Class of 2021
Drama and Theatre
Producer/Artist – Junk Drawer Theatre Co
Nationality: British
Country: United Kingdom
IF YOU STUDIED YOUR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMME AT YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES, DID YOU GO ON TO POSTGRADUATE STUDY?
No
WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN THIS PHOTO AS YOUR YSJ SNAPSHOT?
I don’t have many photos from university. Through my second year, we came into the first lockdown for COVID. The photo of me at University always reminds me how excited and ecstatic I was to learn, make new friends and finally try my hand at being fully independent.
My headshot is the first of many we took for a devising company I am co-owner of called ‘Junk Drawer Theatre Co’. This company would not have been possible without my time at YSJ, as almost everyone within said company was there with me from the start!
WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND YSJ TO SOMEONE?
YSJ itself has got to be the most homely, safe, and inviting campus I have been on. I went to a good handful of universities/drama schools when looking. None of which made me feel more akin to my upbringing in the countryside.
Drama and theatre at YSJ is not for those lacking willpower. The course is engaging, collaborative and challenging. In my final two years as a student, I really came into my own element of creating, devising and directing work, which has led me to other projects down the line.
My favourite memory from YSJ (other than pound a pint/karaoke at the SU) was devising my own original work for IPAR while collaborating with my peers. The creation of this piece (Self-Loss) led me to briefly perform its follow-up piece (Not alone) at York Theatre Royal and produce a takeover festival too. Which I would not have been capable of if it weren’t for what I learned on the drama and theatre course.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES?
I chose YSJ as the course fitted what my aspirations were as an artist, to develop my own work, become a practitioner and start devising!
As well as its gorgeous scenery, homely vibes and relaxing SU. Upon visiting, I really enjoyed how small the campus was but still had nature throughout, as it’s something I value in my day-to-day life.
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING SINCE COMPLETING YOUR STUDIES?
After I left university, I briefly worked at York thetre royal, creating work and producing a festival. After this, I took a short break from training as a chef until I formed my own company and started making performance work again.
My future plans are currently to create our next three short shows into touring performances. While also getting ready for our first proper arts funding applications.
My company and my self have a lot of other plans in the making, which will hopefully allow us in the near future to do this full-time!
My course has helped me and my colleagues get here through the not-so-simple act of perseverance. The arts industry is particularly brutal, but our course and the kinship I share with my colleagues will enable me to do great things!
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR SPECIFIC COURSE?
I chose my course, Drama and Theatre, as I didn’t want to become an actor. I wanted to specialise in different fields, try out different paths from what I was used to and engage my critical thinking on topics which I normally wouldn’t consider when engaging in the arts. This is exactly what this course offered me; it was so much more than just Drama and Theatre. Yes, there were times were it didn’t work for me, but that drove me forward to find the times its did diverge from a typical theatre course and help me to break out of the metaphorical box. To try new ideas, processes and techniques. Then seeing what sticks!
WHAT WERE THE BEST FEATURES OF YOUR COURSE?
The best features of this course were its unique teaching styles from the lecturers. Their plethora of experience really helped broaden my perspectives on what could be done in my field. As well as building a safe yet challenging environment I thrived in.
Another great feature was its unique subjects and trips. Such as Artist-as-witness, a fascinating course which took us to Kraków, where we took in the unforgettable history and proceeded to respectfully adapt this into a modern work.
Lastly, IPAR (Independent Project and Research) and CPP(Contemporary performance practice) both allowed me to break out of my own box of thinking and to collaborate with other individuals to create interesting new works of performance art while documenting our work.
HOW DID STUDYING AT YSJ HELP IN YOUR CAREER SEARCH/SUCCESS/CURRENT ROLE?
Studying at YSJ helped me in my career in terms of my skill set; it taught me to think outside of the box, but not to forget to make the box first. Which is a uniquely difficult thing to do if you haven’t learned to accept you can be wrong and have to destroy an idea, concept or piece. even if they are fully formed.
As well, it taught me collaboration. I thought I would be able to go out into the industry all on my own. I was very wrong, I needed like-minded people with me and colleagues who know/believe in me.
WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD OYU GIVE TO A CURRENT STUDENT, OR ONE ABOUT TO GRADUATE?
Take your time; burnout is real. I burnt out so hard that I became a chef for four years.
I still created work within these years and founded the company, but I learned very quickly that I am not a patient person. Which is something I worked on and learned that all these things take time.
Creating, devising and putting on work takes a lot of time. You will need a part-time job, you will get rejected for grants, and you will get impatient. But persevere, and you might just end up working with people you consider your family.