Third year: a packed first term

This term has been busy and demanding, with lots of work and a dissertation deadline looming, but it’s been incredibly enjoyable with great drama modules: Contemporary British Theatre and Devised Performance. We’ve just finished our intensive period for Devised, a challenging two week assessment where we put on an ambitiously technical show in The Wickham Theatre. I was stage managing, which meant supervising the Fit Up and Tech, taking rehearsal notes, writing the final script and sourcing all the props. It was great experience, especially being able to put into practise the skills I gained at work placements in various theatres last year. We’re all exhausted after the show and looking forward to the break, but I’m so proud of what we achieved.

For Contemporary British Theatre I interviewed a Bristol based company called Impermanence Dance Theatre, and shared my findings in the form of a presentation and short essay. This was really fun and my most successful assignment so far, so I’m feeling motivated to work on the next essay over Christmas. I will also be working on my English dissertation, which is due in January, writing about loss in Lolita and Speak Memory by Nabokov.

Sadly, I’ve had less time for extracurricular performances this term than in other years but I kick-started the term with a really enjoyable stage management placement on The Conquering Hero for Shakespeare At The Tobacco Factory. The performance was at Wills Memorial in the beautiful Reception Room, and it was lovely to work with a professional company and have the chance to watch a successful, well-respected director at work.

This year I’m loving living just off Park Street because it takes less than five minutes to get to the department! I share with four other drama students, and although our basement maisonette is always freezing we’re having a fantastic time. Next term we’ll all be off on placements (though as a Joint Honours student I will have English lectures as well) and I hope to do mine with Mayfest or at The Tobacco Factory Theatre.

– Charlie