Marcus Collins Visits University College Birmingham Students

Today the 1960's sprang back to life in a mist of hairspray and greasepaint as Specialist Hair and Media Make-up students from University College Birmingham showcased their skills to cast members from the hit musical Hairspray at Birmingham Hippodrome, including X-Factor runner up Marcus Collins.

Marcus and cast members of the West End and Broadway musical in full colour and fabulous costume called in to the University's make-up training studios on Newhall Street to meet students of the Birmingham based University which has over 7,500 students.

Nothing says "welcome to the 60's" like a beehive-do and to mark the occasion the cast met two Theatrical Special Effects, Hair and Media Make-up Diploma students and their award-winning 1960's hair and make-up creations which recently were amongst the top ten winners in a national hairdressing competition. Six Specialist Hair and Media Make-up degree students also highlighted work they had created for their Styling for Photography exam including hairstyles, headwear and costumes.

Marcus Collins who plays the role of Seaweed Stubbs in Hairspray was himself a professional hairdresser in Liverpool. He gave up the hairdressing profession to audition for the X Factor. He beat 200,000 people and became runner up to Little Mix in the 2011 final.

Hairspray runs at Birmingham Hippodrome from Tuesday 21 May - Saturday 1 June 2013. Tickets are priced £19.50-£45 and are available online at www.birminghamhippodrome.com or by telephoning the Box Office on 0844 338 5000. Calls vary at 5p per minute, 5% transaction charge applies. Performance times Eves: 7.30pm; Wed & Fri 31 May mats 2pm, Sat mats 2.30pm.