previous units have helped me prepare for my placement.”  

He also elaborated on his time at Northbrook College, adding:  
“I have enjoyed my time at Northbrook College; everyone is very kind, and there is a nice working atmosphere. Tutors encourage me to explore new areas, and the facilities are great.”  

A spokesperson from Twins FX added:
“At The Twins FX, we are passionate about championing the next generation of model makers by providing students like James with hands-on workplace experience.

“These practical opportunities were rare when we were honing our craft, making us even more committed to cultivating tomorrow’s industry talent. Well Done James, it was a pleasure working with you.”

To learn more about the Performing Arts & Theatre Production courses available at the college, including Prop Making and Special Effects, please click here. 

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