JAN van der Black is hoping his story of perseverance will inspire current students following the success of his one-man show at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Back in 2011, at the age of 53 and after working as an actor for over 30 years, Jan van der Black decided to study at the Ayrshire College’s Ayr campus to gain further qualifications.

Fast forward five years and, with a masters degree in Performing Arts, Jan has just finished performing his own show, ‘Abberline’s Artefact’, at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Jan performed the play - which is about the real-life detective on the Jack the Ripper case, Frederick Abberline, haunting a man who lives in his old house - through his own theatre company Polymorph Theatre.

One reviewer wrote “van der Black has done his research and he deserves plaudits” and “van der Black expertly portrays a man who is terrified, confused and broken without resorting to histrionics. He is so engaging that you just want to hear his voice alone.”

Another said: “van der Black’s emotional and gripping performance holds the audience rapt.”

Jan hopes to follow up on interest in the play and take it on tour. However, the acting life has not been all plain sailing for him.

He said: “I was recently on the BBC drama ‘Bad Dads’ Army: The Hatton Garden Heist’ and have acted in films that have been in cinemas, like ‘A Lonely Place to Die’, which was shot and set in the Highlands.

“To see yourself on television and in cinemas is so exciting. However, there are plenty of lows too. People sometimes have a rosy-eyed view of what it’s like. They have this impression that you’ll get an agent and the jobs will roll in, which is not true.

“You could go to 100 auditions and not get a single job. You could be desperate enough to take really bad jobs just to get some money in. You have to be committed. An acting career can be tough but it’s so rewarding.”

Coming to Ayrshire College in his fifties was a daunting prospect for Jan, who realised he would be studying and performing alongside students less than half of his age.

He said: “I knew immediately when I came for my interview that I would accept a place at Ayrshire College if it was offered. That was a lot to do with the people that I met.

“The lecturers were excellent. I remember one conversation I had with Nikki McCabe, my Performing Arts lecturer, where I asked her not to let me hide in the back of the class. She never let me off the hook and I’m grateful for that.

“I loved my time at Ayrshire College. The facilities were first class and we were a committed group, which led to high standards. We were led to do things that we didn’t think we could do, and that confidence has carried on into my acting career. 

“I’m still close with many people from that course. Performing is a process, you’re essentially opening your chest up and saying “take your best shot”. I think if you’re not revealing things about yourself you’re not doing it right. Everyone has performance anxiety but if you face up to it, it’s the most rewarding thing you can do.”