A former student from Stratford-upon-Avon College is excelling in his creative career and thanks his time at college for giving him the creative and academic foundation needed to succeed.
Jason Farries studied Drama, English Literature and Maths as well as a vocational qualification in Performing Arts at the College and now is thriving in the creative industry as a freelance actor, director and producer. He also runs an independent film school delivering practical filmmaking education to young people.
When considering how to further his education, choosing Stratford-upon-Avon College was an easy choice for Jason: “Being based in Stratford was a big influence – it meant being surrounded by Shakespeare and theatre culture every day, which really appealed to me.”
He thoroughly enjoyed his time at college and unknowingly developed not only skills but creative connections early on: “I really enjoyed the mix of strong academic teaching and creative freedom. Studying Drama and English Literature in Stratford, with its theatre heritage, made the experience feel very alive and relevant. I also met people who I’ve gone on to collaborate with professionally, which has been a really important part of my career.”
Following college, he has developed his career across a range of creative industries. Firstly, as an actor, he’s worked on international theatre tours, as well as film and television projects where he won awards for his performances and had the chance to work alongside some of the leading names in the industry.
Alongside that, he moved into directing and producing, founding his own independent film company, Black Elk Productions; creating content for businesses, as well as feature films that have been distributed on Amazon Prime, reaching over 4 million viewers worldwide and receiving press coverage including reviews from the New York Times. More recently, in 2025, he co-founded an independent film school called Black Elk Film School, focused on teaching teenagers’ practical filmmaking.
Jason has a vast amount of experience in the creative industries
Jason loves his career: “What I enjoy most is the variety. I get to move between professional creative work and education, which keeps things really interesting. It’s also incredibly rewarding to see young filmmakers develop their skills and confidence through practical experience.”
Looking back at his time at College, Jason reflects on how it benefitted him: “College gave me a strong academic and creative foundation, particularly through Drama and English Literature. It helped build my confidence, collaboration skills, and understanding of storytelling, all of which have been essential in my career. Being in Stratford also had a lasting influence. Having that direct connection to Shakespeare and theatre culture definitely shaped my early interest in performance.
My time at Stratford-upon-Avon College played an important role in shaping my path. It gave me both the academic grounding and creative confidence to pursue a career in acting, filmmaking, and education, and I’m very grateful for that foundation.”
